Sending mobile credit home is one of the simplest ways to stay close to family in Afghanistan. This guide explains exactly how it works — what you need, how much it costs, how to tell which network a number belongs to, and what to do if something goes wrong.
How to send a mobile top-up to Afghanistan
You need three things: the recipient's Afghan mobile number, an amount, and a payment method. That's it — the person receiving the credit doesn't need to do anything, and you don't need an account.
- Enter the number. Afghan mobile numbers begin with the country code +93. You can type the number with or without the leading
0. - Confirm the network. The operator is detected automatically from the number's prefix, so there's nothing to look up.
- Choose an amount. Pick one of the preset amounts or enter your own. Amounts start from 100 AFN, and you can enter any custom value up to the maximum shown at checkout.
- Pay securely. International debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are all accepted.
- Done. The airtime lands on the recipient's phone in seconds, and you get an email confirmation with your order reference.
Which network is the number? 070, 077 and 079 explained
One of the most common questions is "070 — which network is that in Afghanistan?" Afghan mobile numbers use a two‑digit prefix after the +93 country code (or after the leading 0 inside the country), and that prefix tells you the operator.
| Number starts with | Network |
|---|---|
| 070, 071 | Afghan Wireless (AWCC) |
| 072, 079 | Roshan |
| 073, 078 | Etisalat Afghanistan |
| 076, 077 | ATOMA |
| 074, 075 | Salaam (Afghan Telecom) |
So a number beginning 070 is an Afghan Wireless (AWCC) number, 077 is ATOMA, and 079 is Roshan.
You don't actually need to know this to send credit — the network is detected automatically — but it's useful when someone reads you a number over the phone. For the full breakdown, including how many digits an Afghan number should have, see our Afghan mobile number prefixes guide.
How much does it cost?
The total you pay is the airtime amount plus a small service fee, converted into your currency at the live exchange rate. Everything is shown up front before you confirm — there are no hidden charges added afterwards, and no padded exchange rate.
Because rates move daily, the fairest way to judge a service is to compare the final price for the same airtime amount, not the advertised fee. We publish a live breakdown for every amount from 100 to 7,000 AFN on our price comparison page.
How fast does the credit arrive?
Almost always within a few seconds. The top-up is sent directly to the operator, so there's no waiting period and nothing for the recipient to activate. It works day and night, including weekends and holidays.
If the credit hasn't appeared after a minute or two, ask the recipient to restart their phone — occasionally the balance updates only after the handset reconnects to the network.
Sending from your phone
If you send credit regularly, the TopUpAFG iOS app saves time: your details are already there, and you can pay with Apple Pay in a couple of taps. You can download it on the App Store. Everything works the same on the website if you'd rather not install anything.
What if a top-up doesn't arrive?
Two things go wrong most often, and both are easy to handle:
- The number was mistyped. Credit is delivered to whatever number was entered, so double-check it before paying. An Afghan mobile number has 9 digits after the leading
0. - The delivery failed. If a transaction fails or the airtime is never delivered, you get a full refund — you only pay when the credit actually lands. If something looks wrong, reply to your confirmation email or contact support with your order reference and we'll trace it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a top-up to Afghanistan from outside the country? Yes. You can send credit from anywhere in the world — including the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and the UAE — using an international card or a mobile wallet.
Do I need an account, or does the recipient? Neither. You don't need to register, and the person receiving the credit doesn't need an app, an account, or a new SIM.
I searched for "send credit card to Afghanistan" — is that the same thing? Usually people mean sending mobile credit (airtime), which is what this guide covers. You pay with your own card, and the recipient receives phone credit — no physical card is sent to Afghanistan.
Which networks can I recharge? All five major Afghan networks: Roshan, Afghan Wireless (AWCC), Etisalat, ATOMA and Salaam (Afghan Telecom).
Is paying online safe? Yes. Payments are processed over an encrypted connection by a regulated payment provider, and card details are never stored on our servers.
What's the smallest amount I can send? Top-ups start from 100 AFN, and you can enter any custom amount up to the limit shown at checkout — useful if you just want to top someone up enough to make a call.
Ready to send credit home?
Enter the number, pick an amount, and the credit arrives in seconds. If you'd like a step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots, read our guide on topping up an Afghan number from abroad.