REGISTERING SOUVENIRS

When you leave the country you have to fill in a customs declaration saying if you have bought any antique items etc (see the section «Your Customs Declaration»). Although practically will tell you this when selling them to you, issues may arise mainly in relation to paintings, old jewellery or carpets/wall-hangings, etc. The issue is that you are not allowed to export antiques (things over 30 years old of cultural significance). Therefore, you need some proof that what you buy is not an antique — or, if it is old, that it is of no cultural significance — and you do this by registering your purchase with the Ministry of Culture. Only then can you legally export them. This registration is your proof that they are not antiques. You need to show this registration certificate to customs when you depart from Kyrgyzstan (even if you leave via Alma Aty). Otherwise the goods may be confiscated (or you have to pay a «fine»). To get the registration certificate you need two colour photographs of the goods, and you have to take the goods to the Ministry and fill in a form and pay a fee. You may need two working days for the Ministry to examine the goods and issue the certificate, and so it is better to buy such items first if your stay is going to be a short one (sometimes, however, if you offer to pay more, they will do it more quickly, though this cannot be guaranteed — and don'forget holidays when they may not work).

Please note: technically none of this applies to new items like chess-sets, Kyrgyz hats, model yurts, whips or other similar types of souvenirs. Do not be deceived by anyone at the airport in Alma Aty (or Manas) into thinking otherwise if they tell you that you have to pay a «fine». The issue arises in relation to antiques, and for anything, which looks as though it might be old enough (over 30 years) to qualify.