Rules for registering foreigners have been updated in Kyrgyzstan. What will change for citizens of Uzbekistan?

The procedure for registering foreign citizens has been updated in Kyrgyzstan. How will this affect citizens of Uzbekistan?

A new procedure for registering foreign citizens and stateless persons has been approved in Kyrgyzstan. This change also applies to the rules of stay for citizens of Uzbekistan in the country.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved a list of 92 countries whose citizens are exempt from registration within a specified period. According to the new procedure, citizens of Uzbekistan can stay in Kyrgyzstan without any additional documentation under a visa-free regime for a total of up to 60 days within each 120-day (4-month) period. Previously, this same period applied to Uzbek citizens, but it was possible to renew it by exiting and re-entering the border.

Citizens of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia — can stay in Kyrgyzstan for a total of up to 90 days within each 180-day period from the date of entry. The same period applies to citizens of Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Mongolia, and Moldova.

Citizens of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain are allowed to stay visa-free for a total of up to 180 days in each 360-day period. For countries where the period is not explicitly specified, the principle of reciprocity applies.

If a foreign spouse or minor children of a citizen of Kyrgyzstan overstay their period of stay in the country, they will have the right to enter Kyrgyzstan once to legalize their legal status, provided they present a document confirming their family relationship. Upon entry, they must process their documents within 30 working days.

The process of registering foreigners and stateless persons is carried out through the Unified System for External Migration Accounting (ESUVM). Documents can be processed offline, online, or through a special mobile application. The fact that the registering person is not a citizen of Kyrgyzstan is verified precisely through the ESUVM system. If a foreign citizen holds citizenship of multiple countries, they will be registered based on the details of the foreign passport with which they entered Kyrgyzstan.

The new procedure introduces strict limits on the number of foreigners who can be registered in residential premises. Now, the number of foreigners registered in a house or apartment is determined on the condition that there is at least 12 square meters of living space per person. In addition, the total number of foreigners registered in a single residential property must not exceed 10 people. However, close relatives are an exception to this rule.

From December 31, 2025, the law providing for a unilateral visa-free regime of up to 60 days for citizens of certain countries has lost its force. The new rules envisage coordinating and reducing the periods of stay in Kyrgyzstan for citizens of the respective countries.

The government emphasizes that this innovation will serve to automate information exchange between state bodies, reduce the human factor and corruption risks, and simplify the process.

For reference, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to exempt citizens of both countries from mandatory registration for 15 days after crossing the border. Kyrgyzstan leads among the most visited tourist destinations by Uzbek citizens. Within half a year, 1,981,542 citizens visited the neighboring republic for tourism purposes.