Sarazm/Djartepa border | Customs and Immigration

UZB>TJ
UZB
Exciting UZB was easy. We drove up to the gate with our two motorbikes. Parked them and got our passport pre-checked. We then drove with the bikes through the gate. We got an exit stamp in our passport and the custom guide asked what we’re carrying in our panniers but we didn’t have to open them.
Fast and easy process.

TJ
We applied for an e-Visa because we thought it would be easier. But since we didn’t get the e-Visa in time we crossed the border without visa. Entering is visa free for many nationalities including us (we’re from Germany).
Getting to the border we got an entry stamp with no problem. We had to pay 10$ per motorbike at customs and got a sheet saying the bike can stay for 14 days. They didn’t check our bags or asked any questions.

The whole border crossing was fast and easy, took about an hour maybe. Everyone was nice.

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TJ -> UZB
Arrived to TJ side around 11am. We stopped first at the passport check midway after the first gate. Then we drove to the vehicle checks where we had to take all the bags of the bike and put them through the scanner. It took us about 45 minutes on this side. All straightforward: no costs, no hassles.

There was a line on the UZB side and we drove to the front to find out that the border was closed to vehicles because their customs computer was malfunctioning. After 15 minutes we were let through and were able to do the passport check before having to wait again at customs.

When it came to doing the e-transit form, there was a very small cost but we didn’t have Uzbek Somoni and so they told us not to worry about it.

Finally around 2pm we were able to go through customs. They had the dogs go around our motorcycles and they scanned our top bags only. Never have I seen them search cars so thorough at a border though. In total it was 3.5 hours.

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TJ-UZ

TJ side very fast and easy. We had to separate driver and passenger, but played dumb to avoid the 50+ foot passengers at the other passport control and both went through the drivers check.

UZ side very slow due to car checks. We went through all the checks on foot first, but the car was still 6th in front of the gate. After 2 hours of almost no progress we were allowed through. Car check was quite thorough including X-ray of our bags, but they missed a lot of places (including the drone :-) ). Tajik cars even had to remove panels, spare wheels etc., but tourist treatment was different. YMMV. After that we had to pay a hefty registration fee of about 10,000c (<1EUR) for the car. Keep some cash, we did not and, of course, the bank was closed for lunch 13.00-13.30. Alternatively euro/dollar/somoni was all fine.

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Uzbekistan to Tajikistan. Easy process. Took about 45 mins on Uzbek side to get processed through immigration and customs. Tajik immigration took 2 minutes max. Most time on Tajik side was spent at customs paying a $10 fee for my motorcycle. The man has to painstakingly type in details in a teensy screen. $10 charge is type on paper and posted on the wall in multiple locations so seems legit.

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Exit of Uzbekistan they checked our car quite well. They said entering from Tadschikistan the will make detailed check!
Be aware of it, especially when carrying a drone!

Enter Tadschikistan was easy, just paid 25$

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Always a circus. We’re South African but not black, no matter how hard we try. We are also not from Sudan and the Afrique-du-Sud on our passport cover does not indicate that we are, in any way. This seems to aggravate every single border we pass though, with the Uzbek exit side into Tajikistan no different. 5 hours sitting in the car, waiting. Everyone has now left for lunch.

Now stuck on the Tajik side as we have been told that no right hand drive vehicles may enter. Set up camp in the car park. After 6 hours of arguing, we were finally issued a 16 day TIP and were allowed to enter Tajikistan.

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Very easy and friendly boarder crossing. It took us a bit more than an hour. We had to pay 300.000sum for vehicle tax for 2 month. Usually they want to have it in USD but he couldn't change our 100dollar bill so Uzbekistan sum was okay too.
They only had a quick look in the van.

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Border from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan:
Easy border crossing. Took us about 1 hour 15 minutes in total.

Uzbek side:
Park your car in front of the gate then go to small building on the right side. First passport check. They write the vehicle data into a book.
Then drive to the customs building.
Passengers have to take a separate entrance. Passport control for passengers on the left side. There they asked about the registrations. Make sure you have them with you.
Driver stays with the car at customs. Quick car check. Passport control at small window next to car check. They also asked about the registration.
We spend about 11 days in Uzbekistan, but we only had registrations for 2 nights (we changed regions at least every 3 days).
First they were a bit concerned about our missing registration slips. Then they went to talk with the big boss. After a few minutes the officers returned and gave us our exit stamp. „Everything is good - you stayed at your car hotel.“, they smiled. (meaning our camper)
Last passport check at last gate. Done.

Tajik side:
Park the vehicle at first gate and go into the small building on the right. Passport check and entry stamp. Vehicle paper check at first window.
Then drive to customs. Park the car and go into the building. Inside they will add the vehicle data to the computer. We got 60 days for our car (ourself can stay 30 days in Tajikistan). We paid 25$ for „road tax“. They will give you a recipe and a customs paper.
Then very quick car check. Done.
Officers at tajik side very friendly.
Most europeans can enter Tajikistan visa free and stay up to 30 days. If you‘re staying longer than 10 days you have to register at OVIR office in Dushanbe.

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Easy and fast border crossing. Usbek side didn’t check any registrations and didn’t check the car. Tajik side was also very fast and no car check, we paid $25 for our caravan. This is the normal fee, there’s a sheet outside of the office where you can check it.

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Almost all atm’s in Tajikistan only accept Visa cards. First MasterCard atm in Dusjanbe. So don’t forget to change cash on the border!

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UZB to TAJ. No queueing on UZB side. 40 min in total. No check of hotel registrations. No search of car (locals were searched). On TAJ side 1 hour processing. Again no search of car. A customs officer made car import declaration for 30 days - for which I paid USD 35.

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Crossed by motorcycle today. It's open from Uzbekistan going to Tajikistan and will not be closing at any point. However, it is closed from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan until Sept. 20th since Pooh Bear will be in town for the SOC conference.

Easy crossing, very friendly folks on both sides who speak decent English. They will make sure you understand that there is no re-entering Uzbekistan. Took just over an hour. On the Uzbek side, they didn't check my bags nor did they request the registration slips. Just passport and vehicle documents. Total time about 30 minutes. On the Tajik side, simply had to wait another 30 or so minutes while the officers did some paperwork. They did not ask to see a COVID test or vaccination card. Paid 100,000 Uzbek som (~$10) for the road tax. No inspection of the motorcycle.

Happy travels!

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super fast, they are use to bicycle. They didn't even scan our luggage. No PCR test needed, they just asked for vaccination without looking at the paper. They ask for registration bill.

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Super easy border crossing. Both sides together didn’t take longer than 30 minutes. At first the TJ side wanted 100$ because camper vans are more expensive. After some (very friendly) discussion I only paid 25$ road tax. Everyone was very helpful and friendly.

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Arrived at noon. Exiting Tajikistan on motorcycle took 15 mins. Entering Uzbekistan took 15 mins in immigration (no line). Vehicle permit took 20 mins (no line). Vehicle check took 1 min. Local cars getting the thorough fiber-optic camera search and full scan. Nothing to pay whatsoever. No insurance apparently available at the border (yet), but they're building all sorts of kiosks just outside the Uzbek border zone for incoming tourists so maybe soon. (Otherwise available very cheap at Gross Insurance in Samarkand. )

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Tj->Uz
Tajik side super quick and easy, 10 min max, we got a priority entrance. On Uzbek side we had to wait for approx. 1 hour, than got inside and paid for desinfection (8700/19000 Som according to car size), passport control and car check. We were quite lucky, they barely checked anything, especially after a drug dog almost ate our snacks on seats :) just opened some cupboards, were suspicious about coffee grinder and made me play ukulele... :)
Total time needed: 2 hours (Saturday afternoon)

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Taj > Uz

Very quiet border, only a few local cars. No queue. Tajik side took 15 minutes and they wanted to fine us for overstaying the car permit. Either they didn’t see or didn’t want to see we extended it. When we showed them the extension stamp it was okay.

Uzbeki side took around 1h. Stamps are quick, but temporary import document and car search took time. They had a dog to look for drugs, but other than that it was only a rough check. No taking out boxes etc. Local cars seem to get stripped (we saw them taking off and scanning tires).

They asked for disinfection, which we didn’t pay because “we have no money”. No one asked for money for tinted windows in the back which surprised us! All in all good and friendly border!

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Tajikistan > Uzbekistan: took us 3h. Rented car from Osh.

Tajik side was easy and friendly. For the Uzbek side we had to wait for the cars in front of us to be processed. Paid for the desinfection (first building on the right) and tanned windows (in the bank inside of the main building). They did a thorough search of the car, with dogs, fuel tank camera, manual search etc.

Seems like we missed the car insurance part though, because when asked about it by a police officer when stopped on the road, we didn't have any.

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UZ -> TJ
One of the better borders. Both sides very friendly. Car search lasted 2 mins on both sides. I had already payed $25 road tax when he realised our car isn’t European so he directly returned the money. Nothing was mentioned about our tinted windows.
E-visa on phone works fine. Spent 2 hours total early in the morning.

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UZ to TJ
Out of UZ nothing to pay, asked for the registration, but didn't checked really,ä stamped out our passports, filled out a custom paper for the truck, just a bit truck controll - that's it. All guys very friendly.
TJ in first a funny tyre desinfektion, they wanted 7 Euro for this "service", but we told them that we don't pay and it was okay. Next building showed our printed e-visa and passports, got the stamps. Car registration we payed US $ 100 for our truck, valid only for 15 days, so you must extent later on at any custom office for free. Truck control very easy, just looked around. Also all guys very friendly.
Both sides together took about one hour.

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Just 100m away from the mainroad direction Usbekistan to Tadjikistan border. There’s a small lake - during night more romantic than in the morning, no mossies so far. Also convenient for big rigs.

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All went smoothly. Officials on both sides were very nice. Great quite border.
$25 fee on Tajikistan side. Officials told me we do not buy car insurance in Tajikistan.👍

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Nice guys, both sides. Assalom aleikum and handshake works with most. Little English, Russian. Well organised, quiet border, no hassle. Big white French camper had to pay 100US$. We paid 25 (Toyota Hilux with camperunit). Only 15 days car import possible here. No search of the car.

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ExitingTajikistan they checked our custom papers. We overstayed 2 days and they wanted us to pay a fine of 1100 samoni!! We tolled them we didn’t know we overstayed and we didn’t want to pay.(we kept on talking about bad tourist publicity). they let us go without paying the fine after a while.

Uzbekistan no issues, just payed 15$ for tinted windows.

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we did Uzbekistan to Tajikistan took about hour half for both sides no problems at all had to pay $10 each as on motor bikes the guide did say it wasn't for his pocket and gave us a receipt. there are some men on both sides trying to change your dollars it's a very bad rate

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went Uzbekistan to Tajikistan took about hour half for both sides no problems at all had to pay $10 each as on motor bikes the guide did say it wasn't for his pocket and gave us a receipt. just beware of ppl outside both sides want you to change your dollars it's a very bad rate

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out Tadjikistan : 15 minutes no control of the car.
in Uzbekistan : 35 minutes ; check the car inside and a dog around. thevetenary ask 17500 soum for decontamination but we didn't pay as we didn't pay the first time. no problem

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Quiet border crossing. I exited from TJ to UZ.

Money exchangers available for somoni -> uzbek sum at Tajik side before you enter the gate. The rate is very bad though, so better to change at the bank in the bazaar of Panjakent.

Tajik side was easy, very little control.

Entering Uzbekistan, I had to drive through the disinfection hole. I was directed inside to pay, but there the officer let me go again. The locals had to pay though.

Entering Uzbekistan, I had to pay 15 dollars because my car has tinted windows. I found this info on an official news site and I paid at the bank with a receipt. Strange but legit.

Checking the car took 10 minutes.

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Exiting tajikistan fast. Inoverstayed my tax with 15 days but they didn't check the paper so had no problem whithout extending it.
Entering Uzbekistan also fast but the first guy made me pay 7500 gate fee which you dont have to do normaly.

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Uzbekistan -> Tajikistan was quick and easy.

Cursory search when leaving Uzbekistan. He spent most of his time sitting in the passenger seat pretending he was driving by blasting music and playing with the gear stick.

Customs paperwork entering Tajikistan was aggressive and slow, but they didn't do a search of any kind.

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10$ for motorcycle.
Only valid for 15 days, afterwards you need to make a temporary import, which is supposed to be possible in Duschanbe or Khorugh

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exit tadjikistan took us 10min. no car controll. nothing to pay.
enzeryng uzbekistan 2h waiting time in front of the boarder. than desinfection 7200som (ca 1dollar) everyone payed.
car registration and controll took us 1h more. all very friendly and chatty. mor interessted in the car then in other things. all in one, a good expirience. but needs time

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Exiting Usbekistan was no problem but curious border officers checked every single drawer of our truck. Entering Tajikistan also no problem. They wanted to „disinfect“ the car for around 30 somoni - we refused this in a very friendly way. Officer was annoyed but let us pass without disinfection and fee ;)
Paid only the tax 25$

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exit of Uzbekistan very easy and quick. They don't asked the registration papers.
Entry to Tadjikistan easy also. The pdf of evisa in the smartphone was enough. You don't need to print it.
For the campervan, the prices of the tax are: 25$ for a regular car, 45$ for a campervan, 100$ for a truck.

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Entered Tajikistan today. Easy and short procedures on both sides. Paid 100 USD road tax for truck (12 tons). Also after long discussions, vehicle permit only valid for 15 days.

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Easy and fast border ,we paid 150$ taxe for big truck

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The Uzbekistan side of the border ist called Djartepa. When we entered Uzbekistan, some officers still said that it is closed, but others corrected that it is open.

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Border between uzbekistan and tajikistan.
Two side wondering about car traveling . Its new for them.

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