The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has announced that the Afghan Embassy will cease to operate after 30 June 2026.
The Refugee Council of Australia said in a letter to the Australian government last year the embassy has been crucial in providing consular and diplomatic support as well as essential documents such as passports and birth records needed for refugee protection claims and even routine activities like opening bank accounts.
It also served as a diplomatic, cultural and community bridge between Afghan Australians, civil society organisations, schools, universities, local, state and the Australian government.
"Closure of the embassy risks exposing people to danger. With Afghanistan under Taliban control, many Afghans fear that the loss of the Embassy may force them to seek documents directly from Taliban-run institutions," the council said.