Visa, GBAO permit and border crossings Tajikistan

Our complete guide to crossing Tajik borders in 2025

Nestled in the heart of Central Asia, Tajikistan is a country with much to offer adventure-seeking travelers. If you’re planning to travel to Tajikistan, it’s essential to know the formalities for obtaining a visa, and to be aware of the status of the various border crossings for those traveling by road. In addition, certain regions and protected areas require special permits(GBAO, zorkul, etc.). By taking these requirements into account, you’ll be able to travel around the country in complete safety, while enjoying the magnificent scenery and warm hospitality of the Tajik people.

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Administrative procedures for entering Tajikistan

Which visa do I need to travel to Tajikistan?

Nationals of over 60 countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, do not require a visa for a stay of less than 30 days. However, you will need to register in person after 10 working days (i.e. 14 days) at one of the official offices of the Ministry of the Interior(OVIR) in Dushanbe, Khorog or Murghab.

A visa is required for stays of over 30 days. You can apply for an e-visa on the official website (highly recommended) or directly to the airport. Please note: it is not possible to obtain a Tajik visa directly at a land border.

Please note that the Upper Badakshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), which covers a large part of the Pamir route, requires a special permit, which you can obtain with your evisa or order online here.

Entering Tajikistan by land with your vehicle

When you enter Tajikistan by land with a vehicle, you will be issued a TIP (temporary import document) for a period of 16 days, which means that your vehicle is authorized to remain within the country’s borders for a maximum of 16 days. Depending on the border crossing, it may be possible to request a longer period.

Unlike Iran, India and other Asian countries, you don’t need a Carnet de Passage en Douane (CPD) to enter Tajikistan.

You’ll also have to pay an import tax. For a car, this will cost between $25 and $45 (depending on size). For a motorcycle, the import tax is $10. Beware, Tajik border guards will invent all sorts of “taxes” to make you pay (disinfection tax, road tax, border tax, etc.). The only tax payable is the import tax.

At the border, your vehicle is only registered for 16 days. If you wish to extend the import period for your vehicle, you must go directly to one of the country’s customs offices in Dushanbe, Khorog or Kyzyl-Art.

 

Tajikistan’s main border crossings

Last update: January 2025

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Tajikistan-Uzbekistan border

There are numerous border crossings between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, but only the Oybek-Buston, Konibodom/Beshariq, Denau/Tursunzoda and Gulbahor checkpoints are open to foreign visitors. Border crossings between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan generally pose no particular difficulties. Beware, however, of corrupt border guards on the Tajik side and very strict controls on the Uzbek side (drone strictly forbidden).

➡️ Gulbahor

Border post between Shahrtuz and Termez open daily from 8am to 5pm. The road is in poor condition, but passage is generally straightforward. Please note that there is no insurance or exchange offices on the Tajik and Uzbek sides.

➡️ Denau/Tursunzoda

The border post operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Public transport and shared cabs are available but fairly expensiveThe route is not very busy. You’ll find a bureau de change and SIM cards, but no insurance.

➡️ Sarazm/Djartepa

Border post between Pendzhikent and Samarkand. Passage is generally quick and easy. There are exchange offices.

➡️ Oybek/Buston

Generally straightforward passage between Khujand and Tashkent. The border crossing is open 24/7. There are exchange offices and SIM cards available on the Uzbek and Tajik sides. No insurance available on the Tajik side. If you don’t have your own means of transport, buses and cabs are available.

➡️ Konibodom/Beshariq

This border post on the Khujand – Kokand road to the Fergana Valley is not very popular. It reopened in 2018. There are exchange offices on the Uzbek and Tajik sides. No SIM card available. No insurance.

Tajikistan border China

Linking the Pamir and Karakorum roads, the Qolma/Kulma pass is the only border crossing between Tajikistan and China.

➡️ Qolma / Kulma

After a long period of closure (between 2014 and 2017), the Qolma border crossing is once again open to foreign visitors. The border crossing is open all year round, except on Saturdays and Sundays. The road between Murghab and Tashkurgan is in good condition, but beware of the snow that covers it in winter, sometimes as late as May! Note that it There is no exchange office before Kashgar or Murghab. The nearest ATM is in Kashgar on the Chinese side, or in Khorog on the Tajik side. Cyclists have to put their bikes on a truck to cross the border.

Border Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan

Due to a border dispute between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, all border crossings remained closed for over two years. Since 2023, the borders between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have reopened to foreign travelers.

➡️Kyzyl-Art

This border crossing reopened in July 2023. Please note that you must apply to the Kyrgyz Tourism Department for permission to cross the border. You can contact them at . Some agencies, such as Destination Osh, can provide this authorization more quickly for $15. You can contact them by whatsapp at this number: +996776770090.

The track to cross the border is in very poor condition (4×4 obligatory). You won’t find any exchange offices, insurance or cabs.

In the KG-TJ direction, please note that you will need a GBAO permit.

➡️ Kulundu/Chuchand

The border post reopened in 2024. Please note that there is another border crossing 12km further west, which is strictly forbidden to foreigners.

➡️ Isfara/Batken

The border post reopened in 2024.

Tajikistan border Afghanistan

There are several border crossings between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The only one officially open to foreign visitors is the Panji Poyon/Shir Khan Bandar post.

➡️ Shir Khan Bandar/Panji Poyon

This border post connects Dushanbe to Kunduz via the Friendship Bridge over the Panj River. The border crossing is open every day, but only for a limited time: from 9 to 11 am and from 2 to 4 pm. No particular problem, but be prepared to answer questions from Afghan guards about your itinerary and program in Afghanistan.

Insuring your vehicle in Tajikistan

There seems to be no obligation to take out insurance for your vehicle in Tajikistan. In any case, premises are very rarely insured, and no insurance is available at the border. To insure your vehicle, go directly to one of the insurance companies in Khorog, Dushanbe and Khujand.

The GBAO permit in Tajikistan

What is the GBAO permit?

TheGorno Badakshan AutonomousOblast in Tajikistan is subject to strict regulations governing the movement of people, particularly foreigners. If you wish to visit this region, it is essential to apply for a GBAO permit in advance.

The Gorno-Badakshan region includes tourist attractions such as Lake Karakul, Bartang Valley, Murghab, Zorkul Reserve, Bartang Valley, Khorog, etc.

gbao permit tajikistan

How much does it cost to obtain a GBAO permit?

It is possible to apply for a permit directly at the Dushanbe OVIR. You can also apply for a permit at any travel agency, for a fee of varying amounts.

To make things easier for you, we’ve set up a simple, secure system for ordering your GBAO license online in just a few clicks. You fill in a form and within 4 days (or 24 hours as an option), you receive your GBAO permit by e-mail.

How long is the permit valid for?

The GBAO permit is validity of one month.

Make copies of your permit

Once you’ve obtained your permit, make several copies, as you’ll need to leave one at each military checkpoint. Your passport will also be requested for verification. Please check that there are no errors in the passport number, the dates and your name on the permit. A simple mistake and you’ll be stuck at the checkpoint.

Zorkul reserve permit

The Zorkul nature reserve is located around the lake of the same name in Tajikistan, along the border with Afghanistan. A poorly maintained track takes you through the reserve’s magnificent wild landscapes, between lakes, frozen rivers and snow-capped peaks. The reserve is accessible from the Wakhan valley or from Murghab. To enter, a permit is required. You can obtain it very easily from PECTA in Khorog or Murghab. Permits are systematically checked at the Khargush checkpoint (coming from the Wakhan).

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“If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to join our facebook discussion group dedicated to Tajikistan. You can also share your experience of the country and/or discover photos taken by other travellers.

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