August 31, 2026 | Press Release
Visa-free access announced during PM Modi’s Tashkent visit as Uzbekistan looks to turn stronger air connectivity and growing bilateral ties into greater tourism and business flows from India
Uzbekistan is making it significantly easier for Indians to visit.
The Central Asian destination has announced 30-day visa-free entry for Indian citizens, a move that could give fresh momentum to leisure travel, business exchanges and people-to-people connectivity between India and Uzbekistan.
The announcement was made by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tashkent on August 29-30. The timing is significant for a destination that has been steadily strengthening its connectivity and engagement with the Indian market.
“India is our reliable strategic partner,” Mirziyoyev said, highlighting the deepening economic relationship between the two countries. He noted that bilateral trade crossed US$1 billion for the first time last year, while the number of joint ventures has increased sevenfold in recent years.
Air connectivity is also gaining ground. According to Mirziyoyev, 14 direct flights operate between India and Uzbekistan every week, creating a stronger foundation for the tourism relationship.
A boost for Uzbekistan’s India tourism ambitions
For Indian travellers, the removal of a visa requirement for stays of up to 30 days removes one of the key friction points in planning a Central Asian holiday.
Uzbekistan has increasingly positioned itself around its historic Silk Road cities, architecture, culture, cuisine and heritage. Easier entry could help the destination appeal not only to first-time Central Asia travellers but also to repeat Indian travellers looking for destinations beyond the more established European and Southeast Asian circuits.
The move could also be significant for travel companies selling Uzbekistan as part of multi-country Central Asian itineraries, while potentially encouraging longer stays and more spontaneous travel.
Beyond tourism
The visa announcement comes against a broader push by India and Uzbekistan to deepen their relationship across trade, investment, connectivity and cultural exchange.
Mirziyoyev highlighted the contribution of Indian cultural institutions in Uzbekistan, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Center for Indian Culture and the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Indian Studies.
Yoga has emerged as another important cultural bridge. Uzbekistan has had a dedicated Yoga Federation since 2018, while a nationwide Yoga Festival was held across the country in June this year.
India and Uzbekistan established diplomatic relations in 1992, with the relationship elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2011. Modi’s latest visit marks his first bilateral visit to Uzbekistan since 2015, although he subsequently travelled to the country for SCO summits in 2016 and 2022.
With visa barriers now reduced and direct air links expanding, Uzbekistan appears to be betting that the next phase of its India relationship will be driven not only by diplomacy and trade—but by more Indians actually travelling there.
