Amendment to the Procedure on Work Permit Distribution Process

In accordance with the previous Work Permit Distribution Procedure, an applicant could obtain a work permit by providing the original passport, two photos, a valid visa with an entry stamp, an original business license of the organization with two copies, and a copy of the employment contract. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new requirements have been added to foreigners’ work permits in the amended procedure. The new amendments require foreigners to have a health insurance certificate and medical examination certificate, in addition to the previously required documents. Details on insurance type/amount or the medical examination are not provided in the amendment of the procedure. Meaning that the applicant can do a full body check-up and obtain a certificate from a local clinic or laboratory and provide it to the Work Permit Directorate of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The requirement for extending a work permit is not changed though. The applicant may extend his/her work permit by providing the expired work permit, two photos, and a work permit application form. If an organization appoints a foreign citizen employee without obtaining a work permit, after the entry date of the foreign employee in Afghanistan, he/she has to pay a 200 AFS penalty per day. The work permit will be issued for a period of one year, if the organization does not extend or cancel the work permit within 15 days after the expiration of its validity date, then they have to pay a 150 AFS penalty per day.