Uzbekistan enforces six-month passport validity requirement for visa-exempt travelers
Ouzbékistan has quietly tightened entry rules for more than 90 nationalities that normally need no visa for short trips: passports must now remain valid for six months after departure.
Tashkent has quietly tightened entry rules for over 90 nationalities that normally need no visa for short trips to Uzbekistan. Under the new rule, passports must now remain valid for an additional six months after the planned date of exit from the country, rather than only at the point of entry.
The Uzbek embassy website in 2023.
The updated site in 2024 showing the new passport requirement.
Impact on visa-exempt travelers
Citizens of dozens of countries—including France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States—currently enjoy visa-free entry for stays up to 30 days by simply presenting a passport valid on arrival. Under the new six-month rule, the same travelers must now ensure their passports are valid for at least six months beyond the date they leave the country. A visitor departing on 1 July, for example, will need their passport to remain valid until at least 2 January of the following year.
Rationale for the stricter standard
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the change brings its entry policies in line with wider international practice and strengthens border security. The six-month buffer also reduces the risk of travelers being caught without valid documentation during any unplanned extension of stay or when additional exit paperwork is required.
En tant que chargée de relation client, mes missions sont la gestion et le suivi des demandes de visas. Je reste informée des actualités concernant les nouvelles formalités de voyage ainsi que les spécificités des nouveaux visas.
