Nigerian travellers face temporary visa and entry curbs in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has introduced temporary restrictions on issuing visas and allowing entry to Nigerian citizens, according to a notice published on the website of a major trade exhibition in the country. The measure was flagged on the site of the Green Energy Technologies Central Asia (GETCA) exhibition.

Key facts

• What: temporary restrictions on visa issuance and entry into Uzbekistan for Nigerian citizens
• Who is affected: citizens of Nigeria, and also Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Iraq and Bangladesh, which appear under the same notice
• Source of the information: a notice on the GETCA exhibition website
• Start date and duration: not stated in the notice
• Reason: not given
• Exceptional cases: travellers are advised to contact the consular section of the Uzbek embassy in their country

What is changing?

The notice says restrictions have been introduced on both the issuance of visas and entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan for Nigerians. It describes the measures as temporary, but does not explain what the restrictions mean in practice for people who already hold visas or have travel booked.

Who else is affected?

Nigeria is not the only country covered. The same notice appears against several other countries and territories, including Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Iraq and Bangladesh. The notice does not set out whether the restrictions apply identically to each of these nationalities.

When do the restrictions start, and how long will they last?

Neither is clear. The notice gives no reason for the measure, no start date and no indication of how long it will remain in place.

What should affected travellers do?

The notice advises travellers affected by the restrictions to contact the consular section of the Uzbek embassy in their country about entry in exceptional cases. No further application details, fees or required documents are given.

What this means for travellers

Nigerian citizens and nationals of the other listed countries planning travel to Uzbekistan face restrictions on both visas and entry, with no announced timeline. Anyone with imminent travel plans may want to contact the consular section of the Uzbek embassy in their country about their specific case, particularly if they believe theirs is an exceptional one.

At the time the report was published, no official statement from the Uzbek government on the measure had been found. Further official confirmation, and details on scope and duration, are still awaited.