Border and customs: what you can bring in and take out

Cash

Under rules approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 66 of 30 January 2018 (as amended by Resolution No. 443 of 4 September 2023), individuals may bring in unlimited amounts of soums and foreign currency.

Any cash brought in or taken out above the equivalent of 100 million soums must be entered on the passenger customs declaration and shown to the officer. Smaller sums can be declared voluntarily.

Up to the equivalent of 100 million soums can be taken out freely. Non-residents can export more only up to the unspent balance shown on the declaration they filed on arrival — so if you arrive with a large sum, declare it and keep the form.

Medicines

Keep personal medication in its original packaging. For anything containing narcotic or psychotropic substances (some painkillers, sleeping pills and sedatives), carry a prescription or doctor's letter, ideally translated into Russian or English.

The safest course is to ask an Uzbek embassy or the customs committee in advance whether your medicine is controlled.

Drones, phones and gadgets

Drones can only be brought in with a special permit; without one, a drone may be held at the border, so it is best left at home.

A phone used with a local SIM card must have its IMEI registered within 30 days; using a foreign SIM on roaming, registration is free. See our article on SIM cards for details.

Souvenirs and antiques

Exporting items of cultural value — antiques, old carpets and suzanis, manuscripts, old coins and jewellery — requires an expert certificate from the authorised body. Larger shops and craft centres usually help arrange it.

Modern souvenirs such as teapots, skullcaps, silk scarves and newly woven rugs need no special permit, but keep the receipt.

Duty-free allowances and the list of prohibited goods change from time to time — check customs.uz before you travel.