* People in refugee-like situation refers to a category which is descriptive in nature and includes groups of people who are outside their country or territory of origin and who face protection risks similar to those of refugees, but for whom refugee status has, for practical or other reasons, not been ascertained.

Total returns is an umbrella term that includes all returns including deportations, assisted Voluntary Repatriation (VolRep) and other returns of Afghans of all statuses such as PoR cardholders, ACC holders, Amayesh card holders, Headcount Slipholders and the undocumented, excluding passport/visa holders.

Iran and Pakistan are among the world’s major refugee-hosting countries, hosting 3.47 million and 1.75 million Afghan refugees respectively, despite facing their own challenges. Since 2023, a shift in displacement trends has been taking place that has seen mass returns, including large numbers of forced and coerced returns, back to Afghanistan. On 7 March 2025, the Government of Pakistan announced the resumption of the 'Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan', initially targeting Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders, who were instructed to leave voluntarily by 31 March or face deportation from 1 April. On 31 July, the Government expanded the plan to also include Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. In parallel, following Headcount slip expiry on 20 March 2025, the Government of Iran launched a regularization/return scheme for some two million affected Afghans where the majority were expected to return to Afghanistan by the Government deadline of 6 July 2025 or face deportation. These mass returns in adverse circumstances have strained Afghanistan’s already overstretched resources and services and hindered reintegration efforts, leading to risks of onward and new displacement, including return movements back into Pakistan and Iran and onward. UNHCR reiterates its concern that many Afghans – regardless of status – face serious protection risks in Afghanistan due to the current human rights situation, especially women and girls. These risks are made more urgent by critical funding shortfalls, with only 24% of the required $478 million secured for the Afghanistan situation. This page provides updates on UNHCR's work in support of Afghan IDPs, refugees, and returnees. Links are also provided below for individual UNHCR country operation pages for additional information.