Central Asia · UN member
Uzbekistan: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Uzbekistan · Республика Узбекистан · O'zbekiston Respublikasi
Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia with its capital in Tashkent. It has a population of 37.1 million (#42 in the world) and covers 447,400 km². The official languages are Russian and Uzbek. The currency is the Uzbekistani soʻm (UZS, so'm).
Where is Uzbekistan? Map of Uzbekistan
Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan.
- Region
- Central Asia
- Coordinates
- 41° N, 64° E
- Neighbours
- 5 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Uzbekistan
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Uzbekistan showing Tashkent (capital) and the largest cities: Andijon, Namangan, Samarkand, Nukus, Fergana, Bukhara, Qarshi and Qo‘qon.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Uzbekistan
- Passport
The UK government says that to enter Uzbekistan your passport must have an expiry date at least 3 months after the date you arrive.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 44 need an eVisa, 61 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Uzbekistan entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. Canada's travel advice tells travellers to get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.
- Customs allowance
The UK government says you need to complete a customs declaration on entry if you bring in significant amounts of money, the threshold being 10,000 US dollars, in two copies that customs officials sign and stamp; that u…
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Uzbekistan
- Safety: Yes — Uzbekistan is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Uzbekistan Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: May and September — when daytime highs in Tashkent are around 27–28°C.
- Money: the Uzbekistani soʻm (UZS) — 1 US dollar is about 11,844.3 UZS.
- Plugs: type C, E and F, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 102, Ambulance 103, Fire 101.
- Language: Russian and Uzbek are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 70 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+5 in Tashkent.
- Capital: Tashkent. About 37.1 million people live in Uzbekistan.
- Outdoors: 12 national parks and 3 ski areas.
Key facts
Uzbekistan at a glance
Languages spoken: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Geography & history
About Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia, with a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Russia conquered and united the disparate territories of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to the overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, leaving the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half-dry. Independent since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved in 1991, the country has diversi…
Read the full history
Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia, with a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Russia conquered and united the disparate territories of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to the overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, leaving the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half-dry. Independent since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved in 1991, the country has diversified agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base, although cotton remains a major part of its economy. Uzbekistan's first president, Islom KARIMOV, led Uzbekistan for 25 years until his death in 2016. His successor, former Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, has improved relations with Uzbekistan's neighbors and introduced wide-ranging economic, judicial, and social reforms. MIRZIYOYEV was reelected in 2021 with 80% of the vote and again following a 2023 constitutional referendum with 87% of the vote.
Location
Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan
Climate
mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain
mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zaravshan; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Highest point
Xazrat Sulton Tog' 4,643 m
Natural resources
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Natural hazards
earthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts
National symbols
khumo (mythical bird)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Uzbekistan
The default speed limits in Uzbekistan are 70 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 7070 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 100100 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 ViennaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)9.3 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Uzbekistan safe to visit?
Yes — Uzbekistan is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Uzbekistan Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information about global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
Updated 19 Mar 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Uzbekistan
The best time to visit Uzbekistan is May and September, when daytime highs in Tashkent are around 27–28°C. April and October are also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (36°C by day), January the coldest (-4°C at night), and March the wettest with about 62 mm of rain.
- Jan4°C-4°C
- Feb7°C-2°C
- Mar14°C3°C
- Apr20°C8°C
- May27°C14°C
- Jun34°C19°C
- Jul36°C22°C
- Aug35°C20°C
- Sep28°C15°C
- Oct20°C8°C
- Nov11°C2°C
- Dec5°C-3°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Uzbekistan
Plugs & sockets
- Type C (Europlug)two round pins
- Type Etwo round pins and a hole for the socket's earth pin
- Type F (Schuko)two round pins with earth clips on the sides
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
3 ski resorts in Uzbekistan
- 18 km of slopes
- 11 lifts
- up to 2,285 m
Biggest: "Амирсай" Горнолыжный курорт · 12 Kluchey Ski Club · Beldersoy
National parks
12 national parks in Uzbekistan
- 37,142 km² protected
- oldest from 1926
Largest: South Ustyurt National Nature Park · Central Kyzylkum National Nature Park · Aralkum National Nature Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Uzbekistani soʻm exchange rates today
Uzbekistan uses the Uzbekistani soʻm (UZS, so'm). One US dollar buys 11,844.3 UZS; over the last 30 days the UZS has lost 0.2% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in UZS
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Uzbekistan ranks
How Uzbekistan compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Uzbekistan
78 airports and airfields — 6 large, 6 medium and 49 small, plus 17 heliports. 13 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Uzbekistan borders 5 countries along 6,893 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
Military
Uzbekistani armed forces
Uzbekistan ranks #62 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Tashkent (2.6 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals
Export partners
Switzerland 34%, Russia 12%, UK 11%, China 7%, Turkey 6% (2023)
Top exports
gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Uzbekistan
Next public holiday
Constitution Day — Tuesday, 8 December 2026. Then Day off (substituted from 12/12/2026) (31 Dec).
Uzbekistani passport
Ranked #149: 28 countries visa-free, 32 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 38 with an eVisa.
Uzbekistani passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Uzbekistan's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Uzbekistan
Dial +998 before the local number. Internet domain .uz.
Climate footprint
139.2 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 3.83 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Uzbekistan: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Uzbekistan
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Frequently asked questions about Uzbekistan
What do I need to travel to Uzbekistan?
How long must my passport be valid for Uzbekistan?
Where is Uzbekistan?
What is Uzbekistan known for?
What is the capital of Uzbekistan?
What language is spoken in Uzbekistan?
What currency does Uzbekistan use?
What is the calling code of Uzbekistan?
Which countries border Uzbekistan?
How strong is the Uzbekistani passport?
What is the speed limit in Uzbekistan?
Is Uzbekistan safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Uzbekistan?
What plug type does Uzbekistan use?
How many airports does Uzbekistan have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.