Message to U.S. Citizens: Somon Air Flight from Dushanbe to Dubai on July 9

Event:  Somon Air plans to operate a flight from Dushanbe to Dubai, U.A.E, on Thursday, July 9.  U.S. citizens wishing to depart Tajikistan to return to the United States should read this message and take necessary steps to register for the flight.

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 in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid international travel.

Tickets for Somon Air Flight:  Tickets for the flight are currently on sale.  To purchase tickets, please contact the Somon Air representative below, and please inform the U.S. Embassy at DushanbeConsular@state.gov that are you planning to take the flight no later than 2pm on July 8 so that we can secure the necessary permissions for your departure.  Somon Air will require travelers to show evidence of a connecting flight from Dubai to the United States and a health certificate indicating that the traveler has received a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 72-hours prior to the flight.

If you would like to purchase tickets for the Somon Air outbound flight from Dushanbe to Dubai, please contact the following Somon Air representative to provide the names of the travelers, contact email address, and phone number.

Somon Air Contact: Firuz Davlatov
Personal Mobile Phone:   908 085 666
Office Duty Phone:   937 777 459

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.  For information on options for baggage transfers to your final destination, please contact the Somon Air representative below:

Somon Air Contact for Baggage Transfers:  Khisrav Nasimov

Office Duty Phone:  937 777 034 or 937 777 035

Current Travel Restrictions: The Dushanbe International Airport remains closed.  Various travel restrictions world-wide make traveling at this time challenging. Connecting flights may be unreliable and cancelled at the last minute.  All travelers should consider current restrictions on travel to the U.S. before booking tickets.

The government of Tajikistan recently announced a travel restriction for Tajik nationals and foreigners, including U.S. citizens, from entering or exiting Tajikistan. Travelers who wish to leave Tajikistan will require permission from the government of Tajikistan to exit the country.  The U.S. Embassy is prepared to assist individuals traveling to the United States as a final destination with filing an official request to depart on the Somon Air flight.  Please notify the U.S. Embassy at DushanbeConsular@state.gov no later than 2pm on July 8 if you are planning to take the Somon Air flight to Dubai so that we can secure approval from the government of Tajikistan for you to exit the country.

U.S. Passport and Tajik Visa:  Travelers will not be permitted to leave the country 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 for the Somon Air flight, 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 commercial flights.  If you are interested in departing Tajikistan, please notify the U.S. Embassy at DushanbeConsular@state.gov and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  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:

  • Contact Somon Air to purchase tickets.
  • Notify the U.S. Embassy of your plans to take this flight no later than 2pm on Wednesday, July 8, to request assistance with securing permission from the government of Tajikistan to exit the country.
  • Confirm Tajik visa is valid prior to traveling. Contact the Tajik Main Consular Department at 227-6363 or 227-3838 to resolve visa issues.
  • Prepare to shelter-in-place for an extended period of time if remaining in Tajikistan.
  • Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
  • For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
  • 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 U.S.

Assistance: