Tajikistan Travel Information

There are increasingly stringent entry and exit restrictions, as well as travel restrictions between regions inland. According to Abbreviationfinder, TJK stands for Tajikistan in geography.

Responsible Embassy is home-based ambassador in Oslo:
Ole Johan Bjørnøy, Ambassador to Tajikistan, Section for Russia, Eurasia and Regional Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Safety

Travelers to Tajikistan are encouraged to exercise caution. The traffic picture can be chaotic and there is a lot of unruly driving. Dark driving on country roads is not recommended. Exposed roads are rarely secured. Some stretches may be impassable during winter.

Norwegians traveling to Tajikistan should have valid travel insurance as the National Insurance Scheme does not cover expenses related to illness or accidents.

Everyone who is going to the region should register at reiseregistrering.no. Due to frequent police checks, it is advisable to always bring your passport, as well as a copy of both passports and visas.

In the border areas of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, as well as in some places in the Rasht Valley, there are some unexplored mines. The mines are mainly located off the beaten track and the areas are usually well marked.

Tajikistan is located in a seismically active area.

The risk of terrorist incidents in Tajikistan is considered low but cannot be ruled out. Traveling Norwegians are advised to stay away from any calls for protests and demonstrations, which are being hard-fought by the authorities.

  • Countryaah: Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan. Check to find information of population, geography, history, and economy about the capital city.

Norwegians must register with the authorities within three days of arrival. Failure to register can result in fines and deportation. Normally, the hotel will be able to handle registration and it is therefore normal to dispose of the passport. Traveling Norwegians should make sure to get a copy of the passport while registering. For longer stays, the traveler must ensure that the registration is valid at all times.

In the event of a crisis or emergency, the public can contact the UD’s 24-hour operating center on tel: +47 23 95 00 00. E-mail: UDops@mfa.no

The German embassy in Dushanbe offers Norwegians in Tajikistan to register on the embassy’s list for crisis management and consular affairs. For more information on registration see the websites of the German Embassy in Dushanbe

Who can ask for assistance? All Norwegian citizens can request assistance, but also refugees or stateless persons residing in Norway can expect assistance during a temporary stay abroad. Persons who move abroad to settle there or to stay there for at least 6 months must, before departure, report to the National Population Register in the place of residence or residence.

Major Landmarks in Tajikistan

Entry

Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.

Norwegian citizens who wish to visit Tajikistan must apply for a visa. This is done via the electronic portal of the Tajik Foreign Ministry. Travelers must be aware that entry into the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) requires a special permit in addition to a regular visa. GBAO, with the Pamir Mountains and spectacular scenery, is a favorite destination for tourists and constitutes about half of Tajikistan’s territory.

The authorization can be obtained at Tajik embassies and consulates, or by submitting an application to the Tajik Foreign Ministry or the Ministry of the Interior’s Visa and Registration (OVIR) Department upon entry into the country. The Tajik authorities encourage sponsoring organizations (tourist agencies etc.) to apply for permission in good time. The GBAO special permit is a separate note in the passport that is not written on the visa. The regime is strictly enforced and travelers arrested in GBAO without permission run the risk of criminal prosecution.

Tajikistan Embassy in London:
Embassy of Tajikistan
3 Shortlands, Hammersmith, London, W6 8DA
Phone: +44 (0) 203 609 8788
Email: info@tajembassy.org.uk
Website: www.tajembassy.org.uk

More information about visa to Tajikistan via the country’s embassy in London can be found here.

Tajikistan Embassy in Berlin: Embassy of the
Republic of Tajikistan in the Federal Republic of Germany
Perlebergerstr. 43, 10559 Berlin
Telephone: + 49 30 347 93 00 Fax: + 49 30 347 93 029/347 93 018
E-mail: info@botschaft-Tadschikistan.de
Website: http://www.botschaft-tadschikistan.de

Health

Coronavirus (covid-19): No cases of the coronavirus in Tajikistan have been reported so far. However, cases have been recorded in all countries bordering the five Central Asian countries. China is relatively large in all five Central Asian countries. However, Tajikistan has taken measures such as stricter border control and temperature screening on arrival. The situation may change rapidly and may, for example, lead to quarantine after entry. It is recommended to keep abreast of developments in planning travel to Tajikistan.

You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.

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Vaccines that may be appropriate before entering Tajikistan may include hepatitis A, diphtheria and tetanus, typhoid fever, and drug malaria prophylaxis.

For updated recommendations on vaccination before departure, see information from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

The hospitals in Tajikistan do not meet Western standards, and competence and materials are lacking, even in the capital. It is not common for health professionals to know Western languages.

For Immediate Help –
Ministry of Emergency Situations (24hrs) Tel. +992 372 279 509
Tel. +992 372 231 311
Tel. +992 372 369 474
From local phones 111
¡°Shifo¡± Diagnostic and Medical Center
Tel.: (992 372) 227-1814
E-mail: farma_dushanbe@mail.ru
Website: www.dlcshifo.tj/eng.htm
3, Lohuti street Dushanbe

Prospectus Medical Clinic Tel: (+992 37) 224 3092
Fax: (+992 37) 224 3062

Email: prospekt-clinic@tajnet.com
Website: www.prospektclinic.com
33, Sanoi Street Dushanbe

Note that the National Insurance Scheme does not normally cover expenses that Norwegians in Tajikistan have to bear in connection with illness and accidents. It is therefore strongly recommended to have valid travel insurance.

Tap water is not recommended for cooking and drinking and food poisoning occurs relatively frequently.

Practical information

According to allcitycodes, the area code for calls from Norway to Tajikistan is +992. The telephone lines are of varying quality. Calling abroad is expensive. GSM coverage is good in the capital.

Tajikistan is at GMT + five hours.

The voltage of the power supply in Tajikistan is 220 volts, 50 Hz. The tensile strength can often be variable. The contact plug is the same as in Norway. The Internet domain is.tj. Although in recent years things have improved somewhat in some places, large parts of the country are still severely affected by chronic power outages throughout the year. Some areas only have electricity for four hours a day.

In the big cities there are more and more ATMs, but not in the countryside. With the exception of international hotels, cards are usually not accepted as a means of payment. The national currency is Tajik Somoni. It is easiest to exchange from US dollars. Euro, Russian rubles and Chinese yuan are also easy to exchange.

Official Holidays in Tajikistan: January 1 – First New Year’s Day, March 8 – International Women’s Day, March 21 – Nauruz Pre-Muslim (Persian) New Year, May 1 – Workers’ International Match Day, June 27 – in memory of the 1997 peace treaty, September 9 – Independence Day (USSR), November 6 – Constitution Day, November 9 – National Reconciliation Day.

The people of Tajikistan are very hospitable. Still, you sometimes run into people who see service as a foreign word.

Tajikistan has a secular system of government and most Tajiks are Sunni Muslims. Many Tajiks, especially women, dress in traditional clothing, but there are no special requirements for clothing or headgear. There are also no special restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol.

As a traveler you should respect local traditions and customs and be aware that your actions do not offend the culture and religion of the country.

Be careful about taking pictures in places that may be perceived to have military and/or security interests. All possession and use of drugs is totally prohibited and can result in lengthy prison sentences. It is recommended to carry a passport or a certified copy of the passport at all times due to frequent police checks.

Tajik, which is closely related to Dari and Farsi, is the official language of the country and the native language of most of its inhabitants. Russian also has official status and still plays a significant role in the capital, Dushanbe, although the language is on the way back. The Tajik elite still speaks good Russian, and the large number of male foreign workers who travel to Russia each year means that travelers will be able to understand themselves in Russian in most places. English is not widely used, but is also on the rise here.