Samarkand

Passport validity requirements

To enter Uzbekistan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you arrive.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document, or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Uzbek-British dual nationals

If you enter Uzbekistan on an Uzbek passport and are also a British national, the British Embassy can only provide very limited assistance. Uzbekistan does not recognise dual nationality so will treat you as an Uzbek national only. If you’re arrested or detained, the authorities are unlikely to grant you access to British Embassy staff.

Visa requirements

You can visit Uzbekistan without a visa for tourism or business for up to 30 days.

If you’re travelling for any other purpose, or intend to stay longer than 30 days, check the requirements with the Uzbek Embassy in the UK.

If you’re entering Uzbekistan on a visa, check it and carefully note the date of expiry and the number of entries permitted.

Do not overstay your visa, or exceed your permitted duration of stay, even for a very short period. If you overstay, you could get a fine and possibly be deported. It is not always easy or possible to extend your stay or visa if you want to stay in the country for longer than planned. If you’re travelling overland, make sure you arrive at your intended border crossing in good time before your period of stay or visa expires.

Make sure you get your passport stamped on entry.   

Border guards check the stamp on exit to make sure that travellers have not exceeded the 30-day period.

Registering with the authorities

You must register with the local district OVIR (Department of Foreign Travel and Exit) within 3 days of your arrival. Saturdays and Sundays count as part of the 3-day period. If you travel to another city and plan to stay for longer than 3 days there, you’ll need to register again.

If you’re staying at a hotel, the staff will register you. If you’re staying in a private house, your host should register you with their local district OVIR or on the electronic registration system, Emehmon. Tourist tax is usually included in the hotel bill, and private hosts pay the tourist tax on behalf of the guest.

If you’re travelling in Uzbekistan in a camper van or staying in tents and camping, you must register yourself. Register online through the electronic registration system, Emehmon, within 3 days of arrival. When registering online, you’ll have to pay a tourist tax charge for each day of your stay. At the moment you can only pay the tourist tax online with an Uzbek debit card in local currency.

The authorities will require a full record of where you’ve been in Uzbekistan upon departure. If you are unable to account for your whereabouts, or fail to get registered, you could get a fine for each day that is missing or late and possibly be deported.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Uzbekistan guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Uzbekistan (in Uzbek, Russian and English). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. On entry to Uzbekistan, you will need to complete a customs declaration if you are bringing in either:

• precious metals and gemstones in quantities over 65 grams 
• significant amounts of money, the threshold being 10,000 US dollars

You should fill in 2 copies of the customs declaration, and make sure customs officials sign and stamp both copies. You will need to show one copy at customs as you enter Uzbekistan and the other when you leave the country.

If you carry currency or valuables that you did not declare on arrival, there is a risk that officials may confiscate them.

You cannot leave Uzbekistan with more foreign currency than you brought with you.

Medication

Before you take any medication into Uzbekistan, check the list of prohibited medicines and restricted medicines (in Uzbek and Russian).

Bring a doctor’s prescription if you travel with prescription medicines and declare them on your customs declaration form. Some non-prescription medicines in the UK cause problems on entry into Uzbekistan, including codeine. Possession can lead to civil or criminal proceedings if you have not declared them on arrival. Travellers at land borders are more likely to face problems.

Drones

The import and use of drones in Uzbekistan is largely prohibited, with some limited exceptions. You must get a licence to import drones and permission to use them before you arrive in Uzbekistan. If you import or use drones without permission, you can be fined or get a prison sentence. The authorities can also confiscate your equipment.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Uzbekistan (in Uzbek, Russian and English). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. On entry to Uzbekistan, you will need to complete a customs declaration if you are bringing in either:

• precious metals and gemstones in quantities over 65 grams 
• significant amounts of money, the threshold being 10,000 US dollars

You should fill in 2 copies of the customs declaration, and make sure customs officials sign and stamp both copies. You will need to show one copy at customs as you enter Uzbekistan and the other when you leave the country.

If you carry currency or valuables that you did not declare on arrival, there is a risk that officials may confiscate them.

You cannot leave Uzbekistan with more foreign currency than you brought with you.

Medication

Before you take any medication into Uzbekistan, check the list of prohibited medicines and restricted medicines (in Uzbek and Russian).

Bring a doctor’s prescription if you travel with prescription medicines and declare them on your customs declaration form. Some non-prescription medicines in the UK cause problems on entry into Uzbekistan, including codeine. Possession can lead to civil or criminal proceedings if you have not declared them on arrival. Travellers at land borders are more likely to face problems.

Drones

The import and use of drones in Uzbekistan is largely prohibited, with some limited exceptions. You must get a licence to import drones and permission to use them before you arrive in Uzbekistan. If you import or use drones without permission, you can be fined or get a prison sentence. The authorities can also confiscate your equipment.

Emergency services in Uzbekistan

Ambulance: 103

Fire: 101

Police: 102

A new unified emergency services number, 112, was introduced in 2024 to cover all emergency calls. The previous emergency numbers are still in operation.

Uzbekistan also has a 24/7 tourist hotline, the “Call Centre for Safe Tourism”, on 1173, whose operators speak English as well as Uzbek and Russian, and can direct callers to locally available support.

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in Uzbekistan
• dealing with a death in Uzbekistan
• being arrested or imprisoned in Uzbekistan
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: +44 20 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

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Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East 

Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. 

Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:

• check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
• check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator
• review your travel insurance policy for coverage
• monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

• advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks
• information for women, LGBT+ and disabled travellers

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID

You must carry your passport with you at all times. This is a legal requirement in Uzbekistan, and the police often carry out checks. You can be fined or arrested for failing to do so.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Possession of drugs is illegal. You can get a long prison sentence if convicted. While prison conditions have reportedly improved, reports of widespread hepatitis and tuberculosis as well as allegations of mistreatment of some prisoners by officials remain a concern.

Alcohol laws

It is illegal to sell alcohol and tobacco to someone aged 20 or under.    

Taking photos in secure areas

Any form of photography can upset the authorities, particularly photographs of government buildings. This includes the Palace of Forums in Tashkent and sometimes local bazaars not normally visited by tourists. While restrictions have been relaxed recently, you should check before taking photos, especially near airports, border checkpoints, military barracks, bridges, police stations and metro stations.

Prohibited material  

It is prohibited to bring material into Uzbekistan that could be considered as undermining the state. This includes material which promotes war, terrorism, religious hatred or racism and pornographic content.

Social media 

Be careful when posting images of your visit on social media, particularly in relation to images or comments about public buildings, the Uzbek flag, national food or customs. Disrespectful content, including criticism of the government, could result in fines or detention.

Ramadan

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. Cafés and restaurants may amend their menus and be busy around fast-breaking (‘Iftar’). Areas around mosques are also likely to be busy around prayer times. Take particular care not to offend religious sensitivities at this time.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex relationships are illegal, not recognised and still frowned upon socially. You should refrain from showing affection in public.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Money

The currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbek so’m (or soum/som – UZS), and is not available in currency exchanges outside Uzbekistan.  

There are very few ATMs which accept international bank cards outside of the main cities. Bring enough cash for your entire stay, or withdraw cash from an ATM in a main city ahead of any planned travel to the regions. US dollars are the most easily exchanged foreign currency. Only change money through official exchange booths. It is illegal to change money on the black market, and there are harsh penalties. Official exchange booths will not accept damaged or marked bank notes, nor will they accept US dollars issued before 2013.  

Internationally issued credit cards are not widely accepted outside Tashkent and the main cities. Travellers cheques are not normally accepted.