"We're Invisible Here": Afghan Migrants in Delhi Share Struggles with New Visa Restrictions

The coffee shop tucked between the textile stores of Lajpat Nagar's Market Road has become an informal gathering point for Kabul-born entrepreneurs, students, and families navigating Delhi's increasingly complex migration landscape. On any given Tuesday afternoon, conversations drift between Dari, Urdu, and English—but lately, anxiety has become the common thread.

India's recent amendments to visa regulations have sent tremors through Delhi's Afghan community, estimated at 12,000-15,000 individuals, with significant clusters in neighbourhoods like Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash, and Malviya Nagar. Business owners, healthcare professionals, and students report growing uncertainty about renewal timelines and employment authorisation.

"Three months ago, my visa extension took six weeks," said one Afghan business owner who runs an export firm near Mehrauli, preferring anonymity. "Now they're asking for additional documentation—police clearances, financial statements going back five years. Nobody explains why the requirements changed." Visa processing costs have surged to ₹45,000 for renewal applications, up from ₹28,000 in early 2024, according to migration consultants working with the community.

The Afghan Women's Forum, operating from a modest office in Hauz Khas, reports increased distress calls from female migrants fearing deportation. Several Afghan women studying nursing at Delhi medical colleges have had internship placements revoked due to sudden work permit complications. "We came here legally, paid taxes, contributed to society," said the forum's coordinator. "But the messaging now feels like we're no longer welcome."

Yet migration experts emphasise the complexity. India processes nearly 5 million long-term visas annually, and bureaucratic delays affect multiple communities—Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Myanmar nationals report similar frustrations. The Migration and Development Initiative, a Delhi-based NGO, has documented a 34% increase in visa-related legal queries since January 2026.

At the Afghan Chamber of Commerce office in ITC Maurya area, business leaders describe a spillover effect. Afghan restaurateurs—whose establishments dot Khan Market and Epicuria—report reduced hiring confidence. "We want to employ people from home, train them, but the uncertainty makes it impossible to plan," one restaurant owner explained.

Community leaders are calling for clearer communication from India's Ministry of Home Affairs and dedicated liaison officers for diaspora communities. "We're not asking for special treatment," the Women's Forum coordinator emphasised. "We're asking for transparency and consistency. Treat us like any other migrant community—but be clear about the rules."

As monsoon rains drench Delhi, hundreds of Afghan families await visa decisions in what has become a liminal existence: too invested to leave, too uncertain to fully commit.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.