Uzbekistan is far off the beaten tourist track, but there are plenty of stunning things to see, including the fabled Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand. Foreigners also arrive in Tashkent to do business and, with most countries requiring a visa and letter of invitation, here is a quick to the Uzbekistan visa application process.
Uzbekistan Visa Types – Transit, Tourist, Private, Business
Visas are required by all nationals with the exception of citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. Additionally, a letter of invitation (LOI) from an Uzbek entity - private individual, institution or locally registered company - is also required by citizens of most countries, with the exception of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Spain, Switzerland and UK. However, it should be noted that this rule may not apply if the citizen does not apply in the embassy of nationality. The main visa types can be summarised as follows:
Private visa
These are issued by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, following an application from an Uzbek citizen. Both single and multiple private visas area available.
Transit visa
For travellers wishing to pass though Uzbekistan, a transit visa is available, permitting an overnight stay in the country. An invitation letter is required or proof of onward travel is required, in the form of visa or onward ticket to a neighbouring country. If the transit stay exceeds three days, visitors are required to register with the local department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Tourist visa
A tourist visa can be obtained through an invitation from a travel agent and proof of hotel booking in the form of a voucher. Travel agencies will apply for the visa to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan on behalf of their clients.
Business visa
Business visas are granted to foreigners doing business in Uzbekistan upon presentation of an official invitation from an official Uzbek-registered company. They are valid for up to 90 days from issue. Local representative offices of international companies, as well as private entrepreneurs are not allowed to issue an invitation letter if they are not a Uzbek legal entity. Both single and multiple-entry visas can be obtained.
Visa Requirements
Uzbekistan visa requirements are as follows:
- Copy of the letter of invitation from inviting partners in Uzbekistan
- Two copies of the visa application
- Two photographs
- Passport must have at least one blank page
- Processing of visa applications may take up to 10 working days.
Visas for Travel to Tashkent Airport
In most cases, visas must be obtained prior to arrival in Uzbekistan, but there are exceptions when arriving by flight to Tashkent Airport. Visas can be purchased at the airport if there is no Uzbek embassy in the citizen's home country, or if there was insufficient time to obtain one in the transit country prior to travel to Uzbekistan. It is advisable to check with the Uzbek authorities to confirm the current situation.
Fee Structure for Uzbekistan Visas by Country
While visas for Japanese citizens are free due to a bilateral agreement, there are fee structures in place for other countries. British citizens are currently charged £43 for a 7-day single entry, £193 for a 1-year multiple and £21 for a 24-hour transit visa, whereas the corresponding charges for American citizens are $60, $270 and $40. As these charges are subject to change, it is advisable to check with the embassy prior to application. The normal processing time for an Uzbekistan visa is ten days, although an express service is available.
Sources:
Embassy of Uzbekistan in London
Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington
Paul Bradbury - Author of Hvar: An Insider's Guide to Croatia's Premier Island, and Lebanese Nuns Don't Ski
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