President of Uzbekistan approved the introduction from January 1, 2019 of an international biometric passport for traveling abroad, with exit visas being cancelled from the same date, Uzbekistan 24 reports.
The decree was adopted in an intent to "create favorable conditions for individuals, eliminate bureaucracy and corruption in the process of issuing travel documents, as well as to extend the validity of travel document and to simplify passport control."
The document establishes that the current biometric passport of Uzbek citizens which was introduced in 2011 shaal remain a document proving the identity and citizenship of its owner and shall be used solely on the territory of Uzbekistan.
Uzbek citizens may travel to countries not requiring entry clearance visas using the current biometric passport until January 1, 2021, however to travel to countries that require entry clearance visas, they may use a valid biometric passport until the expiration of exit visas.
The department of migration and registration of citizenship within the Interior Ministry, the Consular office of the Foreign Ministry and consular missions of Uzbekistan abroad will be responsible for issuing the new international passports.
