New autonomous sanctions framework
Australia introduced an autonomous sanctions framework in relation to Afghanistan in December 2025.
The Afghanistan framework enables the Foreign Minister to designate a person or entity for targeted financial sanctions, and declare persons for travel bans, if the Minister is satisfied they meet the Afghanistan criteria in item 1A of regulation 6 of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011.
The Afghanistan framework also introduces an arms embargo, and prohibitions on providing related services and activities to Afghanistan.
More information on the new framework can be found at DFAT's sanctions on Afghanistan page.
Class-based humanitarian permit
A class-based humanitarian permit for Afghanistan has been issued by the Foreign Minister. The permit provides a mechanism to facilitate certain humanitarian activities that may otherwise be restricted under the Afghanistan framework.
The permit can be found on DFAT's sanctions website.
Four persons listed
In accordance with item 1A of regulation 6 of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 (the Regulations), the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Minister) has designated for targeted financial sanctions and declared for travel bans (together 'listed'), by legislative instrument:
A person or entity that the Minister is satisfied is engaging in, is responsible for or is complicit in, or has engaged in, been responsible for or been complicit in, any of the following:
- the oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan;
- the oppression of minority groups in Afghanistan;
- the general oppression of people in Afghanistan;
- undermining good governance or the rule of law in Afghanistan.
Listed Persons
- Sheikh Muhammad Khalid Hanafi
- Neda Mohammad Nadeem
- Shaikh-Al-Hadith Mawlawi Abdul-Hakim Sharei
- Abdul Hakim Haqqani
Aliases for the abovementioned persons are included in DFAT's Consolidated List.
Effects of designations and declarations
The effect of a designation under the Regulations is as follows:
- any person holding a 'controlled asset' (including an asset that is owned or controlled by a designated person or entity) commits an offence if they, without the authorisation of the Minister, uses or deals with that asset, or allows it to be used or dealt with, or facilitates the use of or dealing with the asset; and
- any person who, directly or indirectly, makes an asset available to, or for the benefit of, a designated person or entity, without the authorisation of the Minister, commits an offence.
The effect of a declaration under the Regulations is that the declared person is prevented from travelling to, entering, or remaining in Australia.
Application for revocation of a listing
A listed person, or their authorised representative, may apply in writing to the Minister at any time to have the listing revoked. The application must set out the circumstances relied upon to justify the application.
Address to request further information, make a submission or apply to revoke listing
By email to: sanctions@dfat.gov.au.
By post to:
Director, Australian Sanctions Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
RG Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
Barton ACT 0221 Australia
Application for sanctions permit to use or deal with a 'controlled asset' or to make an asset available to a listed person
The Regulations provide that a holder of a 'controlled asset' may apply to the Minister for a permit to authorise use of or dealing with the 'controlled asset'.
The Regulations also provide that a person may apply to the Minister for a permit to authorise a person or entity to make assets available to a listed person or entity. Eligible persons and entities may rely on the SAN-2025-00199 – Afghanistan Humanitarian Assistance permit.
Applications for permits must specify whether the application relates to a basic expense dealing, a legally required dealing or a contractual dealing as those terms are defined in regulation 20 of the Regulations. Applications may be submitted through DFAT's online portal, Pax.