Kyrgyzstan: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
The visa required for entry into Kyrgyzstan can be obtained from one of the Kyrgyz diplomatic missions abroad with the passport (identity card is not sufficient) or child ID. For tourist visas with a validity period of up to one month, the visa can also be issued when entering Kyrgyzstan at Manas Airport and at certain border crossings. However, it is recommended to obtain the Kyrgyz visa from the Kyrgyz representations before leaving the country. The child ID card is recognized as a travel document up to the age of 16. The duty to report to the police has been abolished for travelers with German citizenship. Visa extensions for tourist visas up to 3 months are generally possible at all Kyrgyz consular offices (Bishkek, Osh, Karakol, Naryn).
Issuing of visas in Germany
Embassy
Visa department of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic
Otto – Suhr – Allee 146
10585 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 -347813-38, -37, -61
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 -347813 -62
http://www.botschaft-kirgistan.de
Consulates and issuing visas in Austria and Switzerland:
see at the end of the article
Import and export of foreign currency
- Local currencyThe import and unlimited export of the local currency are only permitted for travelers residing in Kyrgyzstan. There is an obligation to declare.
- Foreign currenciesThere are no restrictions on the import of foreign currencies, but a declaration is required. The export of foreign currencies is limited to the declared amount imported.
Departure fee
In many countries, a fee must be paid when leaving the country. There is no exit fee when leaving Kyrgyzstan.
Import and export of goods
When entering Kyrgyzstan, tourists must fill out a customs declaration form that must be kept until they leave the country. This entitles the holder to import items for personal use as well as currencies and valuables that must be listed on the form.
Kyrgyzstan: travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings
Infectious Diseases
In Kyrgyzstan, the following infectious diseases, which are not or less common in Germany or Central and Northern Europe, are to be expected:
- Malaria: There is a rather low risk of malaria in the country, especially between June and October. Almost 100% of the infections are caused by tertian malaria. There is no risk of malaria infection in areas above 2,000 m.
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Lyme disease – from tick bites
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE), caused by tick bites
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio
- tetanus
- rabies
- Typhoid – however, there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Recommended vaccinations
when traveling to Kyrgyzstan are recommended vaccinations against the following diseases:
- Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
- Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country
- Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
- Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Malaria prophylaxis
When traveling in the country, it is advisable to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.
Vaccination requirements There are no vaccination regulations when entering or staying in the country.
Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?
Most children in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.
Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007.
There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory additional payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge:
- cholera
- diphtheria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Pneumococci
- Polyo (polio)
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- rabies
- typhus
Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.
As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
Warning notices
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
Telephone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Kyrgyzstan: Transportation
How to get to Kyrgyzstan
The national airline Kyrgyzstan Airlines (KGA) (Internet: www.kyrgyzair.de) offers direct flight connections twice a month from Hanover and three times a month from Frankfurt/M. to Bishkek. Lufthansa flies five times a week from Frankfurt/M. to Almaty in Kazakhstan. There are regular bus connections to Bishkek.
Aeroflot also flies flights to Bishkek from Düsseldorf, Hanover, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt/Main and Munich.
Travel in the country
Air connections
There are connections from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata, Kara-Kol, Naryn and Osh. The central Tienschan region can be reached by helicopter, which mainly transports mountaineers to the Inylchek Valley. Safety standards in national air traffic do not always correspond to Western European standards. With a YAK-40 or a small Antonov propeller machine you can admire mountains with snow-capped peaks for about 35 EUR from Bishkek to Osh for three quarters of an hour. The flights are operated by Kyrgyzstan Airlines and Altyn Air. Tickets are available in travel agencies and in the “Aviakassui”, which are available in every city with an airport.
Bus
The public buses and marshrutkas (minibuses) run in Bishkek from the western bus station in the direction of Kara Balta, Talas, Toktugul and Osh, from the east bus station in the direction of Kant, Ivanowka and Tokmak. Some buses also depart from the Osh Bazaar.
Railways
There are train connections to the Russian Federation and the other Central Asian republics. However, rail travel is generally not recommended because of the endangered security situation. The only inland route leads from Bishkek to Balikchi, at the western end of Lake Issyk-Kul. Osh in the south of the country can be reached by train via Tashkent (Uzbekistan).
Roads
Kyrgyzstan has a road network of around 28,400 km.
The most important international roads lead to Kazakhstan, there is also a border crossing to China. However, the road conditions are often poor, in winter the mountain passes are often closed, in spring floods make many roads impassable due to the snowmelt.
Car
rental There are no car rental companies in Kyrgyzstan; only the owner of a car is allowed to drive his car there. But you can rent cars with a driver from travel agencies. At the main train station in Bishkek you can rent inexpensive taxis to Osh, for example.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Kyrgyzstan is:
KS |
Kyrgyzstan: currency, shopping and exchange rate
The national currency of Kyrgyzstan is the
Som = 100 Tyin
The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:
- 20th
- 5
- 1
as well as the following notes in the Tyin area
- 50
- 10
- 1
Coins are not minted.
Exchange rate
You can find a currency converter here:
www3.forium.de
Bank opening hours
- Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: closed
Shop
Shop opening times
The shops in Kyrgyzstan are open at very different times.
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
The bazaars in Bishkek, Osh and Al-Medin are particularly known for their handicrafts and the wide range of food on offer. Embroidered felt hats, the so-called kalpaks, are particularly popular, as are felt carpets and chess games with traditional Kyrgyz figures.
Kyrgyzstan: Embassies and Consulates
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Kyrgyzstan embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations of Kyrgyzstan in Germany
German representations in Kyrgyzstan
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Razzakow-Uliza 28
720040 Bishkek
Tel: 00996 – (0) 312 – 90 50 00 00
996 – (0) 312 – 66 19 75
Fax: 00996 – (0) 312 – 66 66 30
Email: info @ bischkek. diplo.de
Web: www.bischkek.diplo.de
Austrian representations in Kyrgyzstan
Embassy
The embassy in Kazakhstan is responsible
Representations of Kyrgyzstan in Austria
Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in Vienna
Invalidenstrasse 3/8
1030 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 535 03 79
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 535 03 79 13
Email: [email protected]
Swiss representations in Kyrgyzstan
Embassy
The embassy in Uzbekistan is responsible
Office for Cooperation of the Swiss Embassy and
Consular Agency Bishkek Swiss Consular Agency and Office for Cooperation
144 Panfilov Street
Bishkek 720 040, Kyrgyzstan
Tel: 00996 – 312 66 64 80-84
Fax: 00996 – 312 66 64 89
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.swisscoop.kg
Representations of Kyrgyzstan in Switzerland
Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in Geneva
Rue du Lac 4-6
1207 Geneva
Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 707 92 20
Fax: 0041 – (0) 22 – 707 92 21
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.kyrgyzmission.net