Entry to the territory of Uzbekistan is possible in visa and visa-free regime.
The visa-free regime applies only to short-term visits and does not cover certain activities, such as employment. Travelers from visa-free countries must still obtain a work visa to perform paid work in Uzbekistan.
Visitors who plan to stay in Uzbekistan for a period exceeding the maximum visa-free period for their nationality must apply for a visa.
Documents required for foreign citizens to enter Uzbekistan on a visa-free basis: a valid national passport/ID card or other document replacing it, which is used for traveling to other countries (for example, a foreign passport).
To enter the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan without a visa, persons over the age of 16 must have a foreign passport or biometric travel document, and must be accompanied by their legal representatives. In this case, an entry visa is issued by the migration and citizenship departments of the internal affairs bodies in accordance with the established procedure.
What types of visas are available in Uzbekistan?
There are the following types of visas:
1. A-1 visas for students and interns, postgraduate students studying in Uzbekistan. A-2 (teaching): professors/teachers of schools/universities in the system of the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan
2. Visas of category "T" for tourists: T for 1 tourist: TG- tourist groups of at least 10 people
3. D-1 visas for persons permanently employed in diplomatic missions permanent employees of consular offices, missions of international organizations; D-2 visas for temporary employees of diplomatic missions; consular offices and representatives of international organizations;
DT: diplomatic personnel arriving in Uzbekistan for tourist purposes
4. E-visas for foreigners working in Uzbekistan
5. Category B business visas:
- B-2 for business representatives;
- B-1 permanent accredited employees of representative offices of foreign firms and companies.
Required documents:
- a copy of a valid passport (its page with a photo and expiration date)
- visa application form in two copies
- a letter from the inviting organization or from the sending organization (employer)
- two passport-size color photographs
- other documents that may be required by the issuing authority
In case Uzbekistan does not have its embassy or consular office in a given country, a visa can be obtained upon arrival at the Visa Sector of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the international airport in Tashkent.
To do this, the inviting party in Uzbekistan must apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and receive confirmation from the visa section of the Consular Department.
After receiving the confirmation, the inviting party should send it to the invited person(s).
Based on this confirmation, the designated person receives a visa and pays the appropriate fees.
The visa is issued within 10 business days, but you can apply for an expedited visa, which is issued within 4 business days after submitting all the necessary documents.
Business visa is a multiple-entry visa that can be issued for one year.
Note: Most often, a business visa is issued for a period of up to 6 months and only as an exception can be issued for a year.
6. Visas of category "S" - service visas:
- S -1: permanent employees of diplomatic missions, consular offices, and representative offices of international organizations, if such employees do not have diplomatic passports;
- S-2: temporary employees of diplomatic missions, consular offices, and representative offices of international organizations, if such employees do not have diplomatic passports;
- S-3: persons who arrive in Uzbekistan on a business trip at the invitation of state authorities;
7. visas of category "O" (official): members of official delegations arriving in Uzbekistan at the invitation of the government or parliament;
8. J-1 (media): permanently accredited employees of foreign media - J-2 (media): temporarily accredited employees of foreign media4
9. PV-1 (private): persons visiting Uzbekistan as guests at the invitation of Uzbek citizens; PV-2 (private): persons visiting Uzbekistan as guests at the invitation of foreigners permanently accredited in Uzbekistan
10. C-1 (crew members): airplane and train crew members; C-2: vehicle drivers
11. Pilgrimage visa. Issued for up to 2 months to foreigners to study the cultural, historical, religious and spiritual heritage and traditions of Uzbekistan. An invitation from a travel agency or the Committee for Religious Affairs is required.
12. Vatandosh. Visa for 2 years for immigrants from Uzbekistan and their family members. An invitation from a relative permanently residing in Uzbekistan is required.
What are the ways to apply for a visa to Uzbekistan?
1. Online, through the Uzbekistan e Visa system.
2. At the embassy or consulate of Uzbekistan. If a tourist is not eligible for an e-visa or wishes to stay longer than 30 days, he or she must apply through one of the diplomatic missions of Uzbekistan;
3. Visa upon arrival
1. Electronic visa
The official e-visa portal of the Republic of Uzbekistan is available at https://e-visa.gov.uz/main
When crossing the state border of the Republic of Uzbekistan and during their stay in the country, a foreign citizen must present a valid travel document (passport) and an electronic visa in printed or electronic form. An e-visa is issued on the basis of a valid travel document and is valid only upon presentation of such a document.
- If, in accordance with international treaties concluded by the Republic of Uzbekistan, a foreign citizen has the right to visit the Republic of Uzbekistan on a visa-free basis, the portal interrupts the registration process until payment is made and notifies the user that there is no need to apply for a visa.
- If the country of a foreign citizen is not included in the list of countries with a simplified visa issuance procedure, the system notifies the user of the need to contact the relevant foreign office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
When applying for an e-visa, foreign nationals with dual or multiple citizenship must select the travel document of the country on which they plan to enter the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
- If a positive decision is made to issue an e-visa, the generated e-visa will be sent to the foreign citizen's email address in pdf format;
- In case of refusal to issue an e-visa, a message is sent to the foreign citizen's e-mail address informing him/her of the need to contact the foreign policy department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
For more details, please follow the link - https://e-visa.gov.uz/what-you-need-to-know
Citizens of the following countries are eligible to apply for an electronic visa to Uzbekistan: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, India, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Morocco, Nauru, Nepal, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam.
Required documents:
- a scan of the personal data page of the passport;
- a photo on a white background. The photo must be in .JPEG format. The photo should be uploaded on the eVisa website.
You can use an electronic visa of Uzbekistan to enter through any airports and land borders.
Validity: The Uzbek e-Visa is valid for 90 days from the date of its issuance.
It is possible to enter the country during this period and stay for a maximum of 30 days.
You can apply for a single or multiple entry visa.
2. Getting a visa to Uzbekistan at the embassy
Citizens of the following countries are eligible for a visa at the embassy: Aland Islands, American Samoa, Anguilla, Antarctica, Aruba, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Curacao, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Guam, Guam, Isle of Man, Jersey, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Helena, St. Martin, St. Pierre and Miquelon, St. Maarten, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna.
The procedure for applying for an Uzbek visa at the embassy/consulate consists of two parts:
- First, a sponsor in Uzbekistan is required to obtain a visa confirmation letter on behalf of the applicant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The confirmation letter is the most important part of the application process. The sponsor can be a person, organization/company inviting the tourist to Uzbekistan or an authorized travel agency.
- after receiving the confirmation letter, you can apply for a visa at the embassy/consulate. This can be done in person or by mail, depending on the requirements of a particular consulate.
The documents required to apply for a visa to Uzbekistan should be submitted by both the sponsor and the applicant.
Documents to be submitted to the sponsor:
1. Application form for a visa to Uzbekistan. Available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If a tourist is invited by an organization/company, the form must be printed on the company's letterhead;
2. A completed electronic visa application form.
Keep in mind that this is not the same as eVisa.
3. A copy of the passport;
4. A copy of the airline ticket (if the tourist arrives at the Tashkent airport)
5. If the sponsor is an individual, a copy of the host's passport and proof of kinship with the guest should be provided.
6. If the sponsor is a company/organization, a copy of the passport of the head of the company or an authorized person submitting the application, a license and certificate of the company/organization, a copy of the "Power of Attorney" for the authorized person, a certificate of employment of the guest should be provided.
After the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan issues a visa confirmation, the applicant needs to submit the following documents to the nearest embassy/consulate of Uzbekistan:
- the original passport of a foreign citizen (the validity of the passport must exceed the expected period of stay in Uzbekistan for at least 6 months);
- 2 copies of the photo (size 35x45 mm, color, full-face, without headgear, glasses
- a completed visa application form (available on the interactive website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine at http://evisa.mfa.uz/evisa_ru/?action=default.php
3. Visa upon arrival
You can get a visa upon arrival in Uzbekistan, but only at the Tashkent airport. Single or double entry is possible.
However, there are a few requirements:
- visa confirmation issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan (an invitation letter stating that the tourist will receive a visa at the airport);
- there is no Uzbek embassy in the country where the tourist comes from (where the tourist's plane arrives from, not the country of residence);
- two passport photos
Note: when entering Uzbekistan from the land border, a visa on arrival is not possible.
Starting from February 10, 2018, a simplified procedure for issuing tourist visas for citizens of 39 countries (the list is provided below) is introduced, which provides for obtaining a visa within two business days, excluding the day of receipt of documents, with the abolition of the requirement to provide a tourist voucher or an invitation of a legal entity/individual to the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Tourists from these countries are issued multiple-entry visas for up to 1 month, and representatives of the business community - up to 1 year without presenting a tourist voucher or an invitation from the inviting legal entity or individual to Uzbekistan to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
List of countries: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, the People's Republic of China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China), the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Finland, Hungary, the Republic of Greece, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of India, Ireland, Iceland, the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Kingdom of Norway, Sultanate of Oman, Portuguese Republic, Romania, Republic of San Marino, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Serbia, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Kingdom of Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City.
Cautions: Caution should be exercised in areas bordering Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. Uzbekistan's borders are potential hotspots, and uncontrolled border areas may be mined. Borders can be closed without warning.
On July 01, 2022, mass protests began in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (autonomous region) of Uzbekistan.
To obtain a visa to enter the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, persons who have reached the age of 16 must have a foreign passport or biometric travel document, and must be accompanied by their legal representatives. In this case, an entry visa is issued by the migration and citizenship departments of the internal affairs bodies in accordance with the established procedure.
Children under the age of 16 do not need a visa to travel to Uzbekistan. They must be registered in their parents' visa application form.
How long does it take to get an Uzbek visa?
If all the documents are properly executed/submitted, it is possible to receive a visa confirmation letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within ten business days. After receiving the confirmation letter, the applicant submits an application to the embassy to obtain a visa. In this case, the processing time depends on the specific consular office, but it should be shorter than the initial application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Is it possible to get an Uzbek visa upon arrival?
A tourist can obtain a visa upon arrival at the Tashkent airport if he or she already has a visa confirmation issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. This is true if there is no Uzbek embassy or consulate in the tourist's country.
Note: before traveling, the tourist should consult with their sponsor and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan to confirm that the tourist will be able to obtain a visa upon arrival.
What is the validity period of an Uzbek visa?
A tourist visa to Uzbekistan allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days. The validity of other Uzbek visas depends on the reason for travel.
Visas are issued for:
1. a single visit. The permitted period of stay is from seven days to six months;
2. multiple visits. The permitted period of stay is from six months to one year.
Is it possible to extend an Uzbek visa?
If you need to extend your visa, you should contact the Department of Diplomatic Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this case, the applicant should have a letter with a detailed description of the reason why the visa should be extended.
Do tourists need to check in upon arrival?
- The tourist must check in within 3 days of arrival. Saturday and Sunday are counted as part of the three-day period. If a tourist is staying at a hotel, they will be asked to provide a passport during check-in, which will be kept for a short period of time. The hotel staff will complete the registration documents and return the passport.
- If the visitor is staying in a private home, the owner must register the tourist with their local district OVIR (Foreign Travel and Exit Office (they also deal with the registration of foreign citizens)) or in the Emehmon lectronic registration system.
- If a tourist is traveling to another city and plans to stay longer than three days, he or she will have to re-register. The tourist must follow this procedure, as full information about his or her whereabouts during the stay in Uzbekistan must be provided at the time of departure. Visitors who fail to report their whereabouts may be fined and possibly deported.
- If a tourist transiting through Uzbekistan in a recreational vehicle or staying in tents/campgrounds, he/she is responsible for his/her own registration;
- The tourist must check in online through the Emehmon electronic check-in system within three days of arrival. During online check-in, a tourist tax will be charged for each day of stay. At the moment, the tourist tax can only be paid online with an Uzbek debit card in local currency, so tourists should contact hotels or local tour operators for assistance.
The following categories of persons do not need to register their stay:
- Heads of foreign states and governments, members of parliamentary and governmental delegations visiting Uzbekistan at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Jokarga Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The Republic of Uzbekistan, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, including technical staff and family members of the above persons;
- Persons arriving in Uzbekistan on passports issued by the United Nations;
- Foreign citizens under the age of 16;
- Foreign nationals who arrived in Uzbekistan on holidays and weekends or for up to 72 hours on ordinary (working) days and left the country on these days;
- Foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan, if the duration of their stay in each separate place of the country is no more than 72 hours;
- Crew members of foreign military aircraft (ships) that arrived in Uzbekistan in accordance with the established procedure;
- crew members of foreign motor vehicles for the transportation of goods and passengers in international traffic during their stay in cities and towns on certain routes, including at the destination points;
- crew members of foreign non-military aircraft/ships during their stay in garrisons and border towns; they may stay in other cities if it is an organized excursion; or
- Crew members of civilian aircraft of international airlines, train crews of international railways during their stay at airports or railway stations, which are determined by the current schedule.
Recommended vaccines before visiting Uzbekistan:
chicken pox (varicella), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis influenza (flu), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), polio, shingles, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid fever, leptospirosis
