Traveller’s question
Border-zone permit
Inylchek, Sary-Jaz, Kol-Suu, Chatyr-Kol and a few other places lie along the Chinese border, and entry on a passport alone, without a permit, is closed. This guide sets out where a permit is needed, how and when to apply, and what is checked at the post. The data comes from tour operators for 2026, last updated 8 October 2026; there is no official list, and where sources disagree we write “check”.
Updated 14 October 2026
- 5–10 working daysusually; apply two weeks ahead
- 20–35 USDper person through an operator
- Through an operatoryou can hardly apply on your own
- Bring your passportpaper or a QR code at the post
Places
Where you need a permit
The list is compiled from tour-operator data for 2026; the restricted belt can reach about 50 km inland from the border, so the list is not complete.
| Place | Is a permit needed | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Inylchek: the glacier and the Khan Tengri and Pobeda base camps | Yes | Treks and helicopter flights from Karakol; glacier page |
| The abandoned village of Inylchek | Yes | The road runs along the border; village page |
| Sary-Jaz | Yes | A valley by the Chinese border; valley page |
| Kol-Suu | Yes | Only with a permit and an organised tour; lake page |
| Chatyr-Kol | Yes | Needed on the road beyond Tash Rabat; Tash Rabat itself needs no permit; lake page |
| Ak-Sai, Arpa, Torugart Pass | Yes | Naryn Region |
| Karkara, Kok-Kyya | Yes | Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions |
| Alay, Chong-Alay, Lenin Peak, Achik-Tash, Irkeshtam | Yes | Osh Region |
| Batken Region | Yes | Leilek district and the Karavshin gorge |
| Song-Kol, Issyk-Kul, Karakol, Altyn-Arashan, Ala-Archa | No | A normal passport and a visa or visa-free entry |
| Chong-Kemin, Ak-Suu, Jeti-Oguz, At-Bashy | Check | Sources disagree; ask an operator |
Application
How to get a permit
- Who issues it
- The permit is issued by the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan. The application is filed by a tour operator or a CBT office in Naryn or Osh.
- Through an operator
- Send a passport scan, your travel dates and a list of places. The operator asks you to describe the route: camps, road sections, trails.
- On your own
- Applications from travellers are rarely accepted and a reply is not guaranteed; it is safer to go through a CBT office in Naryn or Osh. check for your date
- Timing
- Operators quote 3–5 to 7 working days, and one agency up to three weeks. Apply two weeks ahead, earlier in the season. check for your date
- Price
- An operator charges 20–30 USD per person by some accounts and 35 USD by others; the price does not depend on the number of places. Ask what else is in the bill: driver, fees. check for your date
- Validity
- Up to a month, for the dates of your trip. List only the places you are going to. check for your date
- Online
- An electronic application service was announced for September 2026 and its launch is not confirmed: for now wait for a file with a QR code from the operator. check for your date
Checks
What is checked at the post
- Documents
- Passport and permit are shown together. The permit does not replace a visa or an entry stamp.
- Format
- A printout with a signature and stamp, or a file with a QR code. Some posts ask for paper, so print it in advance.
- Without a permit
- Permits are not issued at the post, and travellers without one are turned back. check for your date
What not to do
Four mistakes with the permit
- Applying two days ahead Processing stretches over weekends and holidays. Apply two weeks ahead.
- Keeping it only on your phone Phones run out of charge, and there is no signal at the post. Print it and keep it with your passport.
- Listing extra places A permit is issued for the places and dates you name. Write only your own route.
- Treating a permit as a visa It does not replace a visa or an entry stamp. Visa first, permit second.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for Inylchek?
Yes, both for the glacier and for the abandoned village. Arrange it through an operator in advance. check for your date
Can I apply myself?
In theory through a CBT office in Naryn or Osh, but such applications are rarely accepted. check for your date
How long is the wait?
Usually 5–10 working days; allow two weeks. check for your date
How much does it cost?
Through an operator 20–35 USD per person. check for your date
Do I need a permit for Song-Kol or Issyk-Kul?
No. A permit is needed only in border zones. check for your date