Description

In February 2017, Pakistan’s Cabinet adopted the Afghan Refugee Management Policy (ARMP), which consisted of three components: 1) the introduction of a visa regime for Afghans which would apply at border crossings; 2) the documentation of all non-registered Afghans in Pakistan; and 3) a national refugee law. The idea behind the visa regime was so Afghans could apply from wherever they are based in Pakistan for a business/ investor visa, student visa, skilled/ unskilled labour visa, or inter-marriages/ family visa upon recommendation or with a support letter from a Pakistani institution or citizen. This was also in collaboration with the Government of Afghanistan reportedly assuring Afghans in Pakistan that it would issue them passports by 31 March 2017 as a precondition for Afghans’ ability to apply for a visa inside Pakistan.