Tajikistan

Introduction

Hoodlum offers expert film fixer services in Tajikistan, supporting international productions across one of Central Asia’s most dramatic and least internationally filmed destinations.

Tajikistan sits at the heart of the historic Silk Road — a country of towering mountain ranges, ancient caravan cities and highland villages largely untouched by modern tourism infrastructure. The Pamir range in the east rises to some of the highest peaks outside the Himalayas, earning the region the nickname “Roof of the World.” The Fann Mountains offer dramatic alpine lake scenery within reach of Dushanbe. Crystal-clear alpine lakes including Iskander Kul and Karakul, Sogdian archaeological sites at Panjakent, and the traditional crafts heritage of Istaravshan give productions a visual and cultural range that few destinations anywhere in Asia can match.

Tajikistan is not an ATA Carnet country, which means temporary equipment import requires specific local customs documentation rather than the streamlined Carnet process available elsewhere. Film permits are issued by several government bodies — the State Committee on Tourism Development, the Ministry of Culture and relevant local authorities — depending on the filming location. Drone operations require permits from the Tajik Civil Aviation Authority, with additional security and customs authorisation potentially required.

For documentary, expedition, adventure and travel productions seeking authentic and largely unfilmed Central Asian mountain and Silk Road environments, Tajikistan offers production value that is genuinely difficult to find elsewhere — provided the production engages experienced local support given the complexity of the non-Carnet customs framework and multi-authority permit structure.

Tajikistan Film Production Guide for International Crews

Tajikistan is a Central Asian filming destination defined by mountain scale and Silk Road heritage. The country is served by Dushanbe International Airport, with limited domestic connections to regional centres — much of Tajikistan’s most dramatic terrain, particularly the Pamir Highway region, requires significant overland travel by 4×4 vehicle given the mountainous and often remote geography.

The main production environments include Dushanbe’s role as the political, cultural and economic centre of the country, the Fann Mountains’ alpine lakes and dramatic peaks within reach of the capital, the Pamir range in the east — among the highest mountain systems outside the Himalayas — the ancient Sogdian archaeological sites at Panjakent near the Uzbek border, the traditional blacksmithing and woodcarving crafts heritage of Istaravshan, and the highland villages with their stone houses and enduring local traditions scattered across the country’s remote regions.

A successful Tajikistan production requires significant pre-production lead time given the country’s non-Carnet customs status, multi-authority permit structure, and the genuine logistics complexity of accessing remote mountain locations. Hoodlum’s in-country team manages visa, accreditation, film permit, drone and customs processes as a coordinated workflow.

Why Film Production Works Well in Tajikistan

Tajikistan works for productions that need an authentic, dramatically scaled Central Asian mountain environment and Silk Road heritage that has not been shaped by mass international tourism or extensive prior production activity.

Strong production use cases include:

• Documentary and expedition content — Pamir Highway, high-altitude mountaineering
• Travel and adventure programming
• Heritage and archaeological documentary — Sogdian ruins at Panjakent, Silk Road history
• Nature and landscape filming — Fann Mountains, alpine lakes, Pamir range
• Cultural documentary — highland villages, traditional crafts, nomadic and settled mountain communities
• Conservation and environmental storytelling
• Automotive and overland expedition content — the Pamir Highway is one of the world’s great overland routes
• Still photography and editorial content
• Feature film requiring authentic Central Asian or Silk Road settings

Tajikistan’s relative scarcity of prior international production activity is itself a creative asset for productions seeking visual environments that have not become familiar through repeated use — the country offers a genuine sense of the unfilmed and the undiscovered that is increasingly rare in global production.

Best Time of Year to Film

May to October is the optimal filming window — warm, dry conditions suitable for outdoor shoots, particularly important for mountainous and remote area access.

November to April brings heavy snowfall, road closures and severe cold to high-altitude regions, making much of the country’s most dramatic mountain terrain inaccessible or significantly more difficult to reach during this period.

Productions should plan for:

• High-altitude acclimatisation for any locations in the Pamir range above 3,500 metres
• Road condition assessment for Pamir Highway and other remote mountain routes — conditions can change rapidly even within the May to October window
• Vehicle redundancy and 4×4 logistics for remote mountain and highland village locations
• Limited domestic flight infrastructure — overland travel is the primary logistics method for most regional locations
• Seasonal closure of high mountain passes outside the core filming season

Visa and Entry Requirements for Crew

Visitors require a visa to enter Tajikistan, obtainable either online via the e-visa system or through a Tajik embassy or consulate before travel.

Required documentation:

• Valid passport
• Completed application form
• Passport-sized photograph
• Proof of visa fee payment
• Additional documents depending on visa category

Processing time: E-visa processing generally takes around five days, with options for standard (six days), rush (four days) and super rush (two days) processing depending on requirements.

E-visa application: https://www.evisa.tj/

Work authorisation for paid professional filming should be confirmed separately from standard tourist or business visa entry for each crew member’s nationality. Hoodlum coordinates the documentation required as part of the visa and accreditation process.

International Crew Accreditation

Filmmakers seeking accreditation must register their production with the appropriate government bodies, secure all necessary permits and adhere to local regulations. Collaborating with a local production company is essential to streamline this process given the multi-authority structure.

Required documentation:

• Filming permit request
• Project overview or synopsis
• Script
• Detailed shooting schedule
• Proof of insurance
• Information about key production personnel and crew members

Processing time: Varies depending on application completeness and seasonal demand. E-visa approval generally takes around five days, with standard, rush and super rush options available.

Accreditation and the general film permit process are closely linked in Tajikistan and should be managed together by an experienced local fixer rather than as fully separate processes.

Film Permits and Production Approval

Film permits in Tajikistan are issued by several government bodies depending on the filming location and production requirements — including the State Committee on Tourism Development, the Ministry of Culture and relevant local authorities.

Required documentation:

• Valid passport
• Recent digital photograph
• Letter of invitation
• Flight itinerary
• Proof of accommodation or hotel booking

This multi-authority structure — rather than a single centralised permitting body — means the correct combination of approvals depends on the specific locations and nature of the production. Filming in remote mountain regions, near border areas, or at archaeological and heritage sites may require additional permissions from local authorities or security bodies beyond the standard film permit.

Hoodlum identifies the complete permission picture for each production’s specific location list and manages coordination across all relevant government bodies.

Key Filming Locations and What Access Requires

Dushanbe — Tajikistan’s capital and the political, cultural and economic centre of the country. Combines Soviet-era and post-independence architecture, significant public monuments including Dushanbe’s notable flagpole, and a growing modern commercial character. The natural base for most Tajikistan productions given its airport access and concentration of local production infrastructure.

Fann Mountains — a dramatic alpine range within reach of Dushanbe, with turquoise lakes, jagged peaks and trekking routes that give productions Himalaya-scale mountain drama without the extreme remoteness of the Pamir. Iskander Kul, one of Tajikistan’s most visually striking alpine lakes, sits within this range.

Pamir Highway and the Pamir range — among the highest mountain systems outside the Himalayas, earning the historic nickname “Roof of the World.” The Pamir Highway is one of the world’s great overland routes, traversing extreme high-altitude terrain connecting Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan and the Afghan border region. Karakul Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world, sits within this region. Requires significant 4×4 logistics, altitude planning and potentially additional border-area permissions given the proximity to international frontiers.

Panjakent — near the Uzbek border, famous for its archaeological sites from the Sogdian civilisation, predecessors of much of Central Asia’s Silk Road heritage. Archaeological authority permission required for filming at protected sites.

Istaravshan — a historic city with ancient roots, renowned for traditional crafts including blacksmithing and woodcarving. Offers productions an authentic living crafts heritage environment distinct from formal archaeological sites.

Khujand — one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, with a long history reaching back to Alexander the Great’s era and significant Silk Road heritage architecture.

Highland villages — traditional remote settlements with stone houses and local artisans scattered across Tajikistan’s mountain regions, offering productions an authentic glimpse of mountain community life largely unchanged by modern development. Local community coordination and cultural sensitivity required.

Drone Filming Requirements

Operating drones for film production in Tajikistan requires permits from the Tajik Civil Aviation Authority, with the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan (MTRT) as the main regulatory body. Operators must register their drones and respect no-fly zones and restricted airspace.

Required documentation (local drone permit):

• Drone serial number and model details
• Intended use
• Operator identification
• Proof of liability insurance

Required documentation (drone importation):

• Commercial invoice
• Bill of lading
• Certificate of origin
• Technical passport
• Additional permits or licences as mandated by security or customs authorities

Issuing authority: Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan (MTRT).

Drone importation may require additional permits or licences from the State Committee on National Security and the Customs Service — this security dimension is a distinctive feature of Tajikistan’s drone framework compared to many other destinations, reflecting the country’s border-sensitive geography.

Productions planning drone work in border-proximate areas, including parts of the Pamir Highway corridor, should confirm specific security clearance requirements well in advance with Hoodlum.

Equipment Customs Clearance

Tajikistan is not an ATA Carnet country. Temporary import of filming equipment requires obtaining local customs documents, paying duties or deposits, and submitting commercial invoices with proof of re-export.

Required documentation:

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Bill of lading
• Certificate of origin
• Technical specifications
• Additional permits or licences depending on equipment type

Issuing authority: State Customs Service of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The absence of Carnet membership means equipment customs clearance in Tajikistan requires more extensive documentation and local coordination than in Carnet countries. Working closely with local fixers or customs brokers who are genuinely familiar with Tajikistan’s customs procedures is essential to avoid delays at the border, particularly given the duties or deposit requirements that apply to temporary equipment import.

Safety and Security for Productions

Tajikistan’s safety profile is shaped heavily by its geography — remote mountain terrain, border-proximate regions and limited infrastructure in many areas require careful planning rather than presenting acute security risk in the conventional sense.

Key safety and security considerations:

• Work closely with local fixers or customs brokers familiar with Tajikistan’s procedures to arrange appropriate security and avoid border delays
• Confirm current conditions for any locations near international borders, particularly along the Pamir Highway corridor near Afghanistan
• Plan medical access and evacuation arrangements for remote mountain and highland locations — medical infrastructure is limited outside Dushanbe
• Build altitude acclimatisation planning into any Pamir or high-altitude Fann Mountains location days
• Confirm road conditions before committing to remote mountain location days — conditions can change rapidly
• Protect equipment from extreme cold, altitude and the physical demands of overland mountain logistics
• Ensure production insurance covers remote location, evacuation and high-altitude scenarios

Film Incentives and Production Benefits

Tajikistan does not currently offer a published national film rebate or tax incentive programme for international productions. The primary advantage of Tajikistan as a production destination is access to dramatically scaled, largely unfilmed Central Asian mountain and Silk Road environments combined with relatively competitive local production costs.

Confirm any emerging incentive developments directly with Hoodlum before budgeting.

How the Main Approvals Fit Together

Visa, crew accreditation, film permit (multiple government bodies), drone permit (MTRT plus potential security clearance), non-Carnet customs clearance and location-specific permissions (archaeological, border-area, community) are all distinct processes managed across multiple Tajik government authorities.

A complete production plan connects:

• E-visa for all crew — around five days, with rush options available
• Crew accreditation registered with appropriate government bodies — managed alongside film permit
• Film permit — coordinated across State Committee on Tourism Development, Ministry of Culture and relevant local authorities depending on location
• Archaeological authority permission for Panjakent and other heritage sites
• MTRT drone permit, with potential additional State Committee on National Security and Customs Service clearance for drone importation
• Non-Carnet customs clearance — local documentation, duties or deposits, proof of re-export
• Border-area permissions where applicable for Pamir Highway and frontier-proximate locations
• Altitude and remote location medical and logistics planning

Given the country’s multi-authority structure and non-Carnet customs status, Hoodlum strongly recommends engaging local fixer support from the earliest planning stage rather than attempting to navigate these processes independently.

When Tajikistan Is the Right Choice

Tajikistan is the right choice when a production needs dramatic, large-scale Central Asian mountain environments, authentic Silk Road heritage, and a genuinely unfilmed visual character — and when the production team has the patience and local support structure to navigate a more complex, multi-authority approval and non-Carnet customs framework.

It is especially suitable for:

• Documentary and expedition content focused on the Pamir Highway and high-altitude regions
• Travel and adventure programming
• Heritage and archaeological documentary — Sogdian ruins, Silk Road history
• Nature and landscape filming
• Cultural documentary on highland communities and traditional crafts
• Automotive and overland expedition content
• Conservation and environmental storytelling

It is not well suited to productions with very short pre-production windows, tight customs timelines that depend on Carnet-speed clearance, or limited budget for the local fixer support that the multi-authority framework genuinely requires.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

• Assuming a single centralised film permit authority — Tajikistan’s permit structure spans multiple government bodies depending on location
• Treating customs clearance as a fast Carnet-style process — Tajikistan is not a Carnet country and requires more extensive local documentation
• Underestimating Pamir Highway and remote mountain logistics — 4×4 vehicle redundancy and realistic travel time planning are essential
• Planning high-altitude location days without genuine acclimatisation planning
• Assuming drone importation is covered by the standard MTRT permit alone — additional security and customs clearance may be required
• Scheduling remote mountain shoots outside May to October without confirming current road and pass conditions
• Filming near border areas, particularly along the Pamir Highway corridor, without confirming current security and permission requirements
• Attempting to navigate Tajikistan’s multi-authority permit and non-Carnet customs framework without experienced local fixer support

How Hoodlum Supports Local Production

Support may include:

• Local fixer coordination across Dushanbe, the Fann Mountains, the Pamir Highway and all regional locations
• E-visa support and documentation
• Crew accreditation registration with appropriate government bodies
• Film permit coordination across the State Committee on Tourism Development, Ministry of Culture and relevant local authorities
• Panjakent archaeological authority permission
• MTRT drone permit and security clearance coordination
• Non-Carnet customs clearance preparation, including duties, deposits and re-export documentation
• Location research and RECCE across Tajikistan
• Border-area permission coordination for Pamir Highway and frontier-proximate locations
• 4×4 vehicle logistics and overland route planning
• Local crew and talent sourcing
• Accommodation sourcing across Dushanbe and regional locations
• Altitude and medical planning for remote and high-altitude locations
• Safety and risk management for mountain and border-proximate filming
• On-the-ground production management

FAQ Section

Do international film crews need a visa to film in Tajikistan?
Yes. Visitors require a visa, obtainable via the e-visa system at evisa.tj or through a Tajik embassy or consulate. E-visa processing takes around five days, with rush (four days) and super rush (two days) options available. Work authorisation for paid professional filming should be confirmed separately from standard visa entry.

Is Tajikistan’s film permit process centralised?
No. Film permits are issued by several government bodies — the State Committee on Tourism Development, the Ministry of Culture and relevant local authorities — depending on the specific filming location and production requirements. This multi-authority structure makes experienced local fixer support genuinely important.

Can productions film along the Pamir Highway?
Yes. The Pamir Highway is one of the world’s great overland routes and one of Tajikistan’s most requested filming environments. It requires significant 4×4 logistics, altitude acclimatisation planning and potentially additional border-area permissions given the corridor’s proximity to international frontiers, particularly Afghanistan.

Can productions use drones in Tajikistan?
Yes, with permits from the Tajik Civil Aviation Authority via the Ministry of Transport (MTRT). Drone importation may additionally require permits from the State Committee on National Security and the Customs Service — confirm requirements well in advance, particularly for border-proximate filming locations.

Is Tajikistan a Carnet country?
No — Tajikistan is not an ATA Carnet country. Temporary equipment import requires local customs documentation, duties or deposits, and proof of re-export. Working with experienced local fixers or customs brokers is essential to avoid border delays.

What is the best time of year to film in Tajikistan?
May to October — warm, dry conditions suitable for outdoor and mountain shoots. November to April brings heavy snowfall, road closures and severe cold to high-altitude regions, making much of the country’s most dramatic terrain inaccessible.

What documents are typically needed?
E-visa, film permit applications across the relevant government bodies (passport, photo, letter of invitation, flight itinerary, accommodation proof), accreditation documentation (filming permit request, synopsis, script, shooting schedule, insurance, crew information), MTRT drone permit with potential security clearance, and non-Carnet customs documentation including commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.

Authority Links

• Tajikistan E-Visa Portal
• Ministry of Transport, Republic of Tajikistan
• State Customs Service of the Republic of Tajikistan
• Hoodlum Film Fixers — Contact

Everything You Need to Know About Filming in Tajikistan

Filming in Tajikistan rewards productions willing to engage seriously with two defining structural realities: there is no single centralised film permit authority, and Tajikistan is not an ATA Carnet country.

Film permits are issued across multiple government bodies — the State Committee on Tourism Development, the Ministry of Culture and relevant local authorities — depending on the specific location and production requirements. Equipment customs clearance requires local documentation, duties or deposits and proof of re-export rather than the streamlined Carnet process available in most other countries in this guide.

Neither of these realities makes Tajikistan impractical for international production. They make experienced local fixer engagement, from the earliest planning stage, genuinely essential rather than simply helpful. Productions that understand this and plan accordingly will find Tajikistan delivers Silk Road heritage and mountain scale that very few destinations on earth can match.

The Tajikistan film permit — a multi-authority structure

The Tajikistan film permit process spans several government bodies rather than a single centralised authority. The State Committee on Tourism Development, the Ministry of Culture and relevant local authorities each play a role depending on the specific filming location and the nature of the production.

Required documentation includes a valid passport, recent digital photograph, letter of invitation, flight itinerary and proof of accommodation. This is comparatively light documentation by international standards — but the multi-authority structure means the correct combination of approvals must be identified for each specific location, rather than assuming one application covers the full shot list.

Filming in remote mountain regions, near international borders, or at protected archaeological and heritage sites typically requires additional permissions from local authorities or security bodies beyond the standard film permit. Hoodlum maps this complete permission picture for each production’s specific locations before any application is submitted.

Filming visa Tajikistan — the e-visa system

The filming visa Tajikistan process is comparatively efficient. The e-visa system at evisa.tj processes applications in around five days, with standard (six days), rush (four days) and super rush (two days) options available depending on the schedule’s requirements.

Required documentation includes a valid passport, completed application form, passport-sized photograph and proof of fee payment, with additional documents depending on visa category. Visas can alternatively be obtained through a Tajik embassy or consulate before travel.

Work authorisation for paid professional filming should be confirmed separately from standard visa entry for each crew member’s nationality. Hoodlum coordinates the documentation required as part of the combined visa and accreditation process.

Dushanbe filming locations — the production base

Dushanbe filming locations give productions Tajikistan’s natural production hub — the political, cultural and economic centre of the country, with airport access and the country’s primary concentration of local production infrastructure, crew and equipment resources.

The capital combines Soviet-era and post-independence architecture with significant public monuments and a growing modern commercial character. For productions building a Tajikistan shoot around a single accessible base before moving into more remote mountain or Silk Road locations, Dushanbe is the practical starting point for crew sourcing, accommodation and initial logistics planning.

Pamir Highway filming location — the Roof of the World

The Pamir Highway filming location is one of the most extraordinary overland routes on earth and one of Tajikistan’s most distinctive production assets. Traversing the Pamir range — among the highest mountain systems outside the Himalayas — the highway connects Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan and runs along the Afghan border for significant stretches, giving productions access to extreme high-altitude terrain, Karakul Lake (one of the highest lakes in the world), and landscapes of genuinely dramatic scale.

This location demands serious logistics planning. 4×4 vehicle redundancy is essential given road conditions and remoteness. Genuine altitude acclimatisation planning is required for crew working at extreme elevation. And given the corridor’s proximity to international frontiers, particularly Afghanistan, productions should confirm current border-area security and permission requirements well in advance of any Pamir Highway location days.

For automotive, expedition, adventure and documentary productions seeking overland mountain content of true global significance, the Pamir Highway offers production value with very few comparable alternatives anywhere in the world.

Silk Road filming Tajikistan — Panjakent and the Sogdian heritage

Silk Road filming Tajikistan centres on the country’s deep historical position along the ancient trade routes connecting China, Central Asia, Persia and Europe. Panjakent, near the Uzbek border, is famous for its archaeological sites from the Sogdian civilisation — predecessors of much of the wider Silk Road heritage across the region.

Archaeological authority permission is required for filming at protected Sogdian sites, run as a separate process from the general film permit. Istaravshan extends this Silk Road heritage theme with its living traditional crafts culture, particularly blacksmithing and woodcarving, while Khujand — one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, with roots reaching back to the era of Alexander the Great — offers further Silk Road architectural and historical depth.

For heritage documentary, historical feature production and travel content specifically built around Silk Road storytelling, Tajikistan offers archaeological and architectural environments that remain comparatively unfilmed internationally.

Tajik Civil Aviation Authority drone permit — the security dimension

The Tajik Civil Aviation Authority drone permit process, administered through the Ministry of Transport (MTRT), requires drone registration and compliance with no-fly zones and restricted airspace. What distinguishes Tajikistan’s drone framework from many other destinations in this guide is the additional security dimension — drone importation may require permits or licences not just from customs but from the State Committee on National Security.

This security layer reflects Tajikistan’s border-sensitive geography, particularly relevant for productions planning aerial work in or near the Pamir Highway corridor and other frontier-proximate regions. Productions should confirm specific security clearance requirements for their intended drone filming locations well in advance — this is not a process that should be left to confirm on arrival.

Tajikistan customs clearance non-Carnet — what to prepare

Tajikistan customs clearance is structured around the country’s status as a non-Carnet nation — a significant practical distinction from most other destinations in this guide, where the streamlined ATA Carnet process is available.

Temporary equipment import in Tajikistan requires obtaining local customs documents, paying duties or deposits, and submitting commercial invoices alongside proof of intended re-export. Required documentation includes commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and technical specifications, managed through the State Customs Service of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The absence of Carnet membership means this process requires more extensive documentation and genuinely close local coordination than equivalent processes in Carnet countries. Working with experienced local fixers or customs brokers who understand Tajikistan’s specific procedures is the most reliable way to avoid delays at the border — this is not an area where productions should attempt to navigate independently based on experience from Carnet countries.

What a Tajikistan film fixer actually does

A Tajikistan film fixer maps the complete multi-authority film permit picture across the State Committee on Tourism Development, Ministry of Culture and relevant local authorities for each specific location, manages e-visa coordination with appropriate processing speed for the production schedule, registers crew accreditation with the relevant government bodies, secures archaeological authority permission for Panjakent and other Sogdian heritage sites, coordinates MTRT drone permits and any required State Committee on National Security clearance, prepares non-Carnet customs documentation including duties, deposits and re-export proof, plans 4×4 vehicle logistics and realistic travel times for Pamir Highway and remote mountain locations, confirms border-area security requirements for frontier-proximate filming, and manages altitude acclimatisation and medical planning for high-altitude Pamir and Fann Mountains location days.

Film production Tajikistan works most efficiently when Hoodlum is engaged from the earliest planning stage — the multi-authority permit structure and non-Carnet customs framework both require longer lead time and closer local coordination than most destinations in this guide.

Hoodlum provides full production support for international crews across all Tajikistan filming locations — from early research and Tajikistan location scouting through multi-authority film permit coordination, Pamir Highway and remote mountain logistics, drone and security clearance planning, non-Carnet customs preparation and on-the-ground production management across Dushanbe, the Fann Mountains, the Pamir region and all Silk Road heritage sites. For enquiries, visit hoodlum.tv/contact-us.

Tajikistan in a Central Asia film production guide context

For productions building a Central Asia film production guide — comparing Tajikistan with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan — Tajikistan occupies a position defined by mountain scale and genuine scarcity of prior international production activity.

It is the only Central Asian destination in this guide offering direct access to the Pamir range and the Pamir Highway — among the most extraordinary overland mountain routes on earth — combined with deep Sogdian Silk Road archaeological heritage at Panjakent and a living traditional crafts culture at Istaravshan. Unlike Kazakhstan’s more developed crew ecosystem and Carnet membership, Tajikistan’s non-Carnet status and multi-authority permit structure demand more extensive local engagement, but reward productions with genuinely unfilmed visual territory.

The practical groundwork is always the same: engage Hoodlum’s local fixer team from the earliest planning stage, map the complete multi-authority permit picture for the specific location list, prepare non-Carnet customs documentation well ahead of equipment arrival, plan 4×4 logistics and altitude acclimatisation for Pamir and Fann Mountains locations, confirm border-area security requirements for Pamir Highway corridor filming, and schedule remote mountain location days within the May to October window with current road and pass conditions confirmed before travel.