Uzbekistan Visa Guide for Travellers

Uzbekistan has relaxed its entry rules significantly over the past decade, and for many visitors the process is now simple. Still, the details depend on your passport, the length of your stay and the purpose of your trip, so it is worth checking early, before you buy flights.

Three ways to enter

Visa-free entry

Citizens of a long and growing list of countries can enter Uzbekistan without a visa for a fixed number of days. This includes most European Union countries and a number of other states. The permitted length of stay differs between nationalities, so check the current figure for your passport rather than relying on what a friend was told.

Electronic visa

If your country is not on the visa-free list, you may be eligible for an e-visa. The application is made online through the official e-visa portal of the Republic of Uzbekistan: you fill in a form, upload a passport scan and a photo, and pay the fee online. The approved visa arrives by email and you print it to show at the border. Processing times are usually short, but apply well in advance in case of a request for corrections.

Be careful with look-alike websites. Third-party services often charge more for the same application. Use the government portal, or ask us and we will point you to the correct page.

Embassy visa

Some nationalities, and some purposes of travel, still require a visa issued by an Uzbek embassy or consulate. If this applies to you, we can provide the supporting documents a tour operator normally issues, such as a confirmation of your program and accommodation.

Registration during your stay

All foreign visitors must be registered at their place of stay. In practice this is handled by hotels and licensed guesthouses, which register guests in the national system at check-in. You do not need to visit any office yourself.

What you should do:

• Keep any registration slips or electronic confirmations your hotels provide until you leave the country. Border officers rarely ask for them, but they can.
• If you plan to stay with friends or in a private apartment, ask how registration will be handled before you arrive, because it is then your host’s responsibility or yours.
• On our programs, all accommodation is registered, so this is taken care of.

Arriving by land

Uzbekistan borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, and several crossings with the first four are used by travellers on multi-country trips. Visa-free and e-visa rules generally apply at land borders, but not every crossing is open to foreigners at all times. Our guide to border crossings in Central Asia explains what to expect.

If you are combining countries, check whether you need a single or multiple entry. Leaving Uzbekistan for Tajikistan and coming back, for example, counts as two entries.

Customs and currency declaration

Uzbekistan has rules on declaring foreign currency above a certain amount on arrival and departure, and on exporting antiques and some cultural items. If you buy an old carpet, suzani or other antique item, ask the seller for the paperwork needed to export it. Our team will remind you before departure. For everyday money questions, see money and payments in Uzbekistan.

Passport validity and practical checks

• Your passport should be valid well beyond your planned departure date; check the current requirement for your nationality.
• Make sure you have blank pages, especially on multi-country trips.
• Carry your passport during the trip: it is needed for hotels, train tickets and SIM cards.
• If you hold dual nationality, travel on the same passport you used to obtain any visa.

Information checked in October 2026; entry rules change, so confirm with our team or the official embassy website before you travel.

Plan your trip

Once you know your entry status, you can start planning the route. Our Silk Road itinerary shows how much time the main cities need, and Tashkent is the usual arrival point. Send us a request with your nationality, dates and interests, and we will confirm the entry requirements for your passport, build a program and send a quote.