Asia and Oceania

Kyrgyzstan
Still current at: 22 November 2009 Updated: 26 August 2009

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments throughout. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer)

Travel advice for this country

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance, including evacuation by air ambulance, before travelling. This advice is particularly relevant if planning an adventure holiday (e.g. skiing, mountaineering etc). You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See travel insurance for more details.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

British representation

British interests in Kyrgyzstan are represented overall by the British Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan. However, consular or emergency cover for Kyrgyzstan will be provided by the British Embassy Office in Almaty, Kazakhstan. For consular advice or emergency assistance, please contact the British Honorary Consul in Bishkek, who works closely with the British Embassy Office in Almaty (see contact details).

Consular Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Passport

You should carry your passport, or a notarised copy of it, at all times. The police can arrest you if you do not carry identification.

The British Embassy Office in Almaty does not issue passports and, before setting off, you should ensure that your passport has sufficient validity and a good number of unused pages. However, the Embassy Office is able to accept applications for new passports, which will be forwarded to the British Embassy in Moscow for processing. Please note that this may take up to four weeks. Temporary passports, valid for one year, are available in Almaty and can usually be produced within 24 hours.

Money

Outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan is very much a cash-only economy. You should only change money at officially authorised currency exchanges. Very few establishments accept credit cards and travellers' cheques. There are only a handful of ATM machines, and none in rural areas. US dollars (larger denominations) or Euros are the most widely accepted foreign currency; others may be difficult to exchange.

Contact Details

British Embassy - Astana

62, Kosmonavtov Street

Renco Building 6 Floor

Astana 010000

Telephone: (77172) 556200

Facsimile: (77172) 556211

Office Hours: GMT: Mon-Thurs: 0300-1130; Fri: 0300-1000

Local: Mon-Thurs: 0900-1730; Fri: 0900-1600

Website

British Embassy Office Almaty – Consular & Visa Section

Microdistrict Samal – 2

97 Zholdasbekova Street

Samal Towers 9th Floor

Almaty 050051

Telephone: +7 7272 506 191

Facsimile: +7 727 2507112 / +7 7272 507962

Hours of Business (local time: GMT + 6 hours)

08:30-17:00 (Mon-Thurs)

08:30-15:30 (Friday)

Out of office Emergency Number: +7701 711 2301

Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, British Honorary Consulate
British Honorary Consul
Tynystanova 231
Bishkek, 220040
(Located in the basement under Fatboy's Cafe)
720040 British Honorary Consul: Michael Atsoparthis

Telephone:
Mobile: +996 (0) 555 584245
Office: +996 (0) 312 627686
Facsimile: +996 (0) 312 627686

Email: gbhoncon@mail.kg

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Contacts

Kazakhstan, Astana, British Embassy

Address:

Kazakhstan, Astana, British Embassy
62, Kosmonavtov Street
Renco Building 6 Floor
Astana 010000

Kazakhstan, British Embassy Office Almaty
Samal Towers, 97 Zholdasbekova street 97,
Block A2, 9 Floor
Microdistrict Samal 2
Almaty 050051

Telephone:

+7 (7172) 556200 (Astana)
+7 (7272) 506191 (Almaty)

Fax:

+7 (7172) 556211 (Astana)
+7 (7272) 507962 (Almaty)

Email: BritishEmbassy@mail.online.kz

Email: AlmatyVisaGeneral@fco.gov.uk

Office hours:

Astana:
GMT: Mon-Thurs: 0300-1130; Fri: 0300-1000
Local: Mon-Thurs: 0900-1730; Fri: 0900-1600

Almaty:
GMT: Mon-Thurs: 0230-1100; Fri: 0230-0930
Local: Mon-Thurs: 0830-1700; Fri: 0830-1530

Website: http://UKinKZ.fco.gov.uk

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