Uzbekistan visa for Indonesian citizens

No, for tourism of up to 30 days. Indonesia was among the first countries whose citizens received visa-free entry when Uzbekistan began opening up to tourism in 2018. Since then, the country has become very popular with Indonesian travellers and pilgrimage groups, who come to visit the shrines of Imam al-Bukhari and other great scholars.

Check the current rules on the official portal e-visa.gov.uz and with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel. See our main Uzbekistan visa guide.

For more than 30 days, or for work, study or business, you need the appropriate visa obtained in advance, as an e-visa where available or through the Uzbek embassy in Jakarta. Use official channels only. Leaving and re-entering Uzbekistan generally starts a new visa-free period; check the rules first.

• Passport: valid at least six months beyond your stay is the safe rule.
• Travel insurance with medical cover.
• Medicines: carry them in original packaging with a prescription; some medicines are controlled in Uzbekistan.
• Warm clothes: spring and autumn nights can be cold, and winters are freezing.

At immigration, present your passport; you may be asked about your hotel and return ticket. Declare large amounts of cash. Hotels and licensed guesthouses register foreign guests automatically. See registration in Uzbekistan and Tashkent airport.

Direct flights between Jakarta and Tashkent have been operated at times, taking about 8–9 hours; check current schedules. Otherwise, connect via Kuala Lumpur, the Gulf (Dubai, Doha) or Istanbul. Some routes reach Samarkand or Bukhara, convenient for ziarah itineraries. See domestic flights.

Time difference: Uzbekistan is 2 hours behind Jakarta (WIB) all year.

The currency is the Uzbek som. Bring US dollars in clean notes; rupiah cannot usually be exchanged. ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard in the cities, and many hotels and restaurants take cards. Cash is needed in bazaars, taxis and small places. See money in Central Asia.

Uzbekistan was home to some of the most important scholars in Islamic history. Popular ziarah sites include:

• Imam al-Bukhari complex, near Samarkand, the tomb of the compiler of Sahih al-Bukhari.
• Imam al-Maturidi mausoleum in Samarkand, the theologian whose school is followed by many Muslims.
• Bahauddin Naqshband shrine near Bukhara, founder of the Naqshbandi order, widely followed in Indonesia.
• Al-Hakim at-Termizi in Termez. See al-Hakim at-Termizi.
• Imam at-Tirmidhi, compiler of the Sunan, buried near Termez.
• Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand. See Shah-i-Zinda.

Dress modestly at shrines and follow local etiquette. A guide who knows the stories of the scholars makes visits much richer.

Uzbekistan is generally a safe and welcoming country for visitors. A few practical points make a trip easier: buy a local SIM card with your passport on arrival for maps and ride-hailing apps (see SIM cards and internet); use apps or agree prices in advance for taxis; book Afrosiyob train tickets early in spring and autumn; and dress modestly at mosques and shrines. Pilgrimage groups should book hotels near the main shrines early in spring and autumn, when many groups travel.

Meat is almost always halal. Try plov, shashlik, samsa, lagman and non bread. Uzbek food is mild; ask for chilli if you like it spicy. Mosques are everywhere, and many hotels can indicate the qibla.

A typical ziarah route: Tashkent → Samarkand (Imam al-Bukhari, al-Maturidi, Shah-i-Zinda) → Bukhara (Bahauddin Naqshband) → optional Termez. The best seasons are April–May and September–October. Rules for Indonesian citizens in neighbouring countries vary; Turkmenistan requires a visa. See Central Asia visas. The Embassy of Indonesia is in Tashkent.