Afghan Guide

Tazkira

The tazkira is the national identity card, issued electronically (the e-tazkira) by the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA). You need it for almost everything else: a passport, a bank account, school, a SIM card.

What you need

  • A copy of your old paper tazkira, or of a father's, mother's or close relative's tazkira if you have none
  • A photo with a white background
  • For a first tazkira: confirmation from your local representative (wakil-e guzar) or council

Steps

  1. Fill in the application form: at an NSIA office, or online at nid.nsia.gov.af.
  2. Take the form and your documents to an e-tazkira centre. There is one in every province: 78 across the country in early 2025.
  3. Pay the fee, reported as 500 afghanis in 2025.
  4. Give your fingerprints, an iris scan and a photo.
  5. Return on the date you are given, confirm your fingerprint, and collect the card.

The e-tazkira is valid for up to ten years.

Living abroad? Ask the nearest Afghan embassy or consulate. Some take applications for a tazkira for people outside the country.

Last checked: 11 Mizan 1405 (2026-10-03)

Method. Fees and steps change. Confirm with the office before you go. If something in this guide is wrong, tell us with the form below.

Source: Norwegian Refugee Council, Tackling the tazkira documentation gap (September 2025) · Wikipedia: Afghan identity card · NSIA electronic tazkira application

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