Entry ban into Uzbekistan from March 16, 2020 due to coronavirus
From March 16, 2021, a ban on entry into Uzbekistan will be introduced for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and all other foreign citizens in connection with the coronavirus epidemic, according to the website gazeta.uz.
All international flights are cancelled, and from March 19, train services as well.
Citizens of Uzbekistan are also prohibited from traveling outside their country. Foreigners can leave Uzbekistan. An explanation of this issue is given on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
Ancient city of Ichan-Kala, Uzbekistan
You can find out briefly about Uzbekistan on our website.
Features of entry into Uzbekistan
Shortly before arriving in the country, passengers are given customs declaration forms to fill out. Entries are made in Russian, Uzbek or English. In this case, you need to be careful and carefully count all rubles, dollars and euros. It is also necessary to indicate what goods are temporarily imported into the country (for example, a video camera).
The customs officers keep one copy of the declaration for themselves, the second, certified by a seal, is given to the guest. You cannot lose it while traveling around the country: on the way back you will have to fill out the same export declaration.
Employees will compare these two documents. In addition, upon departure you may be asked to show the contents of your wallet. If there is more money there than established by the rules for importing and exporting currency, they usually offer to return the difference or pay a fine. By the way, many guests of the country previously complained about violations committed by Uzbek customs officers. Now order has been restored, but there is still no point in letting down your vigilance.
As in Russia, in Uzbekistan foreign citizens must register. This applies to everyone who arrived for more than three days.
When tourists stay at a hotel, this responsibility falls on the administration. If a traveler is staying for three days in each city, there is no need to register.
The registration certificate must also be kept, since upon departure back the presence of this document will be checked.
We also invite you to familiarize yourself with the standard of living in Uzbekistan.
Requirements for filing a declaration
The declaration is drawn up in two copies. One remains with the customs authorities, the other is returned to the passenger. It is advisable to keep this document, since you will have to return to this issue again when crossing the border in the opposite direction. Approximately the same procedure is maintained when passing through the customs of Uzbekistan by car. Customs clearance of large consignments of goods requires much more effort and energy.
Currently, the President has established exemplary order in the customs authorities of the republic with his imperious hand. But just recently, things were completely different: corruption, extortion... And yet, when going through border and customs control, it is recommended to exercise maximum caution and be extremely attentive.
Import and export of currency
According to the legislation of Uzbekistan, foreign currency can be imported into the territory of the state in unlimited quantities. At the time of import, a traveler from the Russian Federation will have to fill out a customs declaration in form T-6.
If desired, a certain amount of currency can be left for storage and picked up on the way back. There are no fees charged. The customs officer must issue one copy of the receipt, Form TC-21, which is stamped.
As for the import of national currency, it is limited to 50 minimum wages. If the imported amount is greater, the customs authority must issue a certificate in the legally prescribed form.
Sample customs declaration to be filled out upon entry into Uzbekistan
Since there is a shortage of foreign currency in the state, the export of cash is strictly regulated. The traveler must not export more than the amount he brought in. When the amount of currency exported by a non-resident exceeds the norm, a banking permit is required.
If a resident of the country leaves Uzbekistan for Russia, he can take 2,000 US dollars with him without any permission.
An amount from $2,000 to $5,000 will require permission from the Central Bank of the country or banking institutions authorized by it, and only the Central Bank has the right to authorize the export of a larger amount.
If the traveler has little national currency (no more than 5 minimum wages), it is allowed not to include it in the declaration. In other cases, the entire amount must be fully declared.
Tourists from Russia rarely travel with traveler's checks, but they can be imported and exported, they just need to be included in the declaration. As for credit cards, they are not declared anywhere. True, there will be little benefit from this benefit of civilization in Uzbekistan: you can pay with them only in large cities, for example, in Tashkent, and even then not everywhere.
Standard Line will act as a representative of your organization. The whole process looks like this:
- The customs representative concludes an international contract for the supply of cargo and issues an invoice for payment;
- Next, we re-issue your invoice to a partner in the Republic of Uzbekistan, but on behalf of the Standard Line company. All payments and expenses for transportation and customs clearance of the cargo are immediately added to the amount for the goods. When the client knows the final cost of the cargo and does not worry about additional payments, it is easier for him to make a decision and simply wait for the arrival of the goods;
- The next stage is the conclusion of an agreement on the supply of cargo to the company with the customer;
- The partner from the Republic of Uzbekistan makes payment on the invoice, which we, in turn, transfer to you;
- At the last stage, the goods are moved from your warehouse and sent to Uzbekistan. We will provide all documents to confirm the transaction and customs clearance.
Approximately the same scheme can be used when importing from Uzbekistan, in which the customs representative acts as a foreign trade agent and helps our partners at all stages of importing cargo from Uzbekistan.
Working in this direction, we guarantee full logistics, legal and customs support. The consolidation of high-quality cargo delivery services from one time-tested transport and logistics broker affects not only accelerated delivery times, but also the quality of the deliveries themselves.
When exporting, we issue a CMR with all stamps. We put “RELEASE ALLOWED” and hand it over to the driver. We mark and issue our CMRs.
Rules for the import of goods
In the process of preparing for your trip, it is worth finding out in advance which goods are prohibited for import into Uzbekistan and which are not. There are quite a few restrictions on imports. Thus, it is prohibited to import into the country manuscripts, photographs and any products that are aimed at undermining independence, national foundations and may contradict state interests.
It will not be possible to transport pornography and publications that contain calls for violence.
The import of goods such as ethyl alcohol and vehicles of certain categories (mainly those that do not meet established environmental requirements) is also prohibited. Of course, weapons and drugs are also prohibited import goods. In addition, the import of vegetables and fruits into the country is not allowed.
The law establishes a list of goods that can be imported into Uzbekistan without paying state duty. Travelers from countries that do not border Uzbekistan are allowed to carry items intended for personal use up to $1,000. For residents of neighboring countries (Afghanistan, Tajikistan and others), this limit is much more modest - only 10 dollars.
0.5 kg of sturgeon caviar can be introduced into the territory of Uzbekistan without paying excise taxes
In addition, there is a certain list of products that can be imported without paying excise taxes. For example, a limit of 2 kg is set for coffee, and 0.5 kg for sturgeon caviar. To the delight of those with a sweet tooth, you can take as much as 5 kg of confectionery with you.
You will be allowed to import 2 liters of strong alcohol, beer and juices, with the exception of citrus fruits, and 10 packs of cigarettes. Customs duties are not paid for all these and some other goods.
Free trade Area
In 1994, the Agreement “On the creation of a free trade zone” was concluded, the participants of which are some CIS countries - Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Moldova, Uzbekistan. The agreement simplifies the process of carrying out customs procedures between participating states. The agreement replaced more than a hundred international documents regulating the free trade regime in the CIS.
As participants in the FTA, the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan acquire the right to enjoy preferences and benefits for the payment of customs duties when importing goods. Thanks to this, favorable conditions are created for the development of trade relations between these countries.
Export of products from the territory of Uzbekistan
There is also a fairly large list of goods and various products that cannot be exported from the country. It is also better to familiarize yourself with it in advance. If you violate local laws, you will have to pay a fine, and in particularly serious cases, the matter may end in deportation or imprisonment.
Such goods and means include:
- Silkworm cocoons and silk production waste.
- Cereals: buckwheat, corn, oats and some other crops.
- Ethanol.
- Products that contain natural pearls or precious stones.
- Fur and leather raw materials.
- Meat products and offal. This restriction also applies to poultry.
- Military equipment, ammunition, weapons, explosives, special equipment and other similar products.
- Scrap of non-ferrous metals.
- Saiga antlers, skins of sika deer, deer.
In addition, the list of prohibited goods includes plants listed in the Red Book, and even rare animals.
Many tourists bring dried fruits from Uzbekistan, in connection with this the question often arises: are there any restrictions on this matter? Local legislation has not established them; problems can arise only in cases where, relatively speaking, they are transported by trucks. When exporting dried apricots, apricots or other fruits for personal use, no sanctions will follow.
Dried fruits are allowed to be transported across the border in small quantities
As for souvenirs, ordinary consumer goods can be exported without any restrictions. But exporting products that are antiques or are of cultural value will not work just like that: you will need to present a document that allows this. For those who were not in the know, there is also a way out.
A specialist from the Ministry of Culture always works at Tashkent airport to conduct an expert check. The state fee for this service will have to be paid immediately.
Peculiarities of import and export of medicines
Like any other state, Uzbekistan has its own rules for the import of medicines. They also need to be studied, since there have been cases when Russian citizens were kicked off a flight and sentenced to pay a fine for transporting phenazepam, phenobarbital and other potent psychotropic drugs.
The national Uzbek airline has already issued a statement regarding Uzbekistan that such medicines are prohibited from being imported into the country in 2021, both in checked luggage and hand luggage.
However, there is an exception to this rule. The transportation of psychotropic drugs, as well as narcotic drugs, is allowed within the seven-day requirement for narcotic drugs and 15 days for psychotropic drugs.
When importing such products, you will need to present a medical certificate confirming the need for their use. In addition, customs officers will require you to present a document that confirms the legality of their purchase (a copy of the prescription will do).
The import and export of other medicines that a person needs for personal use is permitted. However, there are some limitations here too. The number of such drugs should be no more than 10 items, 5 packages of each of them.
Insulin and other antidiabetic drugs can be imported in quantities of 30 packages. It is installed in such a way that one package contains no more than 30 tablets or 10 ampoules.
A list of all drugs that a citizen imports for his own use must be indicated in the customs declaration. Medicines cannot be imported into Uzbekistan for commercial purposes.
Personal inspection
Personal search at customs is a last resort. The employee must have reasonable grounds that the person is attempting to violate the rules. Usually those who have already found prohibited goods in their luggage are subject to personal search.
When going through customs inspection, it is very important to know the following rules:
- Personal search is used only if the person actually violates customs rules.
- The decision to carry out the procedure is made by the head of customs. An ordinary inspector does not have the right to make a decision on a personal search
- Before the inspection, the person must be asked to hand over prohibited goods voluntarily. And proceed with the inspection only after his refusal.
- All participants in the personal search, including witnesses, must be of the same gender. Everyone else is prohibited from attending or observing this procedure.
- Customs officers have the right to inspect only the suspect's belongings. A doctor must be invited to examine the body.
- The medical professional has no right to give medications or perform any tests to the person being examined.
