Entry requirements Tajikistan

Visa exemption

A visa is not needed for nationals of numerous countries. The maximum stay without visa differs between the exempted countries. For most countries, the maximum stay is 30 days. Nationals from six countries of the former Soviet Union can enter Tajikistan without any restrictions.

Online e-Visa application

Passport holders of 121 countries are eligible to apply online for a tourist visa. A visa is necessary if i) your country is not among those listed above with an exemption, or ii) if you want to stay longer than 30 days.

The easiest way to obtain a visa is through an application before departure through the official portal of the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs: evisa.tj. Only your basic personal information is required to complete the application form. Do not confuse the portal with visa.gov.tj, which is another portal of the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs that can be used to prepare an application for a visa pick-up in person at an embassy.

The tourist e-Visa allows for a maximum of 60 days. The stay should be spent within the 90-day period that starts from the entry date you specified in the application form. This means that you do not necessarily have to enter Tajikistan on the specified entry date. The non-refundable fee of the single-entry electronic visa is 30 US Dollar to be paid by credit card. The visa is usually issued within several days after online submission of the request. Although the entire procedure generally is smooth, it is recommended to apply already several weeks before to account for any delays in the issuance. The approved e-Visa is emailed to you and can then be printed. The application procedure is straightforward and simple – there is no need to turn to an intermediary agent for visa issuance. The e-Visa can be used to enter Tajikistan both at international airports and land border crossing points.

Visa on arrival

Passport holders of 71 of the e-Visa eligible countries have the alternative to apply for a visa on arrival when landing on Dushanbe Airport. Right before passing the customs on the airport, there is a booth where a tourist visa can be arranged. The on-arrival visa allows for a maximum stay of 45 days. Although the visa on arrival is generally a reliable option, it is recommendable to opt for the e-Visa to be sure to quickly get off the airport.

Nationals of the countries listed below can apply online for an e-Visa. Passport holders of the countries in bold have the alternative option to get a visa on arrival at the airport of Dushanbe. Citizens of countries that are not included in the list below need to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate of Tajikistan. Precise visa requirements and fees may vary between diplomatic missions in different countries.

e-Visa eligible countries:

* Countries in bold: On-arrival visa option available

Registration after arrival

When you enter Tajikistan without a visa (see Visa exemption) and you plan to stay longer than 10 days, it is mandatory to register with the authorities. Registration should done at an OVIR (Отдел Виз И Регистраций) office. OVIR offices can be found in the larger cities in Tajikistan. A passport photo is necessary to complete the registration. Subsequently, you need to come back the next day to pick up the proof of registration.

Most tourists will be doing the registration in Dushanbe. The OVIR office in Dushanbe is located on Mirzo Tursunzoda Street close to the Opera Ballet. Be aware that this OVIR office is closed on Sundays and open until 12:00 on Saturdays. Normal working hours apply on week days.

Note that when you have a visa before entering Tajikistan (e.g. e-Visa), the registration is not needed. Therefore, it is a good idea to get a tourist visa in advance if you stay longer than 10 days to avoid the registration process, even if you are eligible for the visa exemption. The registration is somewhat cheaper than the e-Visa, but the time you lose to arrange the registration does not weigh up against the small savings.

Permits for the Pamir region

Access to the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) — home to the Pamirs — requires a special permit, which can be selected during the e-Visa process at an additional cost of 20 US Dollar. Alternatively, the GBAO permit can be acquired after arrival in Tajikistan at the OVIR office in Dushanbe. For each trek in the Pamir Mountains, the GBAO permit is required.

For certain parts of the Autonomous Oblast of Gorno-Badakhshan (GBAO), an extra permit is required in addition to the general GBAO permit. For example, an additional permit is required when visiting Lake Sarez or the Tajik National Park. Such permits can most easily be arranged on the spot in Tajikistan. If you participate in a trek with Trek Tajikistan that requires additional permits, we will arrange these for you.