Event: Although the Dushanbe International Airport remains closed to most commercial flights, Somon Air plans to operate weekly commercial flights between Dushanbe and Dubai, U.A.E. The first of these flights from Dushanbe to Dubai is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2020. U.S. citizens wishing to depart Tajikistan to return to the United States should read this message and take necessary steps to purchase tickets for the flight. As these are commercial flights, you should book your tickets directly with the airline, and you do not need to inform the U.S. Embassy of your plans to travel. This flight is in addition to the FlyDubai flights mentioned in our July 23, 2020, message.
Travel Advisory: On March 19, the Department of State issued a global Level 4 – Do Not Travel advisory, advising U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel. In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live outside the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.
Tickets for Somon Air Flights: To purchase tickets, please book your tickets directly with Somon Air by calling 93-777-74-59. These are commercial flights, and you do not need to contact the U.S. Embassy to book your tickets. The U.S. Embassy cannot assist with contacting airlines, arranging onward travel, or negotiating the use of funds from any pre-existing itineraries. If booking tickets by phone, state clearly that you are transiting Dubai and that your final destination is the United States. You must have tickets for onward travel from Dubai to a third country within 24 hours. Please note that flights are subject to be cancelled or postponed.
Baggage Transfers: Somon Air does not have a baggage transfer agreement to transfer bags for onward flights. Passengers who choose to travel with Somon Air may need to consider traveling with only hand luggage instead of checked bags, or request Somon Air manually check baggage to the final destination. Passengers may not leave the terminal to collect bags in Dubai without a valid U.A.E. visa. Please confirm details with the airline. Travel with pets is contingent on airline policies; confirm arrangements for pets with Somon Air and the airline company of the connecting flight.
COVID-19 Testing and Requirements: Foreign citizens must have documentation of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before the flight and health insurance that covers COVID-19. Additional requirements may depend on your final destination. For travelers arriving in Dushanbe, please see the COVID-19 Information page on the Embassy’s website.
Current Travel Restrictions: The Dushanbe International Airport remains closed to most commercial flights. Connecting flights may be unreliable and cancelled at the last minute, and restrictions may exist depending on your transit point and final destination. Because each country may have different rules and restrictions, please contact directly the airport through which you are transiting for specific information. You may also consult the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country through which you are transiting for additional information. All travelers should consider current restrictions on travel to the United States before choosing your transit points and booking tickets.
Please note that the United States is restricting entry by non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. legal permanent residents (LPRs) who have been physically present in or transited though a Schengen Zone country, China, or Iran, within 14 days of arrival. Spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens or U.S. LPRs are exempted from these travel restrictions. Before booking tickets, immigrant visa holders should consider their visa category and verify their eligibility to enter the United States prior to booking tickets, especially if onward travel from Dubai includes transiting through a restricted country.
U.S. Passport and Tajik Visa: Travelers will not be permitted to leave Tajikistan if their visas have expired. Please check your travel documents to ensure that your U.S. passport and Tajik visa are valid. If you need assistance with obtaining a new U.S. passport or a Tajik visa to facilitate travel on Somon Air, please contact DushanbeConsular@state.gov immediately.
Visa issues not related to the Somon Air flight may be referred directly to the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 227-6363 or 227-3838 located on 34 Pushkin Street, Dushanbe.
Tajikistan does not recognize dual nationality. All U.S. citizens, even if they entered Tajikistan on their Tajik passport, are required to have a valid Tajik visa to exit the country.
Please Note: The Dushanbe International Airport remains closed to most commercial flights. If you are interested in departing Tajikistan, please enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates on the availability of future flights. We are not expecting any U.S. government-chartered flights in the near future; however, flights may occur with little advance notice. Enrolling in STEP will ensure that you receive timely updates on possible flights.
Actions to Take:
- Book your tickets through Somon Air. You do not need to inform the U.S. Embassy of your plans to travel on commercial flights.
- For U.S. citizens, confirm your Tajik visa is valid prior to traveling. Contact the Tajik Main Consular Department at 227-6363 or 227-3838 to resolve visa issues.
- For non-U.S. citizens traveling to the United States, review current travel restrictions prior to booking tickets.
- Prepare to shelter-in-place for an extended period of time if remaining in Tajikistan.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive email updates on future flights.
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date COVID-19 information.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Dushanbe
109 A Ismoili Somoni Ave.
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
+992 (37) 229 20 00, +992 98 580 03 07
+992 (37) 229 20 50
DushanbeConsular@state.gov - State Department – Bureau of Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada)
+1-202-501-4444 (from other countries) - Tajikistan Country Specific Information
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter