Uzbekistan visa for Turkish citizens

No, for tourism of up to 30 days. Türkiye was among the first countries to benefit from visa-free entry when Uzbekistan opened up to tourism in 2018. The two countries share Turkic languages and a long history, and relations are close: Turkish companies, schools and airlines are present across Uzbekistan.

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

For more than 30 days, or for work, study or business, apply in advance for the appropriate visa, as an e-visa where available or through the Uzbek embassy in Ankara or the consulate in Istanbul. Use official channels only. Leaving Uzbekistan and coming back generally starts a new visa-free period; check the rules before planning several entries.

• 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.

Istanbul is one of the best-connected cities for Uzbekistan. Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways and other carriers fly from Istanbul to Tashkent, and often also to Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Fergana or Namangan. Flight time is about 4.5–5 hours. Other Turkish cities, such as Ankara and Antalya, have had seasonal flights. Flying into one city and out of another avoids backtracking; see domestic flights.

Time difference: Uzbekistan is 2 hours ahead of Türkiye all year.

The currency is the Uzbek som. Bring US dollars or euros in clean notes; Turkish lira are harder to exchange outside Tashkent. ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard in the cities; cash is needed in bazaars, taxis and small cafés. See money in Central Asia.

Turkish visitors often feel at home in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek language is a Turkic language, and many words are similar to Turkish. Great figures of Turkic culture are linked with the region: the poet Alisher Navoi, who wrote in Chagatai Turkic in Herat, is honoured everywhere in Uzbekistan; the Sufi master Khoja Ahmed Yasawi came from nearby Turkistan; and the dynasty of Timur shaped the architecture of Samarkand. See Gur-Emir and the Registan.

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. Many Uzbeks understand some Turkish thanks to Turkish television and business ties, which makes conversations easier.

A classic route: fly from Istanbul to Urgench, start in Khiva, travel east to Bukhara and Samarkand by train or car, and fly home from Samarkand or Tashkent. The best seasons are April–May and September–October. See Bukhara to Khiva and Samarkand to Bukhara.

Turkish citizens can usually visit Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan visa-free, and Tajikistan offers visa-free entry or an e-visa to many nationalities. Turkmenistan requires a visa. See Central Asia visas. The Embassy of Türkiye is in Tashkent.