Asia and Oceania

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Entry requirements

Visas

British Nationals need a visa to enter Uzbekistan, which should be obtained before you arrive and which should cover your entire stay. You will need to provide a letter of invitation with your application. Business visitors must get one from an Uzbek business partner whilst tourists must get it from the tour company arranging the visit.  If you plan to travel to neighbouring countries from Uzbekistan, you should also get your visa in advance, rather than trying to obtain it at the border.  Do not try to cross the border illegally as the absence of entry/exit stamps will cause problems (e.g. possible detention or fines) when you try to leave or re-enter. Visitors should ensure they check their Uzbek visas once issued and carefully note the date of expiry and the number of entries permitted. Do not overstay your visa and ensure you have onward visas for other countries if travelling elsewhere.  Any traveller found to have overstayed will face a considerable fine and possibly deportation.   It is not always easy or possible to extend your visa if you wish to remain in the country for longer than you had originally intended.

For further advice you should contact the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in London.

Registering your presence

You should register within three days of arrival.  If you are staying in a hotel, you will be asked for your passport at check-in and it will be retained for a short period.  The hotel staff will complete the registration paperwork and return your passport to you.  If you are staying in a private house, your host should register you with their local district OVIR (Department of Foreign Travel & Exit (they also deal with the registration of Foreign Citizens)).  If you travel to another city and plan to stay for longer than three days, you will need to register again. It is very important that you follow this procedure, since a full record of your whereabouts whilst in Uzbekistan is required upon departure. Visitors who are unable to account for their whereabouts could be fined and possibly deported.

Please also ensure that you fill out a Customs Declaration form on arrival and keep it in a safe place. You will need to produce it on departure. You may not take out more currency than you bring in and you should also be careful to declare all valuables when entering the country.

Travelling to other countries from Uzbekistan

You should ensure that you have a valid visa for the next country you intend to visit or transit.  We are aware of a number of people who have been sent back to Uzbekistan for failing to do this. Please note that if you intend to travel by road to Kazakhstan from eastern Uzbekistan via Kyrgyzstan you also need to have a valid visa to visit or transit Kyrgyzstan.  You will need the appropriate double or multiple entry visa for Uzbekistan, if you intend to return to Uzbekistan following your trip to a neighbouring country.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in London.