Uzbekistan and Russia Discuss Travel Using Internal Passports

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and Russia are negotiating the introduction of mutual travel using internal passports. This initiative would apply to both Uzbek and Russian citizens.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan noted that the agreement is still under discussion and undergoing necessary domestic procedures. “The parties are coordinating on specific aspects, so it is premature to talk about exact timelines for implementation,” the ministry told Izvestia.

Since September 2023, an agreement between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan allows citizens to cross the border using ID cards and stay in the neighboring country for up to 60 days.

In November 2024, during a message to the Oliy Majlis, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his intention to reach similar agreements with Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, emphasizing that strengthening cooperation within Central Asia remains a priority.

Additionally, in January 2025, plans were announced to allow mutual travel between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan using ID cards. In May, Mirziyoyev instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take measures to increase tourist flows from Russia, China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Arab countries, and the European Union.

According to Izvestia, Uzbekistan has already begun efforts to simplify entry for citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan using internal passports for stays of up to 30 days.