Customs and Immigration
Arrival. As guests of Uzbekistan, you will be requested to complete two customs declarations (available in English and French) upon arrival in the country, usually at the airport. One of the declarations is kept during the entire stay in Uzbekistan. On departure, you will have to complete another declaration, and submit it together with the initial one to the customs officer.
There are no limitations on the amount of money allowed into Uzbekistan. Visitors should have less hard currency while departing than they indicated in the entry declaration.
Items of considerable value, for example, jewelry, cameras, computers etc., should be noted on the declaration forms on entry. All such items must be re-exported, otherwise import duties will be charged on travelers.
The customs regulations clearly define the list of items which you may bring in the country and the list is almost identical to those in Western countries. It includes, inter alia, drugs, explosives, dangerous substances and weapons. Food products, such as fruit and vegetables, may be imported freely in reasonable quantities sufficient for personal consumption.
Unlike in some Islamic countries, alcohol drinks and tobacco products are allowed for import and fall under the same consumable quantity regulation.
When entering airport facilities, all luggages go through X-ray devices.
Departure. Items that visitors buy in Uzbekistan, such as products of handicraft, pottery and other recently manufactured products can be freely exported from the country. When you plan to take out of the country works of art or antiques, such as old rugs and/or suzannis (wall covers), books, weaponry (swords, knives, etc.), you may be required by customs to provide a license issued by the Uzbek Ministry of Culture. It is recommended to demand such a license directly from Sellers before you buy things. Otherwise, unlicensed items may be confiscated by the customs authorities.
In order for you to go unhampered through the Uzbek immigration authorities, you have to have a valid passport (its expiry date should not coincide with the period of stay in Uzbekistan) and a valid visa. Also, they may check your Registration.
Registration. All foreigners are required to follow certain registration rules in Uzbekistan. These rules are supposed to help provide Uzbek authorities with data about the movement of foreign citizens in the country.
Visitors have to register within three days of arrival and obtain a stamp of registration on their visa. As far as tourists are concerned, it is required to obtain a stamped receipt with dates of stay from the reception of the hotel; usually hotels do this automatically. Unregistered visitors may be subject to a fine or even prevented from leaving until all documents are properly done. |
