1 Afghanistan

Afghanistan – Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 12 April 2017 1. Is there evidence of Afghan passports being applied for in the Afghan embassy in London and then being issued by the Afghan consulate in Bonn and then being returned to the Afghan embassy in London for collection by the applicant? 2. Can an Afghan passport be applied for over the internet and not in person and collected in the Afghan embassy either in London or Bonn by an authorised relative? 3. What evidence is required to be produced to the Afghan embassy in London and the Afghan consulate in Bonn in 2016 before a passport is issued to a first time applicant? What security checks of supporting documents is in place? 4. Is there evidence of Afghan passports being issued in 2016 in the UK or Germany improperly/ as a result of fraud/corruption? Information as to whether Afghan passports issued by the Afghan consulate in Bonn might be sent to the Afghan embassy in London for collection by the applicant was not found among sources available to the Research, Learning and Development Unit. A document published by the Norwegian Refugee Council, in a chapter titled “Procedures to Obtain Identification and Civil Documentation” (section headed “Passports”), states: “The procedure for obtaining passports is contingent on first having obtained a tazkera. Under the Passport Law of 2000, a passport is issued on the provision of an original copy of the tazkera, which has been attested by the Registration of Population Record Office, in addition to the required form, four photos and a fee payment receipt (Art. 8). Biometric information of the applicant is registered during the application process. The passport provides prima facie evidence of Afghan nationality and enables travel abroad. Required identification documents for those applying for passports abroad include the tazkera and previous passport (if renewal).” (Norwegian Refugee Council (8 November 2016) Access to Tazkera and other civil documentation in Afghanistan, p.18) This section of the report also states: “According to a provision of the new Passport Law (2015), Afghans whose passports have been lost or have expired while living abroad, as well as 1 Afghans who have never had one, can apply for these at the nearest Afghan consulate or embassy.” (ibid, p.18) An Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada response to a request for information on the requirements and procedures for obtaining an Afghan passport, in a section headed “Obtaining a Passport Outside of Afghanistan”, states: “According to the Senior Associate, ‘[i]n accordance with Article 14 of the Law on Passport, regular passports may be issued by Afghan Consulates outside of Afghanistan’ and applicants must 1.Refer to the Afghan consulate and make an appointment. 2.Fill out the required forms. 3.Provide [their] Tazkira and 3 passport sized photos. 4.Pay the fee of USD 120. (Shajjan & Associates 28 Jan. 2017) The same source indicated that it ‘normally takes around seven days to obtain the passport’.” (Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (20 February 2017) AFG105732.E – Afghanistan: Requirements and procedures to obtain, renew, and replace a biometric passport, both within and outside the country; validity period of passport; whether the 'place of birth' noted in the passport is the same as the one listed on the tazkira, and whether it refers to the place of birth of the owner of the passport or their father's (2015- January 2017)) A document on the website of the Embassy of Afghanistan in London states: “The Embassy of Afghanistan in London issues passports only to Afghans residing in, and applying from, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Under current regulations, the Embassy can only issue ordinary passports.” (Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, London, United Kingdom (undated) Passport) In a section headed “Passport Application – Requirements” this document states: “•Appointments must be booked ONLINE. •Please ensure that the appointment is booked Online and that you have a confirmation email before your arrival at the Embassy •The applicant must be present when he/she applying for a passport. (ibid) This section of the document also states: “•The applicant should provide a National ID or Tazkera (Certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) •The applicant should provide Originals of their identification and all other supporting documents [e.g. proof of address, etc.].” (ibid) A document published on the website of the Consulate General of Afghanistan in Bonn, in a section headed “Appointments and submission of supporting documents”, states: 2 “1. An appointment must be booked before the applicant attends the consulate for passport application purposes. In order to book an appointment please visit www.afghanconsulate-bonn.com 2. Please do not contact the consulate office directly for booking an appointment. 3. Each applicant must book a separate appointment, even members of the same family if they wish to attend the embassy on the same date. 4. Machine readable passports are issued individually to each applicant, including infants. Therefore, all applicants including infants and children must be present while submitting their documents. Documents will not be collected if the applicant is not present. 5. The applicants must hand in their documents in person to the consulate section.” (Consulate General of Afghanistan, Bonn, Germany (undated) Passport application guidelines) In a section headed “Supporting Documents” this document states: “In order to avoid further delays and frustration each applicant is required to bring along the original and one copy of the following documents (obtained in Afghanistan and/or the host country, in this case Germany) to their appointment with the consulate office: (Refugee Status and/or settlement documents, National ID card (Tazkera), educational/ academic certificates, Marriage Certificate, National Military Service Release papers, old/previous passports and any other document that the applicant may think is relevant. Presenting more documents will accelerate the identification process and subsequent application process.” (ibid) No reference was found to the improper issuing of Afghan passports in 2016 in either the UK or Germany. This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research and Information Unit within time constraints. This response is not and does not purport to be conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please read in full all documents referred to. References: Consulate General of Afghanistan, Bonn, Germany (undated) Passport application guidelines http://www.afghanconsulate-bonn.com/Passport/Passport.htm (Accessed 12 April 2017) Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, London, United Kingdom (undated) Passport http://afghanistanembassy.org.uk/english/?page_id=28 (Accessed 11 April 2017) 3 Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (20 February 2017) AFG105732.E – Afghanistan: Requirements and procedures to obtain, renew, and replace a biometric passport, both within and outside the country; validity period of passport; whether the 'place of birth' noted in the passport is the same as the one listed on the tazkira, and whether it refers to the place of birth of the owner of the passport or their father's (2015-January 2017) http://www.irb- cisr.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspx?doc=456927&pls=1 (Accessed 11 April 2017) Norwegian Refugee Council (8 November 2016) Access to Tazkera and other civil documentation in Afghanistan http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/5228_1480344093_af-civil-documentation- study-081116.pdf (Accessed 12 April 2017) Sources Consulted: Consulate General of Afghanistan Electronic Immigration Network European Country of Origin Information Network Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Google Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Lexis Nexis Refugee Documentation Centre Query Database UNHCR Refworld 4 .

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