How to Apply for an Uzbekistan Visa in Oklahoma City

While Uzbekistan is likely off the radar for most Oklahoma City area residents who are considering international travel, the country is considered the most popular tourist destination in Central Asia and is famous for its cultural sites, architectural treasures, and outdoor activities.  Many of its cities were important stops on the Great Silk Road, the vast caravan trade routes that linked Eastern and Western civilizations from 200 B.C. through the Middle Ages.  Recently, the World Tourism Organization opened its Silk Road Office in Samarkand in coordination with international efforts to promote Silk Road tourism throughout the region.  The city was selected as the 2023 World Tourism Capital by the UN World Tourism Organization. 

The Republic of Uzbekistan was formed in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, ending more than 100 years of Russian rule.  Landlocked Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia with more than 34.5 million people.  Uzbeks make up 80% of a population that also includes Russians and Tartars.  Muslims make up 95% of its citizens, while the Uzbek and Russian languages are the most commonly spoken.

Most Central Asian countries were occupied by largely nomadic tribes for centuries that left relatively few historical artifacts.  However, Uzbekistan’s role in the commercial trade that stretched from China to Rome generated wealth that bought more lasting development than its neighbors.  Conquered by Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, the country is known for cultural landmarks that reflect a wide variety of historical influences.

Cultural and religious tourism remains the country’s top draw for Oklahoma City area tourists -- particularly historic sites connected with the Islamic faith.  The largest city in Uzbekistan is the capital city of Tashkent, the most populous metropolis in Central Asia.  Booming Tashkent is best known for its enduring Soviet influences, including the unique Hotel Uzbekistan and its underground high-speed subway system.  While the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and a 1966 earthquake destroyed much of its ancient buildings, Tashkent still features numerous museums and Soviet-style monuments.  Samarkand, the second-largest urban area, is home to ancient relics, turquoise minarets, mausoleums, holy shrines, and mosques that date back hundreds of years. The 2,500-year-old city of Bukhara has been an international tourist destination since the Silk Road era, when weary caravan travelers recharged at its many oases.  The religious buildings of Bukhara’s Po-i-Kalyan include a 12th Century minaret that predates Genghis Khan.  

With its hot, dry climate, Uzbekistan’s environments include deserts, steppes, mountains, and woodlands.  Mountain ecotourism includes rock climbing, hiking, hang-gliding, and mountain skiing on the slopes of Chimgan and Beldersay near Tashkent. The Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve in the Nuratua Mountains provides the last location in the world where endangered Severtsov wild sheep still roam free.  The Kyzyl Kum and Djeyran nature reserves are home to several rare species of desert animals.  In Karakalpakstan, the ruins of ancient fortresses at Khorezm lie near the Aral Sea.  Once the fourth-largest lake in the world, the Aral almost dried up after its waters were diverted for agricultural usage in the 1960s.

Uzbekistan Visa Requirements

In 2019, the Uzbekistan government revamped its visa procedures, reducing its paperwork requirements while offering more options for tourists.  For example, it introduced the free 30-day visa on arrival (VOA) for citizens of most nations.  There are still several countries that are not included in the program (such as the United States and India).  However, U.S. citizens under 16 years of age who hold a valid U.S. passport can enter the country without fees.  For more information about which visas are available for citizens of which countries, visit the government visa portal at https://e-visa.gov.uz/main.

For U.S. citizens and those from most other countries, Uzbekistan offers both traditional visa stickers and an electronic visa.  The e-Visa is designed for short business or tourism trips.  It costs $20 for a single-entry for stays lasting up to 30 days and remains valid 90 days after issue.  For longer stays and multiple entries, you can obtain a traditional visa by visiting an Uzbekistan embassy or consulate.  However, the fees for the traditional visa are higher (from $40 for a seven-day stay to $160 for a full year with multiple entries, plus an extra $10 for each additional person).  Also, you must specify the exact dates of your arrival and departure.

For all visitors regardless of visa status or country of origin, the government suspended all COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements in June 2022.

Obtaining a Traditional Uzbekistan Visa from Oklahoma City

Residents of Oklahoma City who are citizens of the United States (or green card holders with a foreign passport) can obtain a conventional visa.  You must first fill out and print an application form, which is available at https://visa.mfa.uz/info-travel/create.  Then you will ship your visa application by FedEx or USPS along with your original passport and supporting documents, which includes two passport-sized photos; a photocopy of the data page of your passport; and a copy of your hotel reservation/flight itinerary.  More information can be found here: https://uzbekistan.org/visa/.  The process is supposed to take about a week, but delays are common, so make plans well ahead of your trip.

Please note that residents of Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma must submit their visa application to the Uzbekistan embassy in Washington, D.C. because Oklahoma is within the jurisdiction of the embassy.  If you live outside of Oklahoma, please review the embassy website in Washington, D.C. (https://www.uzbekistan.org) and the consulate in New York City (https://uzbekconsulny.org) to determine where you should mail your documents.   

Obtaining an Uzbekistan E-Visa from Oklahoma City

The electronic (e-Visa) is a digital visa “designed to be a convenient way to obtain authorization to travel from Uzbekistan from any location with an internet connection, avoiding unnecessary trips to embassies or consulates,” the Uzbekistan government states on its website.  U.S. citizens and those from another 130+ nations are eligible to apply for the e-Visa.  Further information about the e-Visa program can be found at https://e-visa.gov.uz/what-you-need-to-know.

The e-Visa application is available at https://e-visa.gov.uz/application and takes about 10 minutes to complete.  The simple form includes basic personal information, passport information, and your contact information.  You must also upload supporting documents: a digital passport photo plus a digital copy of your main passport data page. The $20 consular application fee is payable with a credit card.  You can track the status of your application on the website.  When your application is accepted, you will receive a digital code to activate your e-Visa.

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Oklahoma City or anywhere in the state of Oklahoma and have difficulty applying for an Uzbekistan visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Uzbekistan visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Uzbekistan.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Uzbekistan visa services for our customers in Oklahoma City:

  • Uzbekistan Tourist Visa
  • Uzbekistan Business Visa
  • Uzbekistan Transit Visa
  • Uzbekistan Work Visa
  • Uzbekistan Student Visa
  • Uzbekistan Investment Visa
  • Uzbekistan Hotel Accommodations
  • Uzbekistan Organized Tours