Tajikistan Consular Information Sheet

Tajikistan Consular Information Sheet

August 02, 2007

The overall security situation in Dushanbe has been relatively calm for the past few years.  In general, most locations throughout the city are safe to visit during daylight hours but caution must be used during evening hours.  Outside Dushanbe, travelers should be aware that local security, law enforcement, first responder, and medical personnel may not be immediately available in case of need.

The Embassy reminds visitors to be careful and cautious in their own personal security, whether within the city limits of Dushanbe or in the more remote areas of the country.  Americans should be aware that danger increases after dark, and they are advised to use caution when traveling alone or on foot after dark.  The U.S. Embassy encourages visitors to travel in pairs and to notify colleagues of their whereabouts when not working, especially during evening hours.  Travelers are also encouraged to carry a copy of their passport (separate from your wallet) to speed up issuance of a new passport in case of theft.  

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available.  Transactions involving such products are illegal under local law.  In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.  More information on this serious problem is available at http://www.cybercrime.gov/18usc2320.htm .

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:  The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance.  The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred.  Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.  

See our information on Victims of Crime.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:  The quality of Tajikistan’s medical infrastructure is significantly below Western standards, with severe shortages of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics.  Many trained medical personnel left the country during and following the civil war.  Elderly travelers and those with pre-existing health problems may be at particular risk due to inadequate medical facilities.

Significant disease outbreaks are possible due to population shifts and a decline in some immunization coverage among the general population.  There have been outbreaks of typhoid in the Dushanbe area and in the south, and the risk of contracting malaria, cholera, and water-borne illnesses is high.  Throughout Central Asia, rates of infection of various forms of hepatitis and tuberculosis (including drug-resistant strains) are on the rise.  It is advised to drink only bottled or thoroughly boiled water while in Tajikistan.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.  For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en.  Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.  Pandemic and avian flu information is available at http://www.pandemicflu.gov.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.  Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:  While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.  The information below concerning Tajikistan is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. 

Travel to, from, and within Tajikistan is difficult and unreliable.  Neighboring countries may unilaterally close borders and some borders are poorly delineated.  Armed police or military checkpoints can make road travel outside of Dushanbe more difficult.  Crossing the Tajik-Uzbek border, in particular, has been known to present difficulties for drivers operating vehicles with non-Tajik government-issued plates.  Road travel should be undertaken only in daylight hours and on routes known to the traveler or a reliable escort.  Those traveling to Gorno-Badakhshan by car should do so only during daylight hours.  The roads traverse mountainous terrain along the Afghan border that is difficult to navigate, even in daylight hours.  Public transportation vehicles in the city are often overcrowded and not always safe.  If you are driving, be vigilant because pedestrians often tend to cross the street at inappropriate places or walk along the highway without paying attention to vehicular traffic.  Bus services between major cities have been severely disrupted by border closures and should not be relied upon.  The State Traffic Inspectorate (GAI, or in Tajiki, BDA), which has checkpoints in many cities and at regular intervals along all highways outside the city, frequently stops vehicles for inspection of the vehicle and the driver’s documents. 

During the winter months, the potential dangers when traveling outside of Dushanbe in the mountainous areas of the country are heightened.  Every year, accidents and casualties occur on Tajikistan’s mountain roads and passes, often when drivers ignore warnings not to travel over a closed mountain pass.  Avalanches are a common occurrence in Tajikistan’s mountains during the winter months.  The tunnel bypassing the Anzob Pass is still not complete and travel via this construction project is not advised in any season.  Please exercise caution and limit winter travel to Tajikistan’s mountain regions.

Emergency phone numbers:  police – 02, ambulance – 03, state traffic control (GAI) duty officer – 35-45-45.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:  As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Tajikistan, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Tajikistan’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards.  For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s Internet web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Tajikistan has a cash-only economy.  International banking services are limited, but ATM machines have been installed in several locations.  Cash is dispensed in both U.S. and local currency.  Few establishments in the country accept credit cards and none accepts traveler's checks.  Tajikistan's national currency is the Somoni, which is convertible. 

Tajik customs authorities may subject all items that are imported into or exported from Tajikistan to a high level of scrutiny.  The Government of Tajikistan may enforce strict customs regulations against those who import and export goods.  The export of antiques and cultural valuables requires special permission.  There are also currency restrictions.  Travelers must fill out a Customs Declaration Form upon arrival in Tajikistan, have it stamped by Tajik customs officials at the port of entry and retain the form until departure to demonstrate that the travelers are not leaving Tajikistan with more money than they brought into the country.  Please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the United States, 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20037; telephone (202) 223-6090, fax:  (202) 223-6091, e-mail: tajikistan@verizon.net, web site: http://www.tjus.org for specific information about customs requirements. 

The Republic of Tajikistan does not recognize dual citizenship with most countries, including the United States (one exception is with Russia, where dual citizenship is regulated by a special interstate agreement).  Dual nationals who attempt to leave Tajikistan on U.S. passports without valid Tajik visas in them are likely to have problems with immigration authorities upon departing Tajikistan.

Travelers to Tajikistan are subject to frequent document inspections by local police.  U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to carry copies of their U.S. passports and Tajik visas at all times so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available.  Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest, including many government buildings, may result in problems with the authorities.  In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and certain bilateral agreements, local authorities must grant a U.S. consular officer access to any U.S. citizen who is arrested.  U.S. citizens who are arrested or detained should ask to contact the U.S. Embassy immediately.

Tajikistan is an earthquake-prone country.  General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.

Please see our Customs Information.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES:  While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.  Persons violating Tajik laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.  Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Tajikistan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.  Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.  Please see our information on Criminal Penalties. 

CHILDREN'S ISSUES:  For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.

REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION:  Americans living or traveling in Tajikistan are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Tajikistan. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  The U.S. Embassy is located at 109A Ismoili Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Main Phone: 992-37-229-2000, Consular Direct Line: 992-37-229-23-00, consular fax: 992-37-229-23-09, embassy fax:  992-37-2050, Duty Officer: 992-90-770-10-32, web site: http://dushanbe.usembassy.gov. 

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This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated December 6, 2006, to update sections on Entry/Exit Requirements, Safety and Security, Crime, Traffic Safety and Road Conditions, Special Circumstances, Children’s Issues and Registration/Embassy Location.