Border defence permit rules for Tashkurgan and the Pamir are reviewed regularly; travellers should reconfirm the current process before any south-bound drive from Kashgar.
The permit remains required for foreign passport holders heading to the border county, and the application is usually handled at the Kashgar entry-exit office. If you are shaping the bigger trip, our Xinjiang border permit covers the wider picture.
What usually stays the same
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A permit is required for Tashkurgan and some border counties.
Apply at the local PSB entry-exit office, often in Kashgar.
Routine checkpoints elsewhere just need your passport.
What to watch
The list of restricted counties can shift with security posture.
Document requirements and office hours change.
Some periods need extra lead time.
What to watch
- Before travel: check the current restricted-county list.
- In Kashgar: apply at the entry-exit office with passport and itinerary.
- At the checkpoint: show permit and passport. For the detail you will actually need on the ground, see our Pamir plateau guide.
FAQ
Has the Pamir permit been dropped? No – it remains required for Tashkurgan and border counties.
Where do I apply? Usually the Kashgar entry-exit office.
Has the process changed? Details shift; reconfirm close to travel.
How early should I apply? A day before leaving the city is the safe play.
Final word
Xinjiang rewards drivers who plan, then stay flexible. Build a loose route, book the key overnight towns, and leave room for the unplanned stop that turns out to be the best part of the trip.
Written by Karl Huang, a Xinjiang-based travel writer. This is a planning note, not a live rulebook – confirm the current process with the local PSB before you go.