Central Asia border crossings and visas: 2026 guide

01

Is there one visa for Central Asia?

No. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan each decide who enters, for how long and on which documents, and each counts your days separately. On 31 July 2026 Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan backed a Kyrgyz proposal for a single tourist visa on the Schengen model, but the report names no agreement and no start date. 24.kg, 31 July 2026

This page is the register of what happens at the borders: every crossing between the four countries with its official class and hours, which crossings take each e-visa, and how stays and registration add up. Visa-free stays by passport are in the table of our Central Asia trip planner and in the guides for Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

How to read the tables: class and standing hours come from the Uzbek Customs Committee's list of border posts and the Kyrgyz Border Service's checkpoint page. An international post serves all passports; a bilateral one normally only the two neighbours' citizens. Neither list shows closures (the Uzbek one still gives Gisht Kuprik and Daut-ota as 24-hour posts), so the status column comes from dated notices. Uzbek hours are Tashkent time; Kyrgyz hours are Bishkek time, one hour ahead. Uzbek Customs: list of border posts, Kyrgyz Border Service: checkpoints

02

Which Uzbekistan–Kazakhstan crossings can I use?

From Tashkent, the Navoi–Kaplanbek road post; in the west, only the Nukus–Beyneu train. The main road post, Gisht Kuprik (Zhibek Zholy on the Kazakh side), closed on 5 February 2025 for rebuilding, and traffic was sent to Navoi next door. On 22 June 2026 Uzbek Customs said its side was fully rebuilt and that both posts would open together once the Kazakh one was finished. On 7 September the Kazakh post was still in finishing works, and the customs channel had announced no opening by 24 September 2026. Kun.uz, 2 February 2025, Uzbek Customs, 22 June 2026, Otyrar, 7 September 2026

When Kazakhstan's State Revenue Committee closed the western road post at Tazhen (Daut-ota) to people on 1 February 2025, it named the crossings to use instead: Konysbayev–Yallama, Kaplanbek (Navoi on the Uzbek list), Syrdarya–Malik and Tselinny–Oqoltin by road, and Beyneu by train. Uzbekistan extended the Daut-ota restriction in December 2025, and we found no reopening notice. Details: Tashkent to Almaty, Turkestan and Shymkent and Nukus to Beyneu. State Revenue Committee, 30 January 2025, Kazinform, 29 December 2025

03

Which Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan crossings can I use?

Plan on Dustlik–Dostuk, between Andijan and Osh: it is international and open 24 hours on both the Uzbek and the Kyrgyz lists, and it is one of the posts that accept the Kyrgyz e-visa. The whole overland route through it is in Central Asia in 2 weeks, and the alternatives from Tashkent in Tashkent to Bishkek. Uzbek Customs list, Kyrgyz Border Service

Madaniyat is international too, but it keeps shorter hours (07:00–21:00 Tashkent time, which is the 08:00–22:00 on the Kyrgyz list) and is not on the Kyrgyz e-visa list. The other Fergana Valley posts are not for through travel. Kosonsoy–Baymak and Kuvasoy–Kyzyl-Kiya are bilateral. Rishton–Kaytpas and Sokh–Otukchu have the status 'not determined' on the Uzbek list. The Kyrgyz Border Service said on 20 May 2026 that Kadamjay and two other Batken posts, open round the clock from 20 May to 1 October 2026, serve only Kyrgyz and Uzbek citizens. Kabar, 20 May 2026

04

Which Uzbekistan–Tajikistan crossings can I use?

Three road posts are international and open 24 hours: Oybek–Fotehobod (Tashkent–Khujand), Andarkhon–Patar in the Fergana Valley and Gulbahor–Ayvanj near Termez. The weekly Tashkent–Dushanbe train 302 crosses at Sariosiyo, a 24-hour rail post with no class on the list, on a route via Karshi to Kudukli; times and tickets are in Samarkand to Dushanbe. Uzbek Customs list, Uzbek Railways, 21 June 2022

Jartepa–Sarazm, between Samarkand and Penjikent, is the crossing most travellers ask about. The Uzbek Customs list of border posts gives Jartepa as open round the clock and classes it as a bilateral post, which normally means only Uzbek and Tajik citizens may cross. In practice, foreigners have crossed: a traveller on a Swedish passport crossed in May 2025 in “no more than 20 minutes”, and a travel writer who has crossed several times still describes the crossing in her update of September 2026. No published rule settles whether that applies to other passports, so confirm with the Uzbek Customs Committee (+998 55 502 76 00) before you go. On 26 June 2026 Uzbek Customs said a reconstruction of the post is planned. Caravanistan forum, May 2025, Adventures of Lil Nicki, Uzbek Customs, 26 June 2026

The remaining posts on the Tajik border are bilateral: Uchturgan and Qushkent on the M-34 road, and Pop, Khovosobod, Ravot, Farkhod and the Bekabad road post.

05

Which Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan crossings are open?

Between Almaty and Bishkek, cross at Korday (Ak-Zhol on the Kyrgyz side). Open 24/7 per the Kyrgyz Border Service (24 Sep 2026). Caravanistan: Kazakhstan border crossings

Kegen–Karkyra, the road from the Almaty region to Karakol, is a daytime crossing: on 22 September 2026 the deputy head of Kyrgyzstan's Border Service told parliament it works 09:00–20:00, a limit set by the Kazakh side. The Border Service's own page still shows it as round the clock; we follow the statement. It is the crossing on Central Asia in 3 weeks. K-News, 22 September 2026

Two crossings into Tajikistan are for foreigners. On the Pamir Highway, Bor-Dobo–Kyzyl-Art has needed no Kyrgyz special permit since 31 July 2025, but you must hold the GBAO permit before you arrive; its hours conflict (see the table), so cross in daylight. Kyzyl-Bel–Guliston, between Batken and Isfara, has international status and is open to third-country citizens, the Kyrgyz Border Service said when it reopened on 13 March 2025. See Pamir Highway. Eurasia.travel, Caravanistan: Kyrgyzstan border crossings, Economist.kg, 17 March 2025

Three others are traps. Kulundu is still on the Kyrgyz e-visa list and Caravanistan calls it multilateral, but the Border Service's page showed it closed on 24 September 2026; we follow the Border Service. Karamyk, reopened on 8 July 2025, is 'bilateral, not open to foreigners' according to Caravanistan; we found no official class. Kayragach is bilateral. Check the Border Service's checkpoint page before relying on any of them. Vecherka.tj, 9 July 2025

06

Can I cross a land border on an e-visa?

It depends on the country that issued it, and this is where overland plans fail most often. Kazakhstan's e-visa works only at international airports, so its holder cannot take the Tashkent–Almaty train or cross at Korday. Kyrgyzstan's is accepted at 12 named posts. Tajikistan's works at Dushanbe airport or overland from Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan, according to Germany's foreign office; the Tajik pages we read do not say. Uzbekistan's portal sets no checkpoint limit. Kazakh embassy in London, Kyrgyz embassy in the US, Auswärtiges Amt, e-visa.gov.uz

Count your entries too. A single-entry e-visa is used up when you leave, even for a day trip to Penjikent, and Kazakhstan's e-visa is single-entry only. For a loop back into Uzbekistan, buy the double ($35) or multiple ($50) Uzbek e-visa. Tajikistan issues no visas at land borders, says Germany's foreign office, so arrive with yours printed. Uzbek MFA

Kazakhstan also has QazETA, a new online entry permit for visa-free visitors: on 6 September 2026 the Interior Ministry called it a voluntary, free pilot that is no reason to refuse entry. Our Kazakhstan entry guide tracks it. Economist.kg, 6 September 2026

07

How do visa-free days add up when you cross back and forth?

Each country keeps its own count, and two of them add up separate visits. The table covers visa-free US and EU passports; UK citizens need a visa for Tajikistan.

Uzbekistan's rule is one sentence: the 30-day regime runs “from the moment of crossing the state border”, and you must leave when it ends. Read literally, each new entry starts a new 30 days, but the note does not say so outright; if your plan depends on it, ask the MFA consular department (+998 71 236 27 07). Tajikistan grants 30 days and says nothing about repeat visits; ask the Tajik embassy's consular section in Tashkent (+998 55 512 47 77). Uzbek MFA, e-visa.gov.uz: contacts, Tajik consular department, Tajik embassy in Tashkent

An example, our calculation for an EU passport: you land in Tashkent on 1 October and cross Dustlik–Dostuk to Osh on 11 October, so Kyrgyzstan's 60-day period runs to 9 December. You leave at Karkara on 25 October, having used 15 Kyrgyz days, spend 9 days in Kazakhstan and take the train back to Tashkent on 2 November, where a new Uzbek 30 days starts on the MFA's wording. Going from Almaty back to Bishkek instead would leave you only 15 Kyrgyz days until 9 December. Count arrival and departure days as full days.

08

Do I have to register in each country?

Yes, after each entry, but mostly someone else files it. In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, hotels and hosts complete the required registration or notification within 3 working days. US, UK and EU citizens do not need to register during their first 30 days in Kyrgyzstan. In Tajikistan, you must register within 10 working days unless you leave sooner or hold an e-visa. Law O‘RQ-1074, Rules No. 148, Resolution No. 600, Annex 2, Tajik consular department: registration, Tajik e-visa page

The deadlines run from the day you enter, so coming back into a country means registering again. Keep every Uzbek registration slip until you leave Uzbekistan, and ask a private host in Kazakhstan for proof of the notice. More in Uzbekistan visa and registration.

09

What if my bus or train passes through a third country?

Then that country's entry rules apply, even if you never get off. The overnight Tashkent–Bishkek bus runs through Kazakhstan and enters Kyrgyzstan at Chaldybar, so you need a passport that is visa-free in Kazakhstan, and the time counts towards your Kazakh days; a Kazakh e-visa rules the bus out. See Tashkent to Bishkek. Caravanistan: Kyrgyzstan border crossings, Rules No. 148, para. 6

Train 302 from Tashkent and Samarkand to Dushanbe stays in Uzbekistan until Sariosiyo, so only two countries' rules apply. Changing planes in Tashkent? Uzbekistan has a five-day visa-free airport transit for listed nationalities flying on with Uzbekistan Airways, and a transit visa of up to 3 days for others. Uzbek MFA

10

What goes wrong at Central Asian borders?

Most problems come from lists that lag behind closures, e-visas used at the wrong post and day counts nobody checks until the border. At Jartepa you cross on foot with your own bags, and each country has its own cash rules: see our cash and customs guide for Uzbekistan and the Kazakhstan and Tajikistan guides.

• Lists that lag or err. The Uzbek list still gives Gisht Kuprik and Daut-ota as 24-hour posts, files the Kyrgyz post Kaytpas under “TJ” and leaves some classes blank; the Kyrgyz page still shows Karkara as round the clock. Trust the dated notice, and confirm any row your route depends on.
• The wrong e-visa at the wrong post. A Kazakh e-visa on the train or at Korday, a Kyrgyz e-visa at Karkara or Madaniyat, or a single-entry Uzbek e-visa already used on a day in Penjikent: you are turned back.
• Short-notice closures. Jartepa was shut for repairs from 5 to 16 September 2022; that notice exempted, among others, third-country citizens travelling to Tajikistan (Kun.uz, 2 September 2022). Its reconstruction is now planned (Uzbek Customs, June 2026).
• Bribes. Dated, unverified reports only: a blog updated in September 2026 relays second-hand accounts of demands of up to $100 at Jartepa in 2025, while a first-hand May 2025 report describes a quiet crossing; Caravanistan (July 2026) says Tajik guards at Kyzyl-Art invent “taxes” for drivers, and that traffic police just past Korday may ask self-drivers for a bribe. Do not pay unofficial fees.

11

What about Turkmenistan, China and Afghanistan?

Turkmenistan: the Uzbek list has international posts at Alat–Farap near Bukhara (24 h) and at Shavat, Khojeyli and Dustlik in Khorezm (09:00–18:00); Qarshi–Kerki is bilateral. Turkmenistan's embassy in London says a tourist visa needs a letter of invitation obtained through a travel agency, and a transit visa allows at most 5 days on fixed dates. We do not arrange Turkmenistan. Uzbek Customs list, Embassy of Turkmenistan in the UK

China: Irkeshtam and Torugart, Kyrgyzstan's road crossings to China, are on the Kyrgyz e-visa list; the rest of that route is outside this guide. Afghanistan: Ayritom, at the Friendship Bridge near Termez, is on the Uzbek list; read Is Uzbekistan safe? and Is Tajikistan safe? for the advisories on the Afghan border.

We re-check every crossing row at least monthly and after any closure notice, and the visa rules whenever a decree changes them. We arrange the Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan parts of a combined trip and can advise on Kazakhstan and Tajikistan: send us your route.

Common questions