Uzbekistan visa for French citizens

No, for tourism of up to 30 days. France is on Uzbekistan’s visa-free list, introduced as the country opened up to tourism in 2018–2019. French travellers have a long tradition of interest in the Silk Road and Central Asian archaeology, and Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are popular destinations.

Check the latest rules before departure on the official portal e-visa.gov.uz and on the French Foreign Ministry’s Conseils aux voyageurs page for Uzbekistan. See our Uzbekistan visa guide for general information.

If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, or to work, study or do business, you need a visa obtained in advance, as an e-visa where available or through an Uzbek embassy or consulate. Apply only through official channels; intermediary sites charge extra. If you leave Uzbekistan for a neighbouring country and return, a new visa-free period generally begins on re-entry; check the rules before you plan.

• Passport: valid at least six months beyond your stay is the safe rule. The French national identity card is not valid for entry.
• Travel insurance with medical and repatriation cover.
• Medicines: some medicines available in France, such as certain codeine- or tramadol-based painkillers, sleeping pills, anxiolytics and ADHD medication, are controlled in Uzbekistan. Carry them in original packaging with a prescription, ideally translated into English or Russian.
• Drones require permission.

At immigration, present your passport; you may be asked for your first hotel and return ticket. Declare large amounts of cash and keep the form. Foreign visitors must be registered where they stay; hotels and licensed guesthouses do it automatically. Keep your registration slips until you leave. See Tashkent airport.

Uzbekistan Airways has operated direct flights from Paris to Tashkent, and at times to Urgench or other cities, in about 6–7 hours; check current schedules. Many travellers connect via Istanbul, Dubai, Doha or Frankfurt. Some itineraries arrive in Samarkand or Urgench, convenient for a route that avoids backtracking. See domestic flights.

Time difference: Uzbekistan is 4 hours ahead of France in winter and 3 hours ahead in summer; it does not change its clocks.

The currency is the Uzbek som. Euros and US dollars in clean notes exchange easily at banks and official exchange offices. ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard in the cities; many hotels and restaurants take cards. Keep cash for bazaars, taxis and small places. See money in Central Asia.

French citizens can usually visit Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan visa-free for limited stays. Tajikistan offers visa-free entry or an e-visa to many nationalities, with a separate permit for the Pamirs. Turkmenistan requires a visa with a letter of invitation arranged through a local agency. See Central Asia visas and our guides to the Jartepa border to Penjikent and the Shavat border to Turkmenistan.

English and Russian are the main foreign languages in tourism. French-speaking guides exist in Uzbekistan, particularly in Samarkand and Bukhara, but they are fewer and should be booked well in advance. A few words of Uzbek are always appreciated: see our Uzbek phrases.

Most French visitors spend 8–14 days in Uzbekistan. A classic route is Tashkent → Samarkand by the Afrosiyob train → Bukhara → Khiva across the desert, then a flight from Urgench back to Tashkent. Travellers interested in archaeology can add Termez and its Buddhist sites, or the desert fortresses of ancient Khorezm near Khiva. The busiest months are April–May and September–October, when trains and good hotels sell out, so book early. See our 7-day and 10-day itineraries, and Tashkent to Samarkand for the first leg.

The French Embassy is in Tashkent. Save its contact details before departure and register your trip on the French Foreign Ministry’s Ariane service if you wish.