Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There are officially confirmed cases of (A) H1N1 - swine flu in Kyrgyzstan. Medical checkpoints are being established at Manas and Osh international airports. Not all ports of entry have doctors qualified for medical assessment. Anyone showing symptoms of (A) H1N1 may be taken to a local hospital (in either Bishkek or Osh). If quarantined, or isolated for health reasons British nationals are advised to contact the British Embassy. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its pandemic threat alert phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu is available on the UK Department of Health website.
  
  
• There is no British Embassy in Kyrgystan, but there is an Honorary British Consul in Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan is covered from the British Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan, with consular assistance provided by the British Embassy Office in Almaty, Kazakhstan.  See the general section of this advice for more details.
  

• There is a threat from terrorism in Kyrgyzstan. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See the terrorism section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Tensions also exist over recognition of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders and you should only use officially recognised border crossings if travelling in the region. There is a risk that uncontrolled border areas may be land-mined. See the local travel section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• Most visits to Kyrgyzstan are trouble-free. However, you should be aware that there have been a number of criminal incidents involving expatriates in Kyrgyzstan. See the crime section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the general (insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details. 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.