How to Enter Tajikistan

Do I need a passport or visa to enter?

A valid passport and visa are required to enter and exit Tajikistan, as well as to register at hotels. Your visa should be valid for the entire period of stay in-country and ideally, you should request a visa that allows for changing travel dates. If you do not have a valid visa, you may be required to leave the country immediately.

If you travel to Tajikistan from countries that have Tajik embassies or consulates,you must obtain your visa abroad prior to your travel. Tajikistan is represented by embassies and consulates in the following countries: the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan (Kabul, Mazar-I-Sharif), Austria, Belarus, Belgium, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), and Uzbekistan.

If you travel to Tajikistan from countries in which there are no Tajik embassies or consulates,you may apply for a visa at the Dushanbe International Airport upon arrival.

To apply for a tourism (T) visayou need two visa application forms, your travel itinerary, two passport photos (3x4 cm), a U.S. passport with at least six months validity beyond the duration of your planned stay in Tajikistan, and two photocopies of the biographical page of your passport. Tourist visas are issued for a duration not exceeding 45 days and cannot be extended or replaced. If you are issued a tourist visa you should leave the country before the visa expiration date. All other types of visa applicants must have Tajik visa support in the form of a letter from the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) confirming that a visa may be issued upon arrival at the Dushanbe airport. This “upon arrival” visa service does not apply to any other Tajik airports or land borders. Receiving a visa at the Dushanbe airport may also entail some waiting time at the airport's Consular Bureau, which in rare cases, may not be staffed.

To receive your visa support, the organization that invited you to Tajikistan must submit a request to the MFA at least two weeks in advance of your planned travel date. If you are invited by a private Tajik resident (e.g., a friend or relative), he or she first needs to obtain a notification letter from the Department of Visas and Registration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (OVIR). Obtaining the notification letter can take up to 45 days, after which the Tajik resident should request your visa support letter from the MFA. A copy of the MFA visa support letter should be sent to you. The original will be filed with the Consular Bureau at the Dushanbe airport.

If you plan to stay in Tajikistan three days or more, within three days of arrival, you must obtain a Tajik visa registration stamp in your passport. Official travelers, employees of international organizations, and journalists must register with the MFA. All other travelers must register with OVIR. Tourism (T) visa holders who plan to stay in Tajikistan less than 30 days are exempted from this rule. If you plan to stay for more than 30 days, you must register with OVIR prior to the 30 day limit. A few hotels in Dushanbe are also allowed to register foreign citizens staying at their hotels. If you fail to register your visa, airport immigration authorities may prohibit your exit from Tajikistan until you have paid a fine and obtained a registration stamp from the MFA or OVIR.

Entry into the Gorno-Badakhshan region, both from inside and from outside Tajikistan, requires a special permit in advance in addition to a valid Tajik visa. You can obtain this permit at Tajik embassies and consulates abroad, or by applying to the MFA or OVIR once in Tajikistan. Tajik authorities advise sponsoring organizations in Tajikistan to submit their authorization requests at least two weeks in advance of the planned travel. If your request is granted, the names of the settlements and cities you are authorized to visit are annotated in your passport. The permit is not listed on your visa.

Tajikistan Embassy location and contact information in the United States:

The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan

1005 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C., 20037

Phone: 202-223-6090; Facsimile: 202-223-6091

Email: tajikistan@verizon.net

tjusconsulate@verizon.net (Consular section)

Visit the Embassy of Tajikistan website for the most current visa information.

Transit Visas: If you transit through Russia en route to a third country you should consult the U.S. Embassy Moscow website for up-to-date information regarding transit visas for Russia. Even if you are simply changing planes in Russia for an onward destination you may be asked to present a transit visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. If you do not have a transit visa you may be required to immediately return to the point of embarkation at your own expense. Please note it is not possible to obtain a Russian visa at the airport. Arrival without an appropriate visa may result in additional restrictions on future travel to Russia.

Note: Departure options from Tajikistan may be limited in an emergency. You can maximize your departure options by obtaining extended visas for travel to countries with reliable connections to Tajikistan, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Other destinations, including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany offer at least one flight a week and do not require U.S. citizens to obtain visas in advance. Please note, however, that in emergency situations, flights may be suspended.

Tajikistan has a cash-only economy. International banking services are limited, but ATM machines have been installed in various locations. Cash is dispensed in both U.S. and local currency. Few establishments in the country accept credit cards and none accepts travelers’ checks. Tajikistan's national currency is the Somoni, which is convertible.

The Republic of Tajikistan does not recognize dual citizenship with most countries, including the United States. An exception is with Russia, where dual citizenship is regulated by a special interstate agreement). Dual nationals who attempt to leave Tajikistan on U.S. passports without valid Tajik visas in them are likely to have problems with immigration authorities upon departing Tajikistan.

Travelers to Tajikistan are subject to frequent document inspections by local police. You are strongly encouraged to carry copies of your U.S. passport, Tajik visa, and visa registration at all times (including while traveling within Tajikistan) so that proof of identity, U.S. citizenship, and valid visa status in Tajikistan are readily available. Always check your visa and registration validity dates so that these documents can be renewed if necessary before they expire.

Travelers to Tajikistan should keep in mind that the rationing of electricity is an ongoing practice in Tajikistan - especially during the colder seasons of the year (i.e., from September to March). During the winter, it is not unusual for Dushanbe to be without electricity at night and sometimes even during the daytime. Wintertime brings even more severe limitations of electricity outside Dushanbe.

Tajikistan is an earthquake-prone country.

You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Information provided is subject to change without notice. One should confirm content prior to traveling from other reliable sources. Information published on this website may contain errors. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us.