DUSHANBE, January 31, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Some 400 foreign citizens were expelled from Tajikistan last year for violating Tajikistan’s legislation, which was 271 people more than in 2011, Safiallo Devonayev, Head of the Migration Service under the Government of Tajikistan, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 31.

“The majority of them are citizens of China (74 people), Uzbekistan (62) and Afghanistan (59),” noted Devonayev, “Besides, 32 nationals of Pakistan, 30 nationals of Iran, 11 nationals of Turkey  as well as citizens of some other countries were expelled from Tajikistan in 2012.  The majority of them were deported from the country for violation of requirements for staying and working in Tajikistan.”

In 2012, Tajik migration service agency reportedly issued more than 5,200 work permits for foreign citizens.  “The issuance of work permits has earned the government more than 6 million somoni (equivalent to more than 1.2 million USD),” Devonayev stressed.

The work permit is issued for one year; the cost of work permit for citizens of the CIS member nations is 560 somoni (117.00 USD) and for citizens of other countries 1,200 somoni (252.00 USD).