Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There is a general threat from terrorism in Tajikistan. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See the Terrorism section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• The overall security situation in Tajikistan is currently stable but tourism, health and transport infrastructure in country is poor and travel requires careful planning. You should avoid off-road areas immediately adjoining the Afghan, Uzbek and Kyrgyz borders, which may be mined. See the Local Travel section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale occurred in the Vanj district (on the edge of the Pamirs) in Tajikistan on 2 January 2010.  There are no reported casualties but the extent of the damage to property and communications is unclear.  
  
  
• One British nationals required consular assistance in Tajikistan in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident:  arrests, for a variety of offences (1 case). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (0 cases).
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance including evacuation by air ambulance before travelling.  See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice .

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a general threat from terrorism in Tajikistan.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

Recent incidents in Dushanbe include:

• 30th July 2009 – A small explosion near Korvon Market that injured a police officer.
• 26th July 2009 – A small explosion near Hotel Tojikiston which caused no injuries.
• 25th July 2009 – A small explosion near Dushanbe International Airport.  No one was injured.
  

No one has claimed responsibility for the July 2009 attacks and the Tajik authorities have made no initial identification of perpetrators.

• On 14th November 2007 there was a small explosion at the Kohi Vahdat conference centre in Dushanbe that killed one person.  Tajik authorities never formally concluded their investigation into this attack.
  

We believe there is a threat of kidnapping in Tajikistan.  British nationals should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers.  The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.  

For further information see our Terrorism Abroad page.
 Crime Armed incidents continue between border forces and drug traffickers along the Afghan border.  There have been occasional muggings and petty crime against foreigners but Dushanbe is a relatively safe city.  Throughout the country there is little evidence of criminality directed against foreigners.  In rural areas, however, single women should avoid going out alone at night, and may suffer harassment even during the day. For more general information see our Victims of Crime page.
 Political Situation Tajikistan Country Profile. It is now over ten years since the opposing parties signed the 1997 peace agreement that brought the Tajik civil war to an end and the political situation is currently stable.  However, you should remain vigilant in public places, and be alert to any security related announcements by the Tajik authorities.
 Local Travel You should not venture off-road in areas immediately adjoining the Afghan, Uzbek and Kyrgyz borders, as there are both marked and unmarked minefields.  You should also take local advice in the Tavildara region of central Tajikistan as there are a few minefields dating from the civil war in the mountains. Medical and rescue facilities are unreliable where they exist at all.  Tourist facilities are very underdeveloped, and goods and services taken for granted in the UK may not be available. 
Road Travel Roads outside the main towns are poorly maintained and often only accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicles.  Conditions are particularly treacherous in spring due to the risk of avalanches and landslides. Many interior roads are only open in the summer months. It is possible to drive from Dushanbe to the North via a tunnel still under construction.  This road is particularly dangerous in winter due to icy conditions and frequent avalanches and drivers can be trapped for a long time if caught in an avalanche because of the uninhabited mountain terrain.  Rehabilitation of the Dushanbe to Khojand and Vahdat to Jirgital roads is causing lengthy delays to journeys.  Certain sections of these roads are only open to traffic after working hours.
 Local vehicles are poorly maintained and driving standards rudimentary.  Petrol stations can be limited outside towns and there are no breakdown companies.  Make sure you take all you need for your journey, allowing for delays.  Emergency communications such as satellite phones are advisable for up-country travel.  You should be aware that neighbouring countries might unilaterally close borders temporarily. 
For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.
  Air Travel Most international flights to Dushanbe are by Tajik Air, the state airline.  It is not known whether maintenance procedures on Tajik Air are always properly observed or whether passengers are covered by insurance.  Tajik Air is not a member of IATA.  Turkish Airlines flies to Dushanbe from Istanbul twice a week.  Somon Air is now flying once a week to and from Dubai, and everyday to and from Moscow with a small modern fleet of Boeing 737-800 and 737-400 aircraft. On 2 June, air Baltic commenced twice-weekly flights to Dushanbe from Riga.  Somon Air are IATA registered Flights in Tajikistan may be cancelled at short notice or substantially delayed.  Overloading on local flights is not uncommon.

Local laws and customs

Tajikistan has a secular constitution. Most Tajik citizens are Muslims.  Some, particularly in rural areas, may be conservative in outlook.  Women travelling alone may not be accorded respect. Homosexuality is not illegal under Tajik law but local attitudes are conservative, particularly outside the main cities, where certain strands of Muslim belief foster little tolerance for homosexuality. You should take care over public displays of affection. Possession and use of drugs is illegal and, if found guilty, you could face a lengthy prison sentence in very basic conditions. You should carry a copy of your passport and Tajik visa with you at all times, as there are frequent document inspections by the police. Taking photos of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with the authorities. For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your Trip page.

Entry requirements

Visas

British nationals require a visa to enter Tajikistan, which you should get before you travel. The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in London offer a visa service issuing the following types of multiple entry visas:

Tourist visas are valid for a period of up to two months; and Private visitor visas for up to three months.

Please check your visa carefully. If you have been issued any visa other than a “Tourist” visa, you will be required to register at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in London also processes applications for travel permits to the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.

Evidence of flight reservations/tickets or a travel itinerary is required for all tourist visa applications.  Only those individuals applying for a private visitor visa are required to submit a letter of invitation.  Further information of the visa application procedures can be found on the Embassy website, listed below: http://www.tajembassy.org.uk/.  It is not possible to obtain a Tajik visa at a land border crossing.

Once you arrive in Tajikistan visa extensions can only be applied for at (and made by) Consular Department of the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

Multi-entry and transit visas
Special permits are also required for any travel to areas/districts in the Khatlon Region that border Afghanistan (e.g. Panj, Kumsangir) - these permits should be obtained from the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dushanbe prior to travel.

If you are travelling back to Russia, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan, you should get the relevant re-entry visa before entering Tajikistan. Transit visas for Tajikistan are usually valid for three days.   If you wish to stay longer, you must get a longer-term visa through Intourist Tajikistan or at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after arrival.  Special permits (available from both the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in London and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dushanbe), are required if you wish to visit the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Region (Pamirs).  Travelling with children  Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  We do not currently allow our officers based in Tajikistan to be accompanied by their children.

Health

Tajikistan is a very poor country, with poor medical facilities and a shortage of basic medical supplies.  Brand name drugs may not be genuine.  TB, typhoid and cholera occur in Tajikistan.  There are occasional cases of malaria in summer in the Khatlon region and in the south of Gorno-Badakhshan. You should not drink tap water and you should also particular care over food and drink preparation.  You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Tajikistan you should seek medical attention immediately. If you plan to stay for more than 90 days you must present a medical certificate that you are HIV-free, or take a test.  We advise against taking the test in Tajikistan, due to the poor quality of medical facilities. In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 10,000 adults aged 15 or over in Tajikistan were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.3% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.  For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.
 You should seek medical advice before travelling to Tajikistan and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.  For more general information see our Travel Health and Swine Flu pages.

Natural disasters

Tajikistan is located in an active seismic zone.   Avalanches and landslides frequently block roads in the spring.

General

Insurance

Comprehensive travel and medical insurance, including evacuation by air ambulance, is essential.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.   For more general information see our Travel Insurance page.
 If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is our When Things Go Wrong page.
  Registration Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Tourist infrastructure

Tajikistan has not yet developed a tourist infrastructure.  You should preferably arrange to be met on arrival and guided by a responsible local business, NGO, tourist or other organisation.  Few people speak English, but most speak Russian as well as Tajik.

Electricity Supply

The electricity supply is nominally 220v.  Appliances use two-pin round plugs.

British Embassy in Tajikistan

The British Embassy in Tajikistan is at 65 Mirzo Tirsunzade Street, Dushanbe;

Tel:  (+992 37) 2 24 22 21

Fax:  (+992 37) 2 27 17 26

E-mail:  dushanbe.reception@fco.gov.uk.  The Embassy can offer consular advice and assistance, but is unable at present to issue passports.

Office hours are GMT: October - April: Mon-Fri: 0400-0800/ 0900-1200;  May - September: Mon-Thurs: 03.30-0800/ 0900-1200, Fri: 03.30-08.30
Local Time: October - April: Mon-Fri: 09.00-13.00/ 14.00-17.00;  May-September: Mon-Thurs: 08.30-13.00/ 14.00-17.00, Fri: 08.30-13.30

The nearest passport issuing office is at the British Embassy in Moscow, Russia (tel:  +7 095 956 7200; fax:  +7 095 956 7201)

Money

Tajikistan is a cash-only economy.  You should only change money at officially authorised currency exchanges.  Very few establishments accept credit cards and none accept travellers’ cheques.  There is a small, but increasing, number of ATM machines in Dushanbe and other larger towns, but none in rural areas.  US dollars are the most widely accepted foreign currency; others, apart from Euros or Russian roubles, may be difficult to exchange.