Shir Khan Bandar - Panji Poyon (AF-TJ) border updates

[steven]

June 2023: I just crossing afghanistan from pakistan via torkham border to tajikistan via shir kan bandar.

October 2023: For tourism, the border between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan (Hairatan) is closed, and you have to go to Tajikistan via Sher Khan Bandar route and then Afghanistan.

the border between Iran and Afghanistan, on the Afghan side, there are too many dealers sitting in chairs and asking you to change your currency. but in Sherkhan bandar, we could not see them. Shirkhan Bandar is an empty and silent port compared to the Iranian border, which is so busy and crowded.

[brigante32]

Has anyone coming back from or going to Afghanistan reached this crossing from Uzbekistan from Termez (UZB-TAJ Gulbahor crossing). When returning from Afghanistan, is it possible to catch a transport to Termez or does everything go to Dushanbe?

[adi]

When researching my current trip, found that Termiz is natives only these days (don't remember the source, won't go to Afghanistan this time thus was just a footnote)

[brigante32]

Yes, I know, but I'm asking about the crossing between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan near Termez.

[Expedition_Seicento]

Tadzjikistan - Afghanistan border (28th of February 2024)
Arrived at the Shir Khan Bandar border crossing at 9.50am. This was the most intense border crossing I have had so far. The Tadzjik was pretty straight forward, no car inspection and registration without computers in a big notebook. The Tadzjik border crossing didn't take more than 30 mins.
Then I crossed the iconic Friendship bridge. I didn't have a visa yet. The embassy in Dushanbe told me they could give me one but Taliban would most likely not accept it. Buying a visa at the border should be possible. So I am being directed to a separate building where they collected my documents. I chose for a transitvisa (maximum 6 days) as I want to cross Afghanistan as fast as possible. I have to pay 150USD in total for it. 50USD for myself, 100USD for the car. Payment takes place at the Afghani Bank, about 2 kilometers from the border. Taxi's can take you there, the bank only accepted bills of 50 and 100 dollar, in brandnew condition. Back at the border I have to fill in a few forms, leave 10 fingerprints and give three passport size photos. After the visa is printer out and put in my passport. I also received a separate document for my car. This process is done at 1pm.
Back to Passport Control to get my stamps, but they are currently on break, until 2pm... after break they check my car. The only thing they are interested in is the chassis number. At 14.30 I am finished at the border and free to enter Afghanistan.
... but not done yet. Apparently a second stamp is required and has to be obtained in Kunduz, a 50 mins drive. They told us the Ministery of Foreign Affairs there normally closes at 2pm. But when I arrive at 4pm someone opens the door and gives the required stamp, again on both documents. After that I have all that is required to drive through Afghanistan.

[femma]

Tadzjikistan - Afghanistan border (28th of February 2024)
Arrived at the Shir Khan Bandar border crossing at 9.50am. This was the most intense border crossing I have had so far. The Tadzjik was pretty straight forward, no car inspection and registration without computers in a big notebook. The Tadzjik border crossing didn't take more than 30 mins.
Then I crossed the iconic Friendship bridge. I didn't have a visa yet. The embassy in Dushanbe told me they could give me one but Taliban would most likely not accept it. Buying a visa at the border should be possible. So I am being directed to a separate building where they collected my documents. I chose for a transitvisa (maximum 6 days) as I want to cross Afghanistan as fast as possible. I have to pay 150USD in total for it. 50USD for myself, 100USD for the car. Payment takes place at the Afghani Bank, about 2 kilometers from the border. Taxi's can take you there, the bank only accepted bills of 50 and 100 dollar, in brandnew condition. Back at the border I have to fill in a few forms, leave 10 fingerprints and give three passport size photos. After the visa is printer out and put in my passport. I also received a separate document for my car. This process is done at 1pm.
Back to Passport Control to get my stamps, but they are currently on break, until 2pm... after break they check my car. The only thing they are interested in is the chassis number. At 14.30 I am finished at the border and free to enter Afghanistan.
... but not done yet. Apparently a second stamp is required and has to be obtained in Kunduz, a 50 mins drive. They told us the Ministery of Foreign Affairs there normally closes at 2pm. But when I arrive at 4pm someone opens the door and gives the required stamp, again on both documents. After that I have all that is required to drive through Afghanistan.

Hi there! I am thinking on doing the same and go from Afghanistan to Pakistan. Did you also went that way and would you be open to share your experiences with me? Thank you
Femma
+31643988588 on WhatsApp if you want or here

[OWNER]

The video shows the crossing of the Nizhny Pyanj - Shirkhan Bandar border from Tajikistan to Afghanistan. I was there on May 4, 2024. I was driving my car from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan. I have a detailed story about crossing the border on my blog.


https://youtu.be/3Z_l_kxFEDY

[Indianaglobe]

Hello, I crossed the border today and I went thought the process discribed by Expedition_Seicento, thanks One more info : Border opens at 9am and closes at 5pm.

You can cross the bridge walking which is pretty cool (especially if you run out of Somoni)

Hope this helps!

[Colinerice]

Hi. I plan to visit Afghanistan in Aug 2025. I plan to travel to Mazar-i-Sharif (Blue Mosque) then to Kunduz then to the border town of Shir Khan Bandar. Cross the border and then head up to Dushanbe.
Anyone done this recently (PLEASE no armchair travellers conjecting or guessing)