Turkey has formally opened visa and consular services at its consulate in the western Afghan city of Herat, allowing Afghans to apply for business, medical and student visas without travelling to Kabul.
Turkey's Consul General in Herat, Tezcan Kadıoğlu, said applications in all three categories must be made through the authorised visa application centre. According to sources, the fee is $220 per applicant, covering the visa, insurance and service charges. Turkey's Foreign Ministry says visa decisions are made by its diplomatic missions, not by the application centre.
The consulate in Herat began operating about 10 months ago, and its visa section was inaugurated at a ceremony marking the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye. Kadıoğlu said Ankara wants to make travel easier for Afghan businesspeople and to encourage Turkish investors to visit Herat and explore opportunities in the province.
Turkey has kept its embassy in Kabul and consulates in Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif open since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Ankara describes its approach to the Taliban administration as practical engagement, but it has not formally recognised it.
The authorised application provider is Sefa Visa Travel & Tours Agency. The supplied indicative conversion of US$220 is approximately AFN 14,203 or PKR 60,889, although local-currency totals may fluctuate. Important fee clarification: Türkiye's official consular schedule lists different charges depending on visa category, validity and number of entries. The reported US$220 launch charge should not be read as a universally fixed price for every application. Applicants should confirm the current fee with the authorised provider and the official consular guidance before paying.