Visa-free travel to 35 countries, simplified procedure to 42 more: What citizens of Uzbekistan should know before traveling

**Visa-free to 35 countries, simplified to 42 countries: What should Uzbek citizens know before traveling?**

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Before buying a plane ticket, many Uzbeks face one question: do they need a visa to the selected country, and if so, what type of visa is required? Entry rules vary from country to country. Confusing a visa-free regime with a visa or e-visa can lead to being denied boarding or problems at the border.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, there are several types of entry procedures for citizens of Uzbekistan: a full visa-free regime with 31 countries, a tourist registration regime with 4 countries, a visa-on-arrival regime with 29 countries, and an e-visa-based regime with 13 countries.

Let's take a look at how entry procedures work, how they differ from each other, which countries can be visited without a visa or with a simplified procedure, and what to check before traveling.

These procedures differ, first of all, in when and where the necessary permits or documents for entry are issued. A visa-free procedure does not require a visa in advance. The tourist registration procedure requires additional tourist documents. A visa on arrival is issued upon arrival at the airport or border checkpoint in the destination country. An electronic visa is obtained online before traveling.

Therefore, the first step before traveling is to find out what entry procedure applies to the country you are visiting, rather than relying on general information that says "you can go there without a visa."

A visa-free procedure does not mean that you can stay in the country indefinitely. Each country independently determines the duration of stay and entry conditions. Also, visa-free entry usually does not allow you to work, study, or permanently reside. A separate visa or other permitting document may be required for such purposes.

Some visa-free regimes are established on the basis of bilateral agreements. Therefore, the duration of stay and other requirements may vary depending on the country. Before traveling, it is necessary to check the current conditions for the chosen destination.

Unlike the full visa-free regime, in addition to a passport, additional tourist documents are required from the traveler on these routes. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these include a tourist voucher, a document confirming the hotel reservation and a return air ticket.

Therefore, passengers traveling to these countries should prepare the necessary documents in advance. Since the requirements may change over time, it is advisable to double-check the current procedure on the official sources of the relevant country before traveling.

Upon arrival at the destination, the traveler applies to the visa application department and submits the necessary documents in accordance with the country's requirements. In some countries, a return ticket, hotel reservation or other documents may also be required. The amount of the visa fee and the method of its payment also vary depending on the country.

Therefore, even if it is possible to obtain a visa on arrival, it is necessary to check the validity period, required documents, fee amount and payment method with the official sources of the country of destination before traveling.

The procedure for obtaining an e-visa, the processing time of the application, the visa fee and the required documents vary depending on the country. Usually, the application is submitted on the official e-visa portal of the relevant country.

The approved e-visa may be required to be presented at check-in or at the border. Therefore, once the visa is approved, it is advisable to save its electronic copy on your phone and print it out if possible.

Even if there is an official visa-free regime, other entry conditions should be checked before each trip. The requirements for the duration of stay in the country, passport validity, return ticket, hotel reservation or other documents may vary depending on the route.

If the route passes through a third country, transit rules should also be determined in advance. The fact that the visa-free regime for citizens of Uzbekistan is in force at the final destination does not mean that an additional visa or permit is not required in the transit country.

Visa and entry requirements are not permanent: countries may conclude new agreements, change the duration of stay, or revise the current procedures. Therefore, it is advisable to use official sources rather than relying on information from old articles, social media posts, or forums.

Before traveling, it is necessary to check the current entry procedure for the selected country on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, clarify the requirements for documents, fees, and the duration of stay at the embassy or consulate of the country of destination, check the validity period of the foreign passport, and determine transit requirements if the route passes through a third country.

Visa and entry requirements can also be checked additionally through the IATA Travel Center. This service is used to determine visa and entry requirements depending on the passport and destination.