You can enter the territory of Tajikistan with or without a visa.

Only citizens of certain countries can stay in Tajikistan without a visa (for a specified period of time) and subject to a valid passport.

Tourist visa to Tajikistan. This type of visa is issued to foreigners traveling for tourist or recreational purposes only. Most people can apply for a tourist visa to Tajikistan online, without an invitation.

What are the ways to apply for a visa to Tajikistan?

You can apply for a visa to Tajikistan in one of the following ways: 

1. Online, through the official eVisa portal of Tajikistan (available to citizens of the countries listed below). It is possible to apply for an e-visa only if the applicant is not in Tajikistan.

2. At an embassy or consulate if the applicant is not eligible for an e-visa.

3. Apply for a visa upon arrival at the airport.

1. What is the procedure for applying for an electronic visa?

A foreigner can apply for an e-visa to Tajikistan if he or she is a citizen of one of the following countries:

Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen.

It is possible to apply for an electronic visa to Tajikistan through the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the link - https://www.evisa.tj/index.evisa.html

This is a simplified process in which you need to: 

1. fill out the online application form;
2. pay the fee for an electronic visa to Tajikistan. The fee is non-refundable.
3. wait for the visa to be processed. It takes about two business days. It is possible to receive an electronic visa of Tajikistan to the applicant's e-mail.
4. print out a visa and take it with you while traveling;

An electronic visa to Tajikistan is issued only for tourism. If you also apply for a GBAO permit, the cost is about 70 USD. The GBAO permit allows the holder to enter the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

Please note that GBAO is the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, which requires a special permit in addition to the Tajikistan e-Visa. Holders of the Badakhshan Autonomous Mountainous Region permit are allowed to enter the Badakhshan Autonomous Mountainous Region, except for the territory of Sarez Lake.

Required documents for e-Visa:  

• a passport valid for at least six months;
• you must have a valid debit/credit card to pay the visa fee;
• no criminal record;
• being a citizen of a country eligible for an e-visa;
• availability of other necessary additional documents (depending on the applicant's nationality);

Validity period: Tajikistan e-Visa allows the holder to stay in the country for up to 60 days. The visa is a one-time visa and is valid for 90 days after its issuance;

Note: The validity of the e-visa differs from the length of stay. A tourist can enter Tajikistan at any time during the validity period. It should be noted that if a tourist wishes to enter Tajikistan before the date indicated on your e-visa, a new application should be created.

2. Obtaining a visa to Tajikistan at the embassy.

If the applicant is not eligible for an e-Visa to Tajikistan (in case the applicant is not a citizen of a country included in the list of countries eligible for e-Visa), he/she can obtain a visa at the nearest embassy/consulate or even upon arrival. This is a process that requires an online application and a personal application: 

• Registration on the website of the Tajikistan visa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the link - https://www.visa.gov.tj/index.html 

Next, you should choose the nationality and the embassy where the applicant receives the visa. If there is no diplomatic mission in Tajikistan, the applicant has the opportunity to obtain a visa upon arrival;

• Filling out the visa form;
• Attach the necessary documents, namely: a scanned copy of the passport, an invitation letter from a travel company in Tajikistan, a 5×6 photo. If a foreigner is traveling on business, an invitation letter from the company that hosts him/her is required;
• Pay for the visa. Visa fee for Tajikistan varies depending on the nationality of the applicant
• Wait for the visa to be processed. It usually takes about 5 business days. As a result, the applicant receives a confirmation by e-mail;
• Take the printed confirmation letter to the Tajik embassy of the applicant's choice to obtain the visa, or take it with them to apply upon arrival, depending on the applicant's choice.

3. Visa on arrival

You can obtain a visa to Tajikistan upon arrival if you have received electronic authorization in advance. However, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), citizens of some countries can obtain a Tajikistan visa upon arrival at Dushanbe airport even without prior authorization.

Note: before deciding whether to apply for a visa upon arrival, you should consult with the embassy.

It should be understood that this method of obtaining a visa is not the same as obtaining a Tajik visa at the airport after filling out an online application.

Is it possible to extend a visa to Tajikistan?

It is not possible to extend a tourist visa and a private visa to Tajikistan, except in extraordinary circumstances (force majeure - cases of force majeure include unexpected and unavoidable incidents arising from natural disasters, military operations and other similar disasters);

If there is another type of Tajik visa that a tourist wishes to extend, he or she must submit an electronic request to the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. In this case, the current visa must still be valid, and appropriate documents confirming the extension request are required.

Where and how to extend the validity of a visa?

The Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan may extend a visa on the basis of a previous visa and upon submission of the necessary documents confirming such extension, determined by the responsible consular officer authorized to extend the visa, unless other procedures are specified in these Regulations.

If a foreigner or stateless person has a valid or unused visa in his or her passport, his or her new visa is valid from the date of expiration of the previous visa.

For visa extension, a consular fee is charged in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan;

What documents are required for visa extension?

• travel document; 
• a visa application form filled out online and printed out by the applicant after submitting an online application to the authorized body;
• a photo of the applicant of the appropriate size and quality; 
• a medical certificate for HIV/AIDS issued by medical institutions of Tajikistan, if foreigners and stateless persons apply for a visa for more than three months, except for diplomatic, service, investor and humanitarian visas;
• a receipt of payment of the state duty and consular fee.

When is the decision on visa extension made?

The decision on visa extension is made within 10 working days from the date of submission of the required documents, unless other procedures are provided for by the regulatory legal documents of the Republic of Tajikistan or international treaties recognized by the Republic of Tajikistan;

Under what circumstances can a visa be canceled?

If an authorized state body decides to reduce the period of temporary stay of a foreigner or stateless person in Tajikistan, it may cancel his/her visa by affixing a stamp "canceled" and issuing an exit visa;

If a decision is made to expel a foreigner or stateless person from Tajikistan, the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan will cancel his/her visa. Information about this person is included in the list of specially designated citizens. If the category of a foreigner's or stateless person's visa does not correspond to the purpose of the trip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to cancel it and issue a visa of the appropriate category;

When can a visa be renewed?

A visa may be restored after verification of the grounds and confirmation of the reasons for its issuance if it has technical errors, is damaged or lost. The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign consular offices of Tajikistan have the right to renew a visa on the basis of an application from a foreigner, stateless person and a written request from an organization or a citizen of Tajikistan.

If a previous passport is canceled due to the change or receipt of a new passport by a foreigner or stateless person who holds a valid visa, his or her visa may be renewed in the new passport on the basis of a written application.

Foreign nationals who have a standard visa or can enter Tajikistan without a visa must register with the relevant institutions?

Foreign nationals who hold a standard visa or can enter Tajikistan without a visa must register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 10 working days of arrival;

Are Tajik legal entities and individuals who invite a foreigner/stateless person liable?

Tajik legal entities and individuals who invite foreigners or stateless persons shall be responsible for the legal stay of their invitees in Tajikistan and shall bear financial responsibility if the foreigners/stateless persons do not have sufficient financial resources to leave the country or in case of deportation. Applications of legal entities and individuals, regardless of their administrative and legal form and form of ownership, who have previously invited foreigners/stateless persons who do not comply with the requirements of Tajik legislation, shall not be considered for confirmation of the invitation and visa of Tajikistan.

What are the peculiarities of granting a travel permit to the border areas of the Republic of Tajikistan?

The authorization to travel to special border zones is attached to the electronic visa application. To obtain a permit to travel to special border zones, the applicant must select this option when filling out the electronic visa application form.

When traveling with children, you should consider: 

• Children under 14 years of age who do not have a passport must be entered in their parents' passports. Children aged 6 years and older must have a photo inserted in their passport;
• If a minor child is traveling with one of the parents, a notarized power of attorney from the other parent is required;
• If an underage child (under 18 years of age) is traveling unaccompanied by parents, a notarized power of attorney from both parents to the accompanying person or to the receiving party in Tajikistan must be provided;
• In the case of a single-parent family, notarized copies of the relevant documents must be provided, including: a) death certificate of the second parent; b) certificate of a single mother; d) Form 25 provided by the registry office if the father is entered in the birth certificate according to the mother; e) court order on the unknown whereabouts of the second parent

Before traveling to Tajikistan, it is recommended to get vaccinated against the following diseases: measles, rubella, typhoid, malaria, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis A, dysentery, salmonellosis.