President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed Further Measures to Optimize the Procedure of Entry of Foreign Citizens into Uzbekistan Decree Wednesday.

The decree launches the E-visas system as of July 15, a source in the government said.

From the same date the 5-day visa-free transit procedure will take effect for the citizens of 101 countries (the list given below) at the Uzbek airports, provided they hold an air-ticket to a third country, and the carrier must provide information about transit passengers to the Border Guard of the State Security Service of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens, who are aged under 16, provided they hold an international passport or a biometric travel document and are accompanied by their legal representatives, may enter and stay in Uzbekistan for the validity period of the entry visa of the accompanying person, but not longer than 90 days from the date of entry into Uzbekistan.

Should foreign citizens reach the age of 16 during their stay in Uzbekistan, an exit visa shall be issued by the migration and citizenship registration offices within the established procedure.

Foreign citizens must send a visa application at least three business days before the planned date of travel. Authorized bodies will review the application within two business days, starting the next day from the day of sending application.

The consular fee for processing and issuing an e-visa is US$ 20.

In addition, the decree instructed to prepare proposals by October to launch additional visa regimes for various categories of foreign citizens visiting Uzbekistan:

Silkroad - for tourists traveling the Silk Road countries with the possible recognizing entry visa of other countries;

Vatandosh - a 5-year visa for natives of Uzbekistan and members of their families;

Golden visa - 10-year visa for large foreign investors.

By March 2019, the relevant authorities are to prepare proposals to expand the list of countries for which the visa-free transit policy is applied.

The decree is aimed at increasing tourists’ inflow, including transit and stopover tourists, and the multiplier effect of tourism will create jobs, boost production and exports figures, as well as investments, the tourism development committee said.

Countries eligible for visa-free transit entry into Uzbekistan:

1. Albania 
2. Algeria 
3. Andorra
4. Antigua and Barbuda
5. Argentina
6. Austria
7. Australia
8. Bahamas
9. Bahrain
10. Barbados
11. Belgium
12. Belize
13. Bhutan
14. Bosnia and Herzegovina
15. Brazil
16. Brunei Darussalam
17. Bulgaria
18. Canada
19. Chile
20. China, including Hong Kong
21. Colombia
22. Costa Rica
23. Croatia
24. Cyprus
25. Czech Republic
26. Denmark
27. Dominica
28. Dominican Republic
29. Ecuador
30. Equatorial Guinea
31. Estonia
32. Fiji
33. Finland
34. France
35. Gabon
36. Germany
37. Greece
38. Grenada
39. Guatemala
40. Guyana
41. Honduras
42. Hungary
43. Iceland
44. India
45. Ireland
46. Italy
47. Jamaica
48. Kuwait
49. Latvia
50. Lebanon
51. Liechtenstein
52. Lithuania
53. Luxembourg
54. Macedonia
55. Maldives
56. Malta
57. Mauritius
58. Mexico
59. Monaco
60. Mongolia
61. Montenegro
62. Morocco
63. Nauru
64. Netherlands
65. New Zealand
66. Norway
67. Oman
68. Palau
69. Panama
70. Peru
71. Philippines
72. Poland
73. Portugal
74. Qatar
75. Romania
76. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
77. Saint Kitts and Nevis
78. Saint Lucia
79. San Marino
80. Saudi Arabia
81. Serbia
82. Seychelles
83. Slovakia
84. Slovenia
85. South Africa
86. Spain
87. Sri Lanka
88. Suriname
89. Sweden
90. Switzerland
91. Thailand
92. Trinidad and Tobago
93. Tunis
94. Turkmenistan
95. United Arab Emirates
96. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
97. Uruguay
98. USA
99. Vatican
100. Venezuela
101. Vietnam