It is in a way a personal blog and not tailored for information mongering like other travel blog. Still sometimes I would be oblige to write some specific post such as this one for I feel the information should be shared just because .... just because
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| Malaysia Customs Country Code = 458 |
I as a traveler would have love to read something like this before going to Central Asia hence I feel obliged to write one.
OK so some general info. I traveled the following countries in Central Asia and this information is base on my own first hand experience
Country Traveled - Summer 2024
1. Kyrgyzstan
2. Tajikistan
3. Uzbekistan
4. Kazakhstan
Money Matters
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Most Banks ATM only accepts 4 digit pin
- Some Optima Bank ATM accepts 6 Digit pin (the newer ones) however they have a limit of 2000som per withdrawal. I tried and that small withdrawal of SGD 33 cost me a bank transaction fee of SGD 5 per withdrawal. A whooping 15% fee on top of bad exchange rate.
- Demir Bank ATM dispense USD currency but only at ATM that are attached to the bank itself and possibly only during office hours of the bank. Successful USD withdrawal at the following ATM location below
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/nG4dqnD6dKQEziLH7 – Naryn
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/ASSBbSap5uEmoUfT8 – Osh
- Credit Card works at larger establishment but its a 50% hit and miss
2. Tajikistan
- Most Bank ATM only accepts 4 digit pin
- For those going from East to West, entering from Kyzyl-Art Pass, there is no ATM from Murghab to Eskashem. We had to change USD to Tajik Som for the duration of the journey.
- Credit Card is almost useless unless in Dushanbe.
3. Uzbekistan
- Credit Card usage is widely accepted but they will add a surcharge to the bill.
- ATM withdrawal will incur ATM fee of 15,000 som for 1,000,000som. If withdrawing 2,000,000 will incur 20,000som etc.
4. Kazakhstan
- Credit Card is accepted everywhere almost to a point where cash is not required. There is also no surchage for using credit card so you pay what is shown on the bill.
- ATM accepts 4 digit & 6 digit pin
Tourist Visa
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)
2. Tajikistan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)
- However if staying beyond 10 days in Tajikistan, one will need to further register at OVIR for a fee of USD 25
3. Uzbekistan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)
4. Kazakhstan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)
Miscellaneous Permits
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Kyzyl-Art Border Exit / Entry Permit is required in advance for crossing this particular border. I obtained it through a travel agency called Destination Pamir which is based in Osh. Cost of Permit USD 20
- Border Zone Permit. Only required if one is visiting special area near border zone. I did not use.
2. Tajikistan
- GBAO Permit. Required for travelling the Pamir Region. I obtained it through a travel agency called Destination Pamir which is based in Osh.
3. Uzbekistan
- Hotel Registration Slip. Every day a registration slip is printed and given from the hotels in Uzbekistan. This may or may not be checked upon exit. Possibility of fine if not comply. I had everything in order and immigration never even asked for it.
4. Kazakhstan
-NIL
Temporary Vehicle Import Permit for Motorcycle
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Validity of Temporary Vehicle Import Permit is one year. Free
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Torugart Border (Entry)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not issued nor retrived at Bishkek Border . Only keyed into system (Entry & Exit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit was retrieved at Kyzyl-Art Border (Exit)
2. Tajikistan
- Validity of Temporary Vehicle Import Permit is 30 days (Need to request else they will issue a 15 days permit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Kyzyl-Art Border (Entry) – Cost USD 10
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not retrieved at Panjakant Border (Exit). Only key into system for exit.
3. Uzbekistan
- No papers for Temporary Vehicle Import Permit. Only keyed into system for entry and exit.
4. Kazakhstan
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not issued nor retrieved at Korday Border. Only keyed into system (Entry & Exit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Shymkent Border (Entry)
Vehicle Insurance
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Mandatory but not enforced.
- Purchase at Bishkek under Jubilee Insurance
- Malaysian Visa Free :)
- However if staying beyond 10 days in Tajikistan, one will need to further register at OVIR for a fee of USD 25
3. Uzbekistan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)
4. Kazakhstan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)
Miscellaneous Permits
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Kyzyl-Art Border Exit / Entry Permit is required in advance for crossing this particular border. I obtained it through a travel agency called Destination Pamir which is based in Osh. Cost of Permit USD 20
- Border Zone Permit. Only required if one is visiting special area near border zone. I did not use.
2. Tajikistan
- GBAO Permit. Required for travelling the Pamir Region. I obtained it through a travel agency called Destination Pamir which is based in Osh.
3. Uzbekistan
- Hotel Registration Slip. Every day a registration slip is printed and given from the hotels in Uzbekistan. This may or may not be checked upon exit. Possibility of fine if not comply. I had everything in order and immigration never even asked for it.
4. Kazakhstan
-NIL
Temporary Vehicle Import Permit for Motorcycle
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Validity of Temporary Vehicle Import Permit is one year. Free
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Torugart Border (Entry)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not issued nor retrived at Bishkek Border . Only keyed into system (Entry & Exit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit was retrieved at Kyzyl-Art Border (Exit)
2. Tajikistan
- Validity of Temporary Vehicle Import Permit is 30 days (Need to request else they will issue a 15 days permit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Kyzyl-Art Border (Entry) – Cost USD 10
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not retrieved at Panjakant Border (Exit). Only key into system for exit.
3. Uzbekistan
- No papers for Temporary Vehicle Import Permit. Only keyed into system for entry and exit.
4. Kazakhstan
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not issued nor retrieved at Korday Border. Only keyed into system (Entry & Exit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Shymkent Border (Entry)
Vehicle Insurance
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Mandatory but not enforced.
- Purchase at Bishkek under Jubilee Insurance
2. Tajikistan
- Did not purchase.
3. Uzbekistan
- Did not purchase.
4. Kazakhstan
- Mandatory, partially enforced.
- Purchased at Almaty from Nomad Insurance
Petrol
1. Kyrgyzstan
- 95 Octane at bigger cities otherwise 92 Octane in small towns
- Did not purchase.
3. Uzbekistan
- Did not purchase.
4. Kazakhstan
- Mandatory, partially enforced.
- Purchased at Almaty from Nomad Insurance
Petrol
1. Kyrgyzstan
- 95 Octane at bigger cities otherwise 92 Octane in small towns
2. Tajikistan
- Forget about 95 Octane petrol. 92 Octane is unavoidable.
3. Uzbekistan
- 95 Octane in main cities only and bigger stations. 92 Octane in small towns. Be wary of 91 Octane and 80 Octane.
4. Kazakhstan
- 95 Octane, 98 Octane ... No Fear in Kazakhstan for petrol other than long distance between points with desolated landscape.
Well that's the short summary. Check out the border crossing post if you want to know how it went. Or message me if you need some specific questions and I’ll try my best to answer them.
Traveled on: Summer 2024
- Forget about 95 Octane petrol. 92 Octane is unavoidable.
3. Uzbekistan
- 95 Octane in main cities only and bigger stations. 92 Octane in small towns. Be wary of 91 Octane and 80 Octane.
4. Kazakhstan
- 95 Octane, 98 Octane ... No Fear in Kazakhstan for petrol other than long distance between points with desolated landscape.
Well that's the short summary. Check out the border crossing post if you want to know how it went. Or message me if you need some specific questions and I’ll try my best to answer them.
Traveled on: Summer 2024
