Uzbek passport

Uzbek passport
Front cover of the biometric passport of Uzbekistan
Issued by	Uzbekistan
Type of document	Passport
Purpose	Identification
Eligibility requirements	Uzbek citizenship

The Uzbek passport, being the property of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is issued to the citizens of Uzbekistan for internal use and international travels. An ordinary passport is issued to a person at 16 years and must be exchanged each 10 years. The passport could also be changed in case of damage or when the bearer of the passport changed his/her name. The passport contains 32 pages for special notes and visas. It is in the Uzbek and English languages. According to bilateral and multilateral agreements, the bearer of the Uzbek passport has the right to travel within Commonwealth of Independent States except neighboring Tajikistan (Tajik citizens also required to obtain the Uzbek visa to enter Uzbekistan) and stay up to 90 days without any visa requirements. However, for leaving Uzbekistan, one has to apply for special travel permit in local police. This permit is valid for two years and is needed only for leaving the country—the bearer may stay abroad until the passport is valid.

Since 2010 Uzbekistan has been switching gradually to the biometric passport system. The old (non-biometric) passports are invalid since the beginning of 2016 internationally, but not nationally where are valid till 2018.

The Uzbek passport includes the following data:

As of 1 January 2017, Uzbekistani citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 53 countries and territories, ranking the Uzbekistani passport 83rd in terms of travel freedom (tied with Ivorian, Senegalese, Tajik and Togolese passports) according to the Henley visa restrictions index. However, aside from foreign visa requirements, Uzbekistan is one of the few countries that imposes an exit visa regime on its citizens wishing to leave, and Uzbek citizens need an exit visa from their government for most international travel.

All Uzbek citizens are required to obtain an exit visa to travel to all non-CIS countries. An exit visa is not needed for a trip to a CIS country so long as the traveler does not then go to a non-CIS country. Penalties for traveling to non-CIS countries without an exit visa include heavy fines and prison terms up to 10 years in length. Exit visas are obtained from the Interior Ministry's local OVIR (Office of Visas and Registration), cost $25, and are valid for two years.