Work visa category «М»

Who it is issued to

A category «М» visa is issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons travelling to or who have arrived in the Republic of Tajikistan for the purpose of engaging in employment, and also to family members of the listed persons.

Issuance, validity and extension

Foreign missions of the Republic of Tajikistan, representations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan and the consular bureau at the international airport of the city of Dushanbe issue a single-entry category «М» visa for the period stated in the invitation confirmation or in an instruction of the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, but not more than 3 months.

A category «М» visa is extended by the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan for the requested period or the period provided in the employment contract of the foreign citizen or stateless person, but not for more than 1 year.

An institution or organisation that invited a foreign citizen or stateless person to the Republic of Tajikistan on a category «М» visa must, within 3 working days from the day an employment contract (contract) or a civil-law contract for the performance of work (services) is terminated, notify the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan. In that case the visa of the foreign citizen or stateless person is cancelled and an exit visa is issued for leaving the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Additional documents

To obtain a category «М» visa the following are required:

• an invitation confirmation;

• a request of a legal person that holds a licence to attract foreign labour to the Republic of Tajikistan;

• a copy of the employment contract (contract) or of a civil-law contract for the performance of work (services), unless the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan provides otherwise.

An invitation confirmation is the document on the basis of which a foreign citizen or stateless person may obtain a visa of the appropriate category at foreign missions of the Republic of Tajikistan, representations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan and the consular bureau. It is issued by the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Family members

Family members are a spouse, children, adopted children under 18, and also the parents of the foreign citizen or stateless person and other persons who are in the care and support of that foreign citizen or stateless person.

A suitable visa category is issued to family members of a foreign citizen or stateless person — other than tourist and transit — on condition of living together and without the right to engage in employment, unless normative legal acts or international agreements recognised by the Republic of Tajikistan provide otherwise.

If a family member engages in employment or another activity, that person’s visa must be changed according to the type of activity, in accordance with these Rules.

The procedure for issuing a visa to family members of foreign citizens and stateless persons is carried out in accordance with these Rules.

When a visa is issued to a family member, the «Навъ / Type» field shows the visa-category code and the abbreviation «АО». Example: a family member of a holder of a category «ХС2» visa is issued «ХС2АО».

Documents required for any visa and processing time

In addition to the documents that depend on the visa category, after the data have been entered in the electronic information network the following documents are submitted to the authorised state body:

• a travel document;

• a form for issuing the visa;

• a visa form completed by technical means via the Internet and printed by the applicant after the form has been sent through the electronic information network to the authorised body;

• a photograph of the applicant of the prescribed size and quality;

• A medical certificate of HIV/AIDS testing from a medical institution of the Republic of Tajikistan or of the state of residence is required when applying for a visa for a period of more than three months, except for the visa categories indicated in points 7, 8, 9 and 22 of these Rules.

• a receipt for payment of the state duty and consular fees.

Applications for a visa are submitted through the electronic information network. The visa form is drawn up and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.

As a rule, the passport must not expire earlier than 6 months before the visa expires. The document must have at least 2 blank pages reserved for a visa.

The time for considering and issuing a visa is not more than 20 working days from the day all required documents are submitted. In individual cases, if a more precise examination is needed, the period may be extended by not more than 10 working days.

Consular fees are not refunded if the visa is refused or if documents are submitted incorrectly. On a repeat application the consular fee is charged in full, unless an international treaty recognised by the Republic of Tajikistan provides otherwise.

The text is taken from Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Resolution No. 31 of 25 January 2017 “On the Rules for issuing visas and electronic visas of the Republic of Tajikistan to foreign citizens and stateless persons”.