INTRODUCTION
Last updated: January 2023
The country guidance documents provide country-specific common analysis and guidance in relation to the assessment criteria established in the recast Qualification Directive (Directive 2011/95/EU)
The aim of the country guidance documents is to assist decision-makers and policy-makers in their daily work and to foster convergence in the assessment of applications for international protection and the type of protection granted in the context of the common European asylum system.
The development, review and update of country guidance is regulated under Article 11 of the EUAA Regulation
In accordance with Article 11(3) EUAA Regulation, Member States have the obligation to take into account the common analysis and guidance notes when examining applications for international protection, without prejudice to their competence to decide on individual applications.
This common analysis is based on country of origin information (COI) with a clearly indicated reference period. Each section of the country guidance documents also clearly states the timing of its last update.
The analysis and guidance within this document should be considered valid as long as current events and developments in the country fall within the trends and patterns described within the COI on which the assessment at hand is based on.
The analysis and guidance provided within this document are not exhaustive.
Common analysis, guidance note and methodological approach
The country guidance document consists of two important components: the guidance note and the common analysis. These two parts focus on the situation in the country of origin and provide analysis and guidance on the assessment of relevant international protection needs. They should be read in conjunction with the separate document ‘Country Guidance: explained’.
Country Guidance: explained
This document outlines the general guidance relied upon in this analysis, as well as the methodological framework, approach and indicators used to assess the different elements of qualification for international protection. You can find the document here
Scope of this update
The current version of the guidance updates and replaces the ‘Country Guidance: Afghanistan’ (April 2022).
It constitutes a comprehensive update of the common analysis and guidance, where all sections have been reviewed in light of available relevant COI and the majority of them have been updated accordingly.
EUAA together with Member States will continue to monitor the evolving situation in the country and to regularly review and update this country guidance.
This update is mainly based on the following recent COI:
![2022_coi_cover_1](/sites/default/files/styles/width_150/public/2023-01/2022_coi_cover_1.jpg?itok=3NCeKMTE)
![2022_coi_cover_2](/sites/default/files/styles/width_150/public/2023-01/2022_coi_cover_2.jpg?itok=sb-Pabjr)
![2022_coi_cover_3](/sites/default/files/styles/width_150/public/2023-01/2022_coi_cover_3.jpg?itok=aK9buCKq)
![2022_coi_cover_4](/sites/default/files/styles/width_150/public/2023-01/2022_coi_cover_4.jpg?itok=WmSiCH2r)
EUAA COI Report Afghanistan – Targeting of Individuals (August 2022)
EUAA COI Report Afghanistan – Security Situation (August 2022)
EUAA COI Report Afghanistan – Key socio-economic indicators (August 2022)
EUAA COI Query Response - Afghanistan - Major legislative, security-related, and humanitarian developments (November 2022)
Country of origin information references provides further details and links to all COI reports used as a basis for the analysis within this document. References within this document are to the respective sections of these COI reports.
To access EUAA COI reports, visit