Study visa categories «О1» and «О2»
Who it is issued to
A category «О1» visa is issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons travelling to the Republic of Tajikistan for the following purposes:
a) to receive education and to enrol in educational institutions that implement programmes of secondary education, technical and vocational education, higher education, and also student-exchange programmes and preparatory courses;
b) to study at educational institutions as postgraduate students or doctoral candidates, and for family members of the aforementioned persons.
A category «О2» visa is issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons intending to arrive for study, scientific research, and participation in language courses or professional-development courses.
Issuance, validity and extension
Foreign missions of the Republic of Tajikistan issue a category «О1» visa on the basis of a request of educational institutions of the Republic of Tajikistan for the requested period, but not more than 3 months. The holder of a category «О1» visa does not have the right to engage in any activity other than educational and scientific activity.
If a foreign citizen or stateless person invited on a category «О1» visa is expelled from the educational institution, or leaves that institution of their own accord, the visa is cancelled and an exit visa is issued for leaving the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan.
A multiple-entry category «О1» visa may be extended for the requested period or for the period of the education contract issued in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, but not for more than 1 year. Extension of a category «О1» visa is carried out by the Main Consular Department on the basis of a request of the authorised body of the Republic of Tajikistan in education and science or of educational institutions of the Republic of Tajikistan, on submission of the following documents:
a copy of the order of the educational or scientific institution on admission of the foreign citizen or stateless person to study at an educational institution, postgraduate study or doctoral study;
a copy of the student card and grade book for students of higher educational institutions;
an education contract.
A category «О2» visa is issued by 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 on the basis of a request, for the period stated in it, but not more than 3 months. Such a visa is extended by the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan on the basis of a request of educational institutions of the Republic of Tajikistan.
If the foreign citizen or stateless person engages in an activity other than study, the period of stay on a study visa may be limited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan at the request of the authorised body in education and science or of educational institutions. In that case the visa is cancelled and an exit visa is issued.
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”.