In recent years, Uzbek citizens have been facing difficulties when crossing the borders of foreign countries. In particular, there has been an increase in cases where citizens are denied entry or subjected to additional checks at airports in Russia, Turkey, the UAE, Georgia, and other nations. Official authorities explain this by citing security measures, the fight against illegal migration, and violations of visa regulations.
In Russia, control over Central Asian citizens was sharply tightened following the terrorist attack in March 2024. Furthermore, the use of tourist visas for illegal employment in South Korea, as well as cases involving individuals wanted by Interpol or suspected of involvement in terrorism, are complicating entry conditions for Uzbeks. Clear examples of this include the denial of entry to about 20 Uzbek citizens in Georgia in July 2026 and 31 citizens in the UAE in November 2024.
Many countries emphasize that a visa-free regime is not an absolute guarantee of entry. For instance, in Mongolia, 167 Uzbek citizens were denied entry in 2024, and 19 were denied in the first two months of 2025. The main reasons cited include misrepresenting the purpose of the trip, lack of hotel bookings, or insufficient financial means.
Experts recommend that citizens traveling abroad prepare all documents in advance, including return tickets and hotel reservations, and strictly adhere to the migration rules of the destination country. In some instances, particularly in countries like Montenegro and Ecuador, changes in migration policy have led to the cancellation of visa-free travel for Uzbek citizens or the introduction of transit visas.
