Tajikistan: Transport/Getting There
How to get to Tajikistan
The national airline Tajikistan Airlines (7J), for example, flies from Munich to Dushanbe in around seven hours.
Travel in the country
Bus
When the roads are open, there is bus service between the major cities of Tajikistan. Long-distance bus traffic is repeatedly interrupted by border closings and is unreliable.
Roads
The Tajik road network is relatively well developed, but some road sections are only partially accessible, depending on the weather conditions. From October to March three of the four most important connecting roads from the capital Dushanbe to the south-west of the country are closed due to heavy snowfall, in the east the road to Khorog via Khalaikum, in the north-east the connection to the Kyrgyz city of Osh through the Garm valley and to the north the road to Khujand over the Anzob Pass and Ayni. The only way to reach these regions in the winter months is through Uzbekistan. The road between Khorog and the Kyrgyz city of Osh is passable all year round and leads through the Pamir mountain range, which is well worth seeing.
Rental
cars Rental cars are not available. Taxis and chauffeured cars are available in all major cities. Officially marked taxis are generally safe, but should not be shared with strangers and the fare should be negotiated before departure.
Railway
There are train routes from Dushanbe via Kurgon-Teppa and Schaartuz to Termez on the Uzbek-Afghan border, from Dushanbe via Kurgon-Teppa with Tugul on the Afghan border and from the Fergana Valley via Khujand to the Uzbek city of Samarkand. Passengers should stow money and valuables in the train compartment out of sight under beds or seats. The door should be locked from the inside and the compartment should never be left unattended.
Next to airplanes, trains are the most reliable way to get to Dushanbe. A branch line of the Trans-Caspian Railway runs north from the Afghan border in Uzbekistan to Dushanbe. The drive from Tashkent (Uzbekistan) to Dushanbe takes about 22 hours, from Moscow it takes about four days to drive to the Tajik capital. Khujand in the north of the country can be reached directly from Samarkand (Uzbekistan). A new connection leads from Dushanbe to Volgograd (Russian Federation).
Air connections Domestic air traffic exists with Tajik Air (Internet: www.tajikistanairlines.com) to Khorog (Berg-Badachschan), Khujand and Kulob. These connections are dependent on the weather conditions and fuel shortages that occur all year round.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Tajikistan is:
TJ |
Tajikistan: Entry Requirements
Formalities, visas
To enter Tajikistan, an invitation with the specified duration is required. This invitation must be confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. A corresponding visa will be issued on the basis of this invitation. Visa applications are available from the consular section of the embassy. One copy of the visa application is filled out by hand in block letters and sent to the embassy with a passport photo.
Foreigners are obliged to register with the Tajik interior authorities within three days of entering the country. The responsible registration office is called OVIR (Dept. for Visa and Registration) and is usually located at the respective city administration (“Chukumat”). Without registration, there is a risk of departure delays and fines. This also applies if the length of stay is exceeded without a timely extension of the visa. For trips to the high mountains in the east of the country (Gorno-Badachschan or Pamir), a special permit is required, which can usually only be applied for after entry. Unfortunately, a very long processing time of up to three weeks must be expected.
You are responsible for issuing visas in Germany
Visa department of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan
Otto-Suhr-Allee 84
10585 Berlin
Tel: +49 – (0) 30 34793029
Fax: +49 – (0) 30 3479300
www.botschaft-tadschikistan.de
Import and export of foreign currency
- Local currencyThe import of local currency is unlimited, but must be declared. The export of the local currency is prohibited.
- Foreign currenciesThe import of foreign currency is subject to declaration. The export is limited to the amount declared on entry.
Departure fee
There is no fee to be paid when leaving Tajikistan.
Import and export of goods
Gifts and other goods for personal use may be imported up to a value of US $ 500.
Tajikistan: Travel Medicine, Vaccinations and Warnings
Infectious Diseases
In Tajikistan, the following infectious diseases are to be expected in Germany and Central and Northern Europe:
- Malaria: There is only a low risk of malaria in the country, mainly in the months of June to October, especially in the areas … Between 90% and 95% of infections are caused by tertiana malaria, the rest with tropica malaria.
- Lyme disease – is transmitted through tick bites.
- Cholera – but there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Hepatitis A and B
- Leishmaniasis Disease
- Polio, polio
- tetanus
- rabies
- typhus
Recommended vaccinations
when traveling to Tajikistan are recommended vaccinations against the following diseases:
- Cholera – but among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- 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, especially when traveling to the areas mentioned above, 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.
Compulsory vaccination
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 co-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.
he private health insurances usually (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
Current warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
Phone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Tajikistan: currency, shopping
The national currency of Tajikistan is the Somoni = 100 Diram.
The following Australian dollar bills are valid and in circulation in the country:
- 1
- 5
- 10
- 20th
- 50
- 100 somoni
There are the following coins: 1, 5, 10, 50 diram.
The banknotes are printed in Tajik on one side and in English on the other.
Conversion rate
You can find a currency converter here:
www3.forium.de
Bank opening hours
Saturday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: closed.
Shop
Shop opening times
Monday to Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: closed.
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
There are often supply bottlenecks in Tajikistan. Behind the Hotel Tajikistan in Dushanbe there is a bazaar and street market where you can buy groceries and some handicrafts. You can also buy groceries at the Schohmansur Bazaar (also called Ziljoni Bazaar) near Maidoni Aini.
Tajikistan: Embassies and consulates
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Tajikistan embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations of Tajikistan in Germany
German representations in Tajikistan
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany ul.Somoni
59/1
734064 Dushanbe
Tel: 00992 – (0) 43 – 377 30 00
Fax: 00992 – (0) 43 – 377 30 80
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.duschanbe.diplo.de
Austrian representations in Tajikistan
Embassy
The embassy in Kazakhstan is responsible
Representations of Tajikistan in Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Vienna
Universitätsstrasse 8/1A
1090 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 409 82 66
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 409 82 66 14
E-Mail: [email protected]
Swiss representations in Tajikistan
Embassy
The embassy in Kazakhstan () is responsible.
Consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan in Winterthur
CP 2015, Bahnhofplatz 14
8401 Winterthur
Tel: 0041 – (0) 52 – 202 42 84
0041 – (0) 79 – 430 48 31
Fax: 0041 – (0) 52 – 202 42 03
Email: f.trinkler @ bluewin.ch
Representations of Tajikistan in Switzerland
The embassy in Austria () is responsible.
Consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan in Winterthur
CP 2015, Bahnhofplatz 14
8401 Winterthur
Tel: 0041 – (0) 52 – 202 42 84
0041 – (0) 79 – 430 48 31
Fax: 0041 – (0) 52 – 202 42 03
Email: f.trinkler @ bluewin.ch