Uzbekistan visa for Israeli citizens

No, for tourism of up to 30 days. Israel was among the first countries whose citizens received visa-free entry when Uzbekistan began opening up to tourism in 2018. Many Israelis have family roots in Uzbekistan: the community of Bukharan Jews lived in Bukhara, Samarkand and other cities for centuries, and many emigrated to Israel from the 1970s onward.

Check the current rules on the official portal e-visa.gov.uz and the travel information of the Israeli 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 a visa obtained in advance, as an e-visa where available or through the Uzbek embassy in Tel Aviv. 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: some medicines may be controlled in Uzbekistan; carry them in original packaging with a prescription.
• Drones require permission.

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.

Uzbekistan Airways and Israeli carriers have operated direct flights between Tel Aviv and Tashkent, taking around 4.5–5 hours; schedules depend on the season and the regional situation. Otherwise, connect via Istanbul, the Gulf or Europe. Check current schedules before booking.

Time difference: Uzbekistan is 3 hours ahead of Israel in winter and 2 hours ahead in summer.

The currency is the Uzbek som. Bring US dollars in clean notes; shekels are hard to exchange. 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.

Jewish communities lived in Central Asia for well over a thousand years. The Bukharan Jews, speaking a Judeo-Persian language, had their own quarters, synagogues and traditions. Today the communities are small, but heritage remains:

• Bukhara: the old Jewish quarter near Lyabi-Hauz, with a functioning synagogue and the old Jewish cemetery. See Bukhara.
• Samarkand: the historic Jewish quarter (mahalla) near the Registan, with a synagogue and a cemetery where many families still visit graves.
• Tashkent: a synagogue and a small active community.

Kosher food is limited; ask in advance. Many Israeli visitors come to visit family graves; a local guide can help locate them.

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. Hebrew is rarely spoken, but Russian and English are widely understood, and many Bukharan Jewish families abroad still keep links with the old cities.

A classic route: Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva, then fly back from Urgench. Allow extra time in Bukhara and Samarkand for heritage visits. The best seasons are April–May and September–October. See Tashkent to Samarkand and Samarkand to Bukhara.

Rules for Israeli citizens in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan vary; check each country. Turkmenistan requires a visa. See Central Asia visas. The Embassy of Israel is in Tashkent; save its contact details and follow your government’s travel advice.