In an open approach: Uzbekistan intends to simplify entry for Russians
Uzbekistan has begun work on simplifying entry for Russian citizens using internal passports for up to 30 days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic told Izvestia. Currently, Russians from Central Asian countries can only enter Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan using these documents. Russians can visit Uzbekistan with a foreign passport without registration for up to 15 days, after which time they need to register temporarily.
Uzbekistan will simplify entry to the republic for citizens of the Russian Federation
Uzbekistan has begun work on simplifying entry for citizens of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan using internal passports for up to 30 days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic told Izvestia.
— We are working to simplify entry for citizens of partner countries, including allowing visits with internal passports or ID cards for up to 30 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts negotiations and prepares proposals. The timing depends on the approvals, but the country strives to ensure convenient movement by strengthening tourism and business ties," the Foreign Ministry's press service said.
Earlier, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed to start negotiations with Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan within three months on the possibility of their citizens entering the republic using an internal document or an ID card. Mirziyoyev also took the initiative to introduce visa-free travel for American citizens and work to ease visa requirements for Uzbeks visiting the United States.
A system with entry based on internal documents is already in effect between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Since 2023, citizens of the republics can cross the common border with ID cards along with passports.
In Central Asia, Russian citizens with an internal passport can only enter Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. However, all countries except Turkmenistan have a visa-free regime.
Russian citizens currently need a foreign passport to enter Uzbekistan. Russians who have arrived in the republic for a period of more than 15 days are required to register temporarily at their place of stay in a hotel or at the passport office no later than the 15th day of their stay in the country.
Simplification of entry will certainly have an impact on the growth in the number of tourist trips. By the end of 2024, the number of tourists from Russia to Uzbekistan increased by 20% to 870 thousand people. In 2025, the country expects to receive 1 million Russian tourists, Chairman of the republic's Tourism Committee Umid Shadiyev said earlier.
Strengthening relations between Russia and Uzbekistan
Russia and Uzbekistan have a comprehensive economic cooperation program in place until 2026. It includes cooperation in trade, industry, transport, energy and agriculture. The leaders of the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan held a telephone conversation on May 3, 2025, during which they discussed practical steps to deepen trade and economic cooperation.
In May 2024, Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to Uzbekistan. At that time, the parties signed a number of agreements and agreed on a plan to increase mutual trade. In particular, the presidents agreed to develop cooperation in the field of aviation and mechanical engineering.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a meeting at the Kuksaroy State Residence in Tashkent. May 27, 2024
This year, on April 22-23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Uzbekistan. And a couple of weeks before his visit, the Chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, took part in the 150th anniversary Assembly of the Interparliamentary Union in Tashkent.
The parties also cooperate at the regional level. More than 70 subjects of the Russian Federation interact with the regions of the republic. For example, in 2024, 35 heads of Russian regions visited Uzbekistan. 155 companies with Russian capital are currently operating in the republic.
— Cooperation at the local level is also developing intensively. More than 50 interregional agreements have now been signed," Daria Saprynskaya, a researcher at the ISAA of Lomonosov Moscow State University, told Izvestia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at a welcoming ceremony at Samarkand airport. April 22, 2025
The strengthening of cooperation is also reflected in the trade turnover of the parties: by the end of 2024, it exceeded $10 billion. Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev previously set a goal to reach a trade turnover of $30 billion by 2030.
There are technoparks in Uzbekistan with the participation of Russian companies: Chirchik and Jizzakh. They make it possible to localize Russian production and strengthen cooperation between enterprises of the two countries. It was reported that the leadership of Tatarstan plans to open two more industrial parks — in the Navoi free economic zone and in the Bukhara region.
Uzbekistan is a member of the SCO, BRICS and an observer in the EAEU. Therefore, cooperation between the two countries should be considered not only from the point of view of realizing economic potential, but also as a desire to deal with common challenges in the field of international relations, Daria Saprynskaya believes.
— Today, the key issues for us are the development of energy in the region. It is important for Russia to implement the construction of small nuclear power plants and other infrastructure projects in the country. The problem of water scarcity is also relevant — it is the drainage of the Aral Sea and a decrease in acreage, which may affect the southern regions of the Russian Federation," the expert noted.
Uzbekistan borders all the countries of Central Asia, which increases its importance in the region in terms of the development of transport flows. Russia and Uzbekistan intend to create transit routes to Asia and the Persian Gulf countries. In April 2025, Uzbekistan officially applied to join the international North-South transport corridor, which can be seen as the country's desire to strengthen its position in global logistics and trade.
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