Friendship Bridge, Hairatan Border Crossing, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Adventures of Nicole

Crossing the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan Border at Hairatan

Updated October 2026, Crossing The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan Border At Hairatan was originally published in June 2021

The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan border crossing at Hairatan connects the Uzbek city of Termez with Hairatan in Afghanistan via the Friendship Bridge across the Amu Darya. It is the main land crossing between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and the gateway most travelers use when traveling overland from southern Uzbekistan toward Mazar-i-Sharif.

I crossed the Hairatan border from Termez into Afghanistan and found the process relatively straightforward, although border procedures, access for foreign nationals and visa requirements can change. If you’re planning to make this crossing, check the latest border status and entry requirements before setting out.

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Hairatan Border Crossing at a Glance

Information	Details
Border	Uzbekistan-Afghanistan
Uzbek side	Termez / Ayritom
Afghan side	Hairatan
Nearest major Afghan city	Mazar-i-Sharif
Foreign travelers	Access can be restricted; verify current status
Uzbek entry requirements	Depend on nationality
Afghan entry requirements	Visa requirements apply

Uzbekistan-Afghanistan Border Information

Current status: The Hairatan-Friendship Bridge crossing is operational for foreign travelers, though this can always change with little to no notice. Check the latest information before traveling.

Location: Termez, Uzbekistan, to Hairatan, Afghanistan
Bridge: Friendship Bridge across the Amu Darya
Opening hours: Historically around 8:00 am, but hours and access can change
Crossing time: My crossing took approximately 28 minutes at midday. Other travelers have reported substantially longer waits.
Afghan visa: All foreign travelers need a visa to enter Afghanistan. Visas can be obtained on the border, though check locally as this can change with little notice.
Uzbek visa: Uzbekistan’s entry requirements depend on nationality and should be checked before planning the return crossing.
Border status: Confirm immediately before departure.

Where Is the Hairatan Border Crossing?

The Hairatan border crossing is on the Amu Darya River between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. On the Uzbek side, the crossing is reached from Termez, while Hairatan is located in Balkh Province on the Afghan side.

The two countries are connected here by the Friendship Bridge, a combined road and railway bridge that has long served as an important trade and transport link between Central Asia and northern Afghanistan. The railway continues from Hairatan toward Mazar-i-Sharif, making the crossing an important gateway into northern Afghanistan.

How to Get to Termez for the Afghanistan Border

Kirkkiz, Termez, Uzbekistan, Adventures of Nicole

Termez is the main starting point for crossing from Uzbekistan into Afghanistan at Hairatan.

Getting to Termez is pretty straightforward. There are trains from Tashkent several nights per week, you can check the schedule at Uzbekistan Railways. Prices start around 110,000 UZS and go up from there depending on the compartment you book. The ride takes 14 hours.

The other option is by shared taxi from several cities including Tashkent, Samarkand, Denau, Qarshi, and more. Shared taxis depart when full.

Where to Stay in Termez Before Crossing into Afghanistan

Termez is the best place to spend the night before attempting the Hairatan border crossing. It gives you time to arrange transport, check the latest border situation and stock up on anything you may need before leaving Uzbekistan.

Budget: Clean and new, City Hostel is a good budget option with spacious shared dorm rooms and comfy beds. Centrally located.
Midrange: The Asson Hotel is located conveniently next to the Termez Archeological Museum. Rooms are simple, and beds are comfortable (not the usual rock-hard mattresses you find everywhere in Central Asia!). They have a pool, but it was unfortunately being renovated at time visit.

Check out my full guide to visiting Termez

How to Get From Termez to the Hairatan Border

From Termez, the easiest way to reach the Hairatan border crossing is by taxi. Tell the driver that you are going to the Afghanistan border or Hairatan and negotiate the fare before leaving.

When I crossed, I paid around 30,000 UZS for the taxi from Termez. You are dropped at a checkpoint roughly one kilometer before the Uzbek immigration building.

Be aware that unofficial drivers may approach foreign travelers here and offer to take them farther toward the border for considerably more money. When I crossed, I was quoted 400,000 UZS for this short journey. I declined and waited for the local shuttle.

A shuttle bus or marshrutka normally handles the short transfer toward the border facilities. When I crossed, the fare was around 5,000 UZS.

Can Foreigners Cross the Hairatan Border?

The answer is not always straightforward but at this time, yes, foreigners can cross between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The Termez-Hairatan crossing has resumed operations, but current access depends on nationality and the purpose of travel. Check locally the status and if your nationality can cross here as there are certain nationalities that cannot, and this seems to change every so often.

This means you should not always assume that the border is open to foreign tourists simply because commercial traffic or citizens of the two countries are crossing.

If you are a foreign national planning to cross at Hairatan, confirm directly with the relevant Uzbek and Afghan authorities, your visa issuer or a reputable local operator immediately before traveling.

Border Procedures

Exiting Uzbekistan

Van across border, Hairatan Border Crossing, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Adventures of Nicole

Once inside the Uzbek border office, you’ll need to put your bags through an X-ray. Once finished, collect your bags and walk over to the immigration counter where your passport will be checked and stamped out. Once you’ve received your exit stamp, proceed outside.

Outside, you’ll likely find another marshrutka waiting. They will ask 5,000 UZS to take you across the ironically named Friendship Bridge to Afghan border control. If you’d like to walk the kilometer across you can opt to do that instead.

Exploring more of southern Uzbekistan? Don’t miss the city of Qarshi

Entering into Afghanistan

Once on the Afghan side of the bridge, you will enter into the Afghan immigration office. Here your visa will be checked, (or you may apply for the Afghan visa) , you may be asked a couple of questions and then be stamped in.

Once you are stamped into Afghanistan, you’ll proceed into the next room where your bags will be scanned through an X-ray and then you will proceed outside to the parking lot.

Crossing From Afghanistan to Uzbekistan at Hairatan

Hairatan Border Post, Hairatan Border Crossing, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Adventures of Nicole

The Hairatan border crossing from Afghanistan into Uzbekistan follows broadly the same sequence in reverse, that is, if Uzbekistan is allowing entries from Afghanistan at your time of travel.

The Uzbek side usually involves a much more detailed inspection of luggage and belongings as Uzbek authorities are suspicious of travelers coming from Afghanistan. If you’re entering Uzbekistan from Afghanistan, allow extra time for customs and security checks.

How to Get From Hairatan to Mazar-i-Sharif

Balkh Sand Dunes, Hairatan Border Crossing, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Adventures of Nicole

You can grab a shared taxi from the lot outside Afghan immigration for about 200 AFS with a bit of haggling. There are money changers right across the street from the lot if you need to exchange.

Otherwise, you can plan to organize a ride in advance if you are traveling with guide, or are being hosted.

The ride between the Hairatan border and Mazar e Sharif takes about 90 minutes.

Where to Stay in Mazar e Sharif

Midrange: Arsalan Hotel $25 USD per night
Splurge: Royal Oak Hotel $70 USD per night

Before Crossing the Hairatan Border

Check whether the crossing is open to your nationality, not merely whether the border itself is operating.
Confirm your Afghan visa or entry authorization before leaving Termez.
Carry enough cash for taxis, transfers and onward transportation.
Don’t photograph border guards, military facilities, checkpoints or other sensitive infrastructure. Uzbekistan specifically warns that photography around border checkpoints and military facilities can cause problems.
Allow extra time for Uzbek customs inspections when returning from Afghanistan.
Reconfirm the border situation immediately before departure because Afghan land crossings can change status at short notice.

Have any questions about crossing the Uzbek-Afghan border at Hairatan?

Ask in the comments below.

Posts From Uzbekistan & Afghanistan

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Hi
can you kindly advise working hours of border crossing in Termez?
You just mentioned that opening at 8 AM.

My plan arrives around 4 PM and I want to cross the border the same day.

Tashokur)

Nicole
April 17, 2026 at 6:56 pm

I’ve heard its open 8am to 5pm but have not been myself later in the afternoon to verify. That said, I crossed the border from Shahrtuz (Tajikistan) to Termez back in November after hearing it was only open until 5pm and we didn’t arrive at the border until after 6pm to start the process. So there is a chance it could be open later than the times we have been quoted for going to Afghanistan.