Iran, Tajikistan establish visa-free travel agreement

Iran has officially approved a new decree that cancels the visa requirement between Iran and Tajikistan, effective from February 3, 2025, for air travel.

This new agreement was confirmed by the Iranian government, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Under the newly established visa-free regime, citizens holding general civil foreign passports from both countries will be able to travel between Tehran and Dushanbe without needing a visa. The policy allows travelers to stay in the visiting country for up to 30 days within a 90-day period.

In early January, reports emerged indicating that member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) were considering the possibility of visa liberalisation among their nations.

The SCO, an international organization established in 2001, aims to foster confidence-building, economic growth, and cooperation in various sectors, including trade, science, technology, and culture. Currently, the SCO consists of ten full member countries: Russia, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Additionally, Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status within the organization.

In a related development, Hungary recently declined to abolish the visa-free regime for Georgian diplomats, which adds an interesting layer to the ongoing discussions on visa liberalisation within the SCO.

By Vafa Guliyeva