Kyrgyzstan customs problem
 

Hi all.
I entered Kyrgyzstan on 13th July through a small border crossing in the north east of the country, at the customs post I explained my rough route (Karakol, Osh, Pamirs) & asked for 2 weeks, after much confusion about the bike documentation I signed the customs form.
Now I have only just realised that he only gave me 3 days (13th to 16th) on the customs document, does this make my bike illegal? Do I need to extend the customs document or can I play the dumb tourist???
Help please.

Hey Holydragon
Funny that you even have a customs document! Normally, unless the border with Tajikistan does it completely different, you don't even get a document apart from the stamp in your passport. Not like Kazahkstsn or Russia where get temporary import docs.. people even leave their bikes and vehicles for a year in Kyrgyzstan for this reason. As such I would go for the "dumb tourist" option.. ;-)

Very strange.
Usually you don't get any custom document when you enter Kyrgyzstan.
You only have your passport stamped.

Last year the only person I met who had a custom document, if I remember correctly, was Boarder, who entered from the same border you used (the one east of Issik Kul lake, north of Karakol).
I start thinking this is something specific to that border (probably even the border guys really don't know what they are doing).

My opinion is you should go for the "dumb tourist" option: don't even think to give that paper to the customs guys when you exit the country, and you'll be allright

I exited Kyrgyzstan a few weeks ago without the customs document. It didn't even come up in conversation. A local travel agent prepared me by saying there was a maximum fine of 1000 COM they could levy but didn't need to pay anything in the end.

That is the newest crossing and they like to pretend they do it properly. Just don't show or mention the document when you exit at Sary-Tash. They don't want to see it.

Excellent news, thankyou all very much, that is a weight off my mind.

I would suggest the same. Use it a toilet paper or to make a fire.... no one will ask you about it.

CHeers