Pamir · Wakhan · Murghab · Khorog
GBAO permit for the Pamir: how to get it in 2026
The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) — the Pamir Highway, Khorog, the Wakhan, Bartang and Murghab — needs a separate permit on top of your visa. With the e-visa it takes one extra tick box.
The short answer
Apply for the Tajik e-visa on the official portal and select the GBAO permit option. The permit is issued together with the visa and printed on the same document. Fees listed on the portal are $50 for the tourist e-visa and $20 for the GBAO permit (we re-check before your trip; some sources quote $70 in total).
Step by step
- Apply on the official e-visa portal (evisa.tj) at least 2–3 weeks before the trip; tick “GBAO permit”.
- Print the e-visa with the permit — several copies.
- Carry about 10 photocopies of your passport photo page, the visa and the permit: some checkpoints keep a copy.
- Visa-free nationalities (e.g. many CIS countries) still need the GBAO permit: get it through a Tajik embassy, the OVIR office in Dushanbe or a travel agency (agencies charge about $30–50 and need several working days).
- Tell us your passport names exactly as printed: the driver’s checkpoint list must match.
Areas that need more than the GBAO permit
| Area | Extra permit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zorkul lake (Wakhan, Afghan border) | Nature-reserve permit from the state reserves office in Dushanbe | Reported at about $4 per day; arrange in Dushanbe before you leave |
| Sarez lake (Bartang) | Permit from the Committee of Emergency Situations | Officially free but rarely issued in practice |
| Kulma pass to China | Chinese visa | Open to foreigners on weekdays; check holidays |
| Afghan Wakhan (Ishkashim bridge) | Afghan visa + double-entry Tajik visa | Not offered by us |
Sources: eurasia.travel GBAO guide, Nomadsland, Nomadasaurus (checked 20 October 2026). Rules change — we confirm before your departure.
Where it is checked
On the southern route the first checkpoint is before Kalaikhum; further posts are around Khorog, at Ishkashim and through the Wakhan, near Alichur, at Murghab and at the Kyzyl-Art border. Drivers know the posts; the check takes a few minutes if your papers are in order.
Borders in and out of the Pamir
From Kyrgyzstan: Kyzyl-Art (Tajik side) – Bor-Dobo (Kyrgyz side) between Sary-Tash and Karakul. The Tajik–Kyrgyz border reopened in March 2025; since mid-2025 travellers report Kyzyl-Art open to foreigners without extra permits. From China: Kulma pass (4,362 m), weekdays only. The e-visa is valid at all international crossings — but check the current list when you apply.
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Questions
Is the GBAO permit included in the e-visa?
It is an option on the e-visa application. If you tick it, it is issued with the visa for a small extra fee.
Can I get the permit at the border?
No. Kyzyl-Art and the checkpoints only check it; get it in advance.
How long is the permit valid?
For the duration of your visa. It covers the whole GBAO except areas that need special permits (Zorkul, Sarez).