CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS

If you arrive at Manas airport you may enter through the Green Channel, (assuming it is operating at that time), which means you don«t have to fill in a form … although you may still have to answer questions verbally. In any case, Kyrgyz authorities do not insist that you keep a Customs form and show it on leaving.

If you arrive at other points you may, or may not, be asked to complete a customs declaration form. At Torugart you will have to complete one, but if you are arriving by road from Almaty, Tashkent or at Osh, then don«t be surprised if you are not asked to complete one.

In Kyrgyzstan you only need to fill in one form … you do not need to keep one and show it on leaving the country, even if the form says so. Officials will give you a second form if you fill one in — but they usually collect both from you and say you don«t need it. You will not be asked for it when you leave Kyrgyzstan … BUT see below.

The forms available are likely to be in Russian (or Kyrgyz). There are sometimes English (and/or German) language forms available. A separate form needs to be completed by everyone over 16.

The forms are revised from time to time … the form in use in October 2001 had the following questions:

• Personal information - Name (Surname, First name, Middle name, permanent country of residence, citizenship, passport number, country you have arrived from. Country of desination)
  
• Information about luggage - Do you have any, including hand baggage (Yes/No and how many pieces?), Do you have any un-accompanied luggage (Yes/No and how many pieces?)
  
• Information about your "available items" - Currency, (you list the currency, say how much in figures and in writing - there are no restrictions about carrying foreign currency and although there are some about some types of financial documents these should not affect tourists), there is a Yes/No checklist asking if you have any guns/compressed gases; drugs and appliances for use; antiques of artworks; printed matter etc.; radioactive materials; plants/animals; radio electronic network units (e.g. mobile telephones); items subject to taxes; timely entering/exiting items; transport facilities
  
• Details of any items declared in section 3 - you complete a grid with a description (including details of any permissions), the quantity in figures and words, and the value in US dollars. There is a separate question about transport means (for example - if you are driving a car).
  

When leaving Kyrgyzstan you will not be asked to produce a copy of your form.

However, at Alma Aty airport (for example), Customs officials will expect to see a form — this should be a copy of the Kazakh form which you completed on entry to Kazakhstan — but they have accepted a copy of the Kyrgyz form completed when you left Kyrgyzstan. Sometimes it seems as if they seek any excuse to «fine» you or expropriate your property. Common excuses which we have met are:

• you do not have a Kyrgyz customs declaration when you leave Kyrgyzstan (justified);
  
• your Kyrgyz customs form is improperly filled in (may be justified but often not)
  
• you have missed something off the customs form (maybe justified - declare everything if in doubt);
  
• you do not have an OVIR registration (may be justified)
  
• you do not have a certificate that a purchase (e.g. a carpet) is not an antique (may be justified)
  
• you did not stop on the Kazakh side and get a stamp from the Kazakh authorities (not justified - they probably won"t give you one anyway even if you did stop and ask and you don"t have to).
  

If they ask for a justified fine, the official amount will almost certainly be much less than what you will be asked for. The best advice is not to speak Russian; speak loudly and complain to everyone in sight (but if they really are justified it may not do much good except to reduce the amount nearer to what it should be).

As to OVIR registration, you do not need Kazakh registration if you can show you have come from Kyrgyzstan and have not been in Kazakhstan for more than three days (the day you arrive counts as day 1 — even if you arrive at 23:55 — and , if different — the day you leave counts as another!). If challenged, show your hotel card and your Kyrgyz customs declaration, which will have a date and stamp on it

Remember you do now need a Kazakh visa (full or transit) even to go to the airport. This situation has changed from what it used to be so do not rely on old books or advice.

As to the Kyrgyz customs form, you should get one before you leave by road for Alma Aty or Tashkent:

• from the Western bus station; or
  
• from the customs bureau by the border post on the main road (on the right just before you leave Kyrgyzstan). We have heard of a case where someone asked for a form at the border post only to be told they had run out and he had to return to Bishkek to get one. Although this may be a very rare occurrence, it is better to get a form at the Western bus station but the downside is that unlike the one at the border it may not be open at night.
  

There may be a very small fee to pay for the form (this changes: sometimes it is free).

Make sure that the Kyrgyz customs form is filled in correctly.

Where you are asked about «other items» do not leave this blank. You can fill in (e. g.) «clothes and household things — several». Put down cameras, computers, etc., separately.

Make sure the currency is correct: at Almaty they will sometimes count money you have with you. There is no reason to give false figures: there is some doubt but you can export USD500 with you. You cannot export local currency (Tenge).

Make sure that the part of the form dealing with currency is circled and separately stamped by the official, and not just stamped at the end of the document (where, however, a stamp is necessary as well).

Finally, in the section dealing with items made of gold, do not forget to write down your personal jewellery including (believe it or not) wedding rings as the customs authorities at Alma Aty airport have been known to confiscate even these!

Do not forget also to fill in a Kazakh customs form at the airport in Alma Aty and to hand this and have the Kyrgyz form available in case you need to show it.

NB: if you leave by Manas airport you get your Kyrgyz customs declaration at the airport. There is a «green channel» so it may not be absolutely necessary — but we prefer to fill one in, to be «safe». Fill it in as set out above. You presently have to pay an airport tax before you go through customs (USD10). Things normally go much smoother at Manas unless they find undeclared antiques.