Visa-Free Entry to Uzbekistan for Chinese Citizens: What You Can and Cannot Do in 30 Days
Many clients ask me: “Uzbekistan is visa-free for Chinese citizens now. Do I still need a visa?” The answer depends on what you are coming to do.
Key points of the visa-free regime
- The Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Mutual Visa Exemption has been in force since 1 June 2025.
- Chinese citizens enter with a valid passport and may stay up to 30 days per visit.
- No more than 90 days in total in any 180-day period.
- If you plan to stay longer than 30 days at a time, you need the appropriate visa in advance.
- Visa-free entry does not cover work, study, journalism or other activities that require prior approval from the authorities.
What you can do visa-free
- Tourism, visiting family and friends
- Business visits, negotiations, signing contracts
- Attending exhibitions, forums and conferences
- Visiting factories, choosing a site, researching the market
- Handling company registration and other paperwork
What you cannot do visa-free
- Be employed and paid in Uzbekistan
- Take up a position locally on visa-free entry, including serving as director and running day-to-day management
- Study long term at a local school
To work in Uzbekistan you need a work permit and a work visa; see Work permits and work visas.
Common misconceptions
“I can stay indefinitely by leaving and re-entering”: the limit of 90 days in any 180 still applies; going over it is an overstay.
“I’ll come visa-free, start work and sort out the paperwork later”: working without a permit can lead to fines and deportation, and can affect future entry.
“Visa-free visitors don’t need residence registration”: visa-free visitors must register too. A hotel registers its guests; in rented housing, the landlord does it. See Residence registration.
