How to send money to Afghanistan in 2026: the afghani rate, licences for personal transfers and bank details
In 2026 Afghanistan receives transfers to family members' accounts at its banks, and the afghani holds near 65 per dollar. We explain which UN decisions and US licences authorise personal transfers, which details you need without an international account number and which documents to prepare for a large sum.
In short
- Central bank rate on 4 October 2026: 64.91 afghani per dollar.
- Personal transfers are authorised by US General Licenses 16 and 20.
- There is no international account number: you need the bank code and account number.
- Remittances made up 15.5% of the economy in 2024.
In detail
In 2026 money goes to Afghanistan to a family member's account at an Afghan bank: personal transfers are authorised by US General Licenses 16 and 20, and UN Resolution 2615 opened the way for humanitarian payments. On 4 October 2026 the Central Bank of Afghanistan sold dollars for transfers at 64.91 afghani. The recipient gives the bank name, its international code and the account number.
| Method | Status on 8 October 2026 | Currency received | What the sender needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer to an account at an Afghan bank | works | dollars or afghani under the bank's rules | bank, international bank code, account number, name as on the ID |
| Money transfer service | works | dollars or afghani | recipient's name and payout city |
| Payment by a humanitarian organisation | works under UN Resolution 2615 | contract currency | contract and payment reference |
| Card transfer inside Afghanistan | works through the national payment switch | afghani | a card from an Afghan bank |
Checked on 8 October 2026. Central Bank of Afghanistan rate for transfers on 4 October 2026: 64.91 afghani per dollar selling and 64.81 buying; the UN operational rate from 1 October is 64.88.
The afghani rate: why it holds near 65 per dollar
The Central Bank of Afghanistan holds the rate by selling dollars at auctions: $15-16 million several times a month, settled on the auction day, with banks and licensed market participants taking part. That is why in 2025-2026 the afghani trades at 64-66 per dollar, and in May 2026 the average rate was 63.9. A family that receives dollars exchanges them into afghani at the bank's rate.
For a transfer a month ahead the rate barely changes the amount: $500 in October 2026 is 32,400-32,500 afghani at the central bank rate. So the sender gains more by choosing the payout currency than by waiting for a good rate.
A personal transfer to family: what is authorised in 2026
UN measures on Afghanistan are targeted: the Resolution 1988 regime freezes the assets of listed persons, not payments to the country. Resolution 2615 of 22 December 2021 expressly allowed humanitarian aid and payment for goods and services for basic needs, and the EU carried this rule into Decision 2022/153. In the USA, General License 16 of 10 December 2021 authorised personal non-commercial transfers, including through Afghan banks, and General License 20 of 25 February 2022 covers dealings with the country's authorities, taxes and fees. Both apply in 2026.
Does your bank not work with Afghanistan? Legal options exist: a manager will find the route for your case.
Account details for a transfer to an Afghan bank
Afghanistan has no international account number. The sender needs the bank name, its international code, the account number and the recipient's name exactly as in the passport or tazkira, the Afghan identity card. The central bank joined the international bank messaging system in 2003, and since 2021 the national payment switch has operated as a unit of the central bank, linking the cards of all banks.
Afghan banks have fewer correspondent links than before 2021, so the transfer route is chosen in advance. For example, in Kazakhstan 2 of 23 banks work with Afghan banks, and payments between the countries grew by 26% in 2025, to almost $300 million.
How many families live on transfers from abroad
According to the World Bank review of November 2025, migrant remittances made up 15.5% of Afghanistan's economy in 2024 and an estimated 12.9% in 2025. The share is falling because people are returning home: by 31 October 2025, 2.26 million people had returned, 1.72 million of them from Iran. The main countries money is sent from are Iran and Pakistan.
Sending a large sum to Afghanistan: what the bank will ask
Afghan banks check clients under the anti-money laundering law, and suspicious transaction reports go to the financial intelligence unit at the central bank. In 2026 the documents grow with the amount:
| Amount | What the bank asks | What to show |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $10,000 | recipient and purpose | payment reference: family, study, medical care |
| $10,000 - $100,000 | source of funds and family relationship | bank statement, income certificate, proof of relationship |
| From $100,000 | project and source of funds | contract, company documents, property sale contract |
For building a house or trade, the sender's bank asks for a contract and screens the recipient against UN lists. A manager will check the recipient and put the pack together before sending. Countries for moving with capital are on the capital relocation page.
We will help you send money to Afghanistan
A recipient name that does not match the tazkira, a bank with no correspondent links, a recipient on a UN list - such mistakes cost more than the fee. We will help you avoid them: we choose the bank and the transfer route, check the recipient, prepare the source-of-funds documents and carry out the transfer through licensed partners until the money is credited.
Details and cost are with a manager in the chat: everything depends on the amount, the currency and the purpose of the transfer to Afghanistan.
Transfers to Afghanistan's neighbours
- Pakistan: the eastern neighbour and one of the main countries money is sent from.
- Iran: the western neighbour, from which 1.72 million people returned.
- Tajikistan: the northern neighbour with the somoni.
- Uzbekistan: the northern neighbour with the som.
- Kazakhstan: a country whose banks settle payments with Afghanistan.
Choosing a country for life and capital is covered on the capital relocation page.
FAQ
What is the afghani to dollar rate in October 2026?
Is a personal transfer to family in Afghanistan allowed from the USA?
Does Afghanistan have an international account number?
What share of Afghanistan's economy comes from transfers from abroad?
We will suggest the best way to send your money
We will choose a transfer method for your amount and country, prepare the documents on the origin of the money for the bank, make the transfer through licensed partners and follow it until the money is credited. Ask your question in the chat - the manager will suggest the best terms and the cost. The legal side with banks and government bodies is handled by Murblz specialists and locally licensed partners.
Details and cost are with the manager in the chat. Describe your situation and we will reply right away.
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