The Afghan Hairatan - Uzbek Termez border has only been officially opened for foreigners crossing since Aug 13 so I would like to share my border crossing experience for those who are interested. We took the border on the morning of Aug 22, 2024.
We took a private taxi from Mazer-e sharif to border 1500 AFN. About 2 hours (6:30-8:30).
Two of us crossed the border, one with Australian passport (dos not need Uzbek visa for 30 days) one with Chinese passport (does not have visa but has an exit flight ticket next afternoon).
Exit the Afghan border, you need to stamp your passport first (once you enter the building, it’s on your right hand side), body check (she also checks your USD notes), luggage check. Easy and smooth.
Crossing the friendship bridge, you need to take the taxi (100AFN/ 10000UFZ) to the middle of the bridge. For Chinese passport, you need to show you have an outbound flight to non -Stan Central Asia counties with in 10 days before they let you pass.
Uzbek officials will check if you have the relevant documents and visas before letting you on another taxi (5000 UFZ) to the Ukzbekistan side.
Uzbekistan immigration is in a nice air conditioned building however the immigration will check your passport under UV light several times, your outbound flight tickets and confirm visa with his superior. He does not seem to know if you need visa or not. He will also take a photo of you. After that they will do a thorough luggage check.
Whole process from Afghan border to Uzbek took just over 2 hours. Most of the time was spent in Uzbek side as the the immigration officers does not know much (they are friendly though). Even if you tell them you can enter Uzbekistan visa free they will still check for 20-30 min or so per person and ask you for outbound flight.
Note there is a 30 min time difference between the 2 countries. Uzbek is 1/2 hour faster.
Ps. There’s a duty fee alcohol shop after the immigration if you miss some!
By the way the car ride from Termez border to town is suppose to be 50000UFZ (asked the border guard) but we hitchhiked so I can’t verify that information.
There’s no money exchange on the Uzbek side (not yet, I saw a small money exchange shop at the Uzbek immigration but it’s not open) so I recommend you change at the small convenience store in Afghanistan before you exit the country.
Yvonne
Afghanistan Travel Experience ATE
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