Uzbekistan Now Waives Visas for Indians Who Already Hold a US, UK or Schengen Visa

Uzbekistan has introduced a conditional visa-free entry scheme for Indian citizens, effective from 1 September 2026 under a presidential decree dated 29 August 2026. The change was announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Uzbekistan on 29–30 August, at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It is not a blanket visa waiver for all Indian passport holders: it applies specifically to Indian citizens who already hold a valid, multiple-entry visa issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States or a Schengen Area country.

Who qualifies

Indian citizens holding one of the qualifying visas can now stay in Uzbekistan for up to 30 days without applying for a separate Uzbek visa. The Embassy of India in Tashkent has confirmed the scheme, according to reporting by The Tribune, and travellers without a valid visa to one of the listed countries still need to apply through Uzbekistan's existing e-visa system as before.

Why it matters for Indian travellers

Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva among them, have been drawing steadily more interest from Indian travellers as direct air connectivity has grown; officials cited 14 weekly direct flights between the two countries at the time of the announcement. Removing a separate visa application step for travellers who already hold a major international visa is aimed at converting that growing flight capacity into more actual visits.

What hasn't changed

Indian citizens without a qualifying US, UK, Schengen or similar visa still need to apply for an Uzbek e-visa in the ordinary way before travelling. The 30-day allowance under the new scheme is for stays, not an extension of validity on any underlying visa, and travellers should confirm their own eligibility and required documents before booking rather than assuming the waiver applies automatically.

Traveller tips

• Carry your passport along with the valid foreign visa (US, UK, Schengen, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia or New Zealand) that qualifies you for the waiver, since it is the basis for entry.
• If you do not hold one of the qualifying visas, apply for Uzbekistan's e-visa in advance as before; the waiver does not apply to you.
• Confirm the current list of qualifying visa countries and any documentation requirements directly with the Embassy of India in Tashkent or Uzbekistan's official immigration channels before travelling, since eligibility rules for schemes like this can be refined after launch.
• Direct flights between India and Uzbekistan currently run largely via Delhi and Mumbai; check current routings and frequencies with individual airlines.