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Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Tajikistan Intercountry Adoption Information

Intercountry Adoption

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Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Tajikistan Intercountry Adoption Information

Tajikistan

Tajikistan
Republic of Tajikistan
Exercise increased caution in Tajikistan due to terrorism, unexploded landmines, occasional violence near the border with Kyrgyzstan, and limited ability to assist U.S.-Tajik dual nationals. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reissued after periodic review with minor updates and information about dual nationality.

Exercise increased caution in Tajikistan due to terrorism, unexploded landmines, occasional violence near the border with Kyrgyzstan, and limited ability to assist U.S.-Tajik dual nationals. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider travel to:

  • Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan
  • Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast

Country Summary: Terrorist organizations are known to have a presence in the region and have targeted foreigners and local authorities in the past.

Terrorist attacks can happen with little or no warning, with terrorists targeting public areas such as tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, restaurants, places of worship, school campuses, and government facilities.

Unexploded landmines and cluster munitions are a hazard along the Afghan-Tajik and Uzbek-Tajik borders, as well as in the Vakhsh and Rasht valleys. Heed land mine warning signs. Do not venture off the road into areas marked with red and white plastic tape. Avoid roadside ditches, shoulders, and unmarked trails in these regions. Never touch anything resembling unexploded munitions.

Be cautious when traveling near and along the Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border. There have been several instances of armed skirmishes between Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards over the past five years, particularly in the Isfara area and the Vorukh enclave.

Tajikistan does not recognize dual nationality with the United States. Dual U.S.-Tajik citizens and U.S. citizens of Tajik descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment from local authorities and may be denied access to U.S. consular officials while in detention.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Tajikistan.

If you decide to travel to Tajikistan:

  • Enter Tajikistan on your U.S. passport and keep it with you.
  • Have a plan to depart Tajikistan which does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
  • Keep a low profile.
  • Be aware of your surroundings.
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.
  • Do not touch unknown metal objects and avoid traveling off well-used roads, tracks, and paths due to risk of unexploded ordnance.
  • If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Review the Country Security Report for Tajikistan.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Border Areas with Afghanistan – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel in proximity of Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan due to terrorism. The current political situation in Afghanistan creates a challenging and unpredictable environment in the border areas due to evolving security conditions. Travel in the mountainous region along the Afghan border can be dangerous due to the proximity of militant groups across the border. U.S. citizens should remain alert and avoid activities that develop predictable patterns of movement. If documenting travel on social media, please ensure your privacy settings are appropriately set.

Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO)– Level 3: Reconsider Travel

The challenging and unpredictable environment in northern Afghanistan has the potential to spill over insecurity into neighboring Tajikistan’s GBAO region. GBAO is a restricted region for non-Tajik citizens, requiring a travel permits from Tajik authorities. Violent clashes with security forces erupted in GBAO in recent years, and the government of Tajikistan can suspend travel permits for non-Tajik citizens on short notice.

Please visit our website for information on Travel to High-Risk Areas.

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
No
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
IIntercountry adoptions to the United States from Tajikistan are possible but rare.
ALL / ALL /

Hague Convention Information

Under a May 3, 2006 amendment to Tajikistan’s Family Code, couples with at least one Tajik citizen prospective adoptive parent may be allowed to adopt in Tajikistan. Adoptions when both prospective adoptive parents are non-Tajik citizens are expressly forbidden by Tajik law.

Tajikistan is not a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention).  However, under the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA), which became effective on July 14, 2014, the requirement that adoption service providers be accredited or approved, and therefore meet the accreditation standards, which previously only applied in Convention cases, now also applies in non-Convention (“orphan”) cases under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The UAA requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider act as the primary provider in every Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case, and that adoption service providers providing any adoption services, as defined at 22 CFR Part 96.2, on behalf of prospective adoptive parents be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider. See additional guidance for limited situations when a primary provider may not be required. Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Convention countries continue to be processed under the Orphan Process with the filing of the Forms I-600A and I 600. However, adoption service providers should be aware of the information on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website on the impact of the UAA on Form I-600A and Form I-600 adjudications, including the requirement that all home studies, including home study updates and amendments, comply with the home study requirements listed at 8 CFR 204.311, which differ from the orphan home study requirements that were in effect before July 14, 2014.

U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Tajikistan should contact the adoption authority of Tajikistan to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Tajikistan who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Tajikistan’s adoption authority. See contact information below.

Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are eligible for adoption. In many countries, birth parents place their child(ren) temporarily in an orphanage or children’s home due to financial or other hardship, intending the child return home when possible. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to the adoption of their child(ren).

Please visit the Department of State’s country page for more information on travelling to Tajikistan and the U.S. Embassy Dushanbe’s website for information on consular services.

Contact Information

TAJIKISTAN’S ADOPTION AUTHORITY:
Ministry of Education of the Republic of Tajikistan, Department of Care and Guardianship
734024, RT, Dushanbe, 13-“, Nosirmuhammad Street
Tel: +992 37-221-4605
Fax: +992 37-221-7041
Email:  malumot@netrt.org

U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
109A, Ismoili Somoni Avenu
Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734019
Tel: +992 37-229-2000; Consular Direct Line: +992 37-229-2300
Fax: +992 37-229-2050
Email: dushanbeconsular@state.gov
Internet: tj.usembassy.gov

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel:  1-888-407-4747
E-mail:  Adoption@state.gov
http://adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

For questions about filing a Form I-600A application or a Form I-600 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC)
Tel:  1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1- 913-275-5480 (local); Fax:1- 913-214-5808
Email:  NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet:  uscis.gov

Last Updated: June 28, 2023

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Dushanbe
109A, Ismoili Somoni Avenue
Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734019
Telephone
992-37-229-2300 (Consular direct line)
Emergency
992-37-229-2000
Fax
null
Email
DushanbeConsular@state.gov
Website
https://tj.usembassy.gov/

Tajikistan Map

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Adoption Statistics

Adoptions from Tajikistan to U.S. by Year:
SEE ALL STATISTICS
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