Tajikistan OVIR registration for visa-free or long-term visas Q&A

[Mtncanyon]

I called US embassy. They called Ministy of Foreign Relations. An Evisa is the same as a tourist visa. No registration needed for up to 30 days. If you confront this problem my advice is to pull out your phone, tell them above and call, or act as if you are. Don't pay

[Wildcamel]

Crossing from Tajikistan to China the border guards made me pay what I thought was a fine for not registering...even though I had only been four days in the country. I didn't know the law well so I had no choice but to pay (100 somoni). Can somebody find that law and so I can print it out and show the guard next time...that tourists don't need to register in 30 days?

[bwv812]

You crossed the Tajik-China border at Qolma, between Murghab and Tashkurgan?

As for your 'fine,' you were simply scammed.

[Wildcamel]

Yes....after getting on the internet it does seem like I was scammed. What a horrible feeling. Tajikistan is a lovely country but the police and border officials are all bandits and scam artists. Is there any place online that has the law so that I can avoid being scammed in the future.

Yes...I crossed the Kumla two days ago. In Murghab they said it couldn't be done, and I was told that again at the fence thirty kilometers from the border, and again at the border.

The top officials on the Chinese side seemed to know that it was possible...but everybody else was rather surprised I think. It took all day and a lot of insisting that it was possible...but in the end it was.

If you don't speak any local language it might be hard to do from the Kyrgyz side...but I think if you cross from China to Tajikistan they shouldn't give you any trouble.

They may also try and scam you at the border as they did to me.

[khojandi]

Totally a scam. I've encountered this kind of shake-down before many times in Tajikistan. My last encounter - Tajik KGB in Khovaling declared that I needed to register with OVIR at every single nohia/district I arrived in or face a fine. To some extent, this could be just misinformation - as in many police/servicemen may genuinely not know what the rules are as info is not distributed well, so they're going on what Soviet-era commanders recall.

My advice in a shakedown - ask for a kvitansiya/receipt. If no one is ready to show the rule book and produce a receipt, then it is almost definitely a shakedown.

[gonzalo.bonini]

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[Turban]

Confirmation that you don't need OVIR if you are staying in Tajikistan more than 30 days if you have 45 days E-Visa (It has to be E-Visa). We asked directly at OVIR in Dushanbe and didn't have any problem at Dushanbe airport too.
(September 2018 - 33 days).

[unique]

I can also confirm, that no registration at OVIR is necessary on a 45 days tourist e-visa (must be e-visa). We've arrived in Tajikistan on 23rd of August, 2018. Although our local tour guide said no registration is necessary, but just to be on a safe side, we went to OVIR in Khorog and a nice lady explained to us that no registration is necessary if you are on e-visa. We had no problems on any of the checkpoints as well as leaving the country from Dushanbe airport.

[emmaar]

Friends,
I have an embassy visa of 14 days. Can I need a registration or no need to register now. I have a tourist visa.

[tinylittleteacup774]

Hello all,
I am a US citizen who entered Tajikistan visa-free three days ago. If I understand correctly, I must register with OVID within 10 days.

Is this still the case? Any recent information would be very helpful.
FYI I am staying with local friends and not at a hotel.

Thank you!