Is Uzbekistan safe in 2026? Advisories, scams and laws

01

What do the UK, US, German and Canadian governments say?

The advisories do not warn against travel to Uzbekistan as a whole. Several highlight risks near the Afghan border. Canada is the strictest there: avoid all travel within 5 km of it. We read each advisory on 24 September 2026; the table gives the wording and the date each government gives.

The US row comes from the State Department's own advisory data feed. Its web page blocks automated reading, so open the State Department page before you rely on the level. The feeds date the current advisory to January 2026 (between 21 and 25 January in the RSS and data feeds, which have given different days), with no change to the level.

02

Is it safe to travel to Uzbekistan now, with the war in the Middle East?

On the ground, nothing in the four advisories changed because of it: Canada updated its page on 9 September 2026 and kept normal precautions. The risk is to your flights. The FCDO's top notice says the escalation in the Middle East has closed airspace and delayed and cancelled flights, even for trips that do not end in the region. FCDO, checked 24 September 2026.

Before you fly, check the advice for each country you transit, your airline's updates and what your insurance covers; those are the FCDO's own steps. We suggest leaving a free day between an international arrival and any pre-booked train, so one delayed flight does not cost you the next leg.

03

What crime and scams do tourists actually run into?

Petty theft is the main one. The FCDO says pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in crowded places such as bazaars and public transport. Canada adds restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and says petty crime is more frequent at night in Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand and Fergana. FCDO, Canada.

Germany reports occasional robberies, mostly after dark, and advises against walking alone in remote districts or underpasses at night. Auswärtiges Amt. We found no official statistics on crimes against tourists, so this page does not quote crime rankings or safety indexes.

Canada also reports foreigners robbed by people posing as police officers. If that happens, ask to see credentials and offer to go to the police station. Canada. Card and ATM fraud happens away from banks and reputable shops; changing money on the black market is illegal and the FCDO warns of harsh penalties. Our money guide covers ATMs and exchange.

• Carry a day's cash and one card; leave the passport copy, spare card and most cash in the hotel safe.
• Where a café menu has no prices, ask before ordering. Count your change and any cash received at an exchange counter before you leave.

04

Which taxis, trains and roads are safe to use?

Use a ride-hailing app or an official airport taxi, not a car that stops for you in the street. The FCDO names official airport taxis and the Yandex and MyTaxi apps, and says unlicensed taxis are still common. Canada goes further, advising against street taxis because licensed and unlicensed cars are hard to tell apart; its safer option is also the apps, with fixed fares. FCDO, Canada.

Two more FCDO warnings: many taxis have no rear seatbelts, and many buses and taxis run on compressed natural gas without following safety rules, so pick newer cars where you can. Canada adds: never share a taxi with strangers and agree the fare first. Yandex Go may need a working phone number; see SIM and eSIM. For the first ride from the airport, use our Tashkent arrival guide.

Trains are the lower-risk way between cities; Canada calls them generally safe. On a night train the FCDO advises keeping valuables out of sight, never leaving the compartment unattended and locking the door from the inside. Road travel brings risks from poor surfaces, bad lighting and erratic driving (FCDO). Germany advises against driving between cities at night. Auswärtiges Amt.

05

Is Uzbekistan safe for women and solo travellers?

None of the four advisories warns against travelling alone, but women should expect some unwanted attention. Canada's wording is that women travelling alone "may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse". Canada, updated 9 September 2026. The FCDO links its general advice for women travellers from its Uzbekistan page.

On night trains the choice is between a 4-berth coupé and a 2-berth SV compartment. A solo woman asked on the Caravanistan forum in June 2026 whether an SV shared with one man was wise; the reply, a traveller's report rather than a rule, was that berths are often empty and a conductor may move passengers, so you can ask to switch. We would book a coupé berth or buy both SV berths if sharing with one stranger worries you.

Modest dress draws less attention, especially outside Tashkent: Canada notes that Islamic practice is closely followed in rural areas and advises conservative dress.

06

Which laws catch visitors out?

The following rules are especially relevant to visitors and may differ from those in your home country. The table cites the Uzbek legal text where we found it and names the foreign advisory where we did not. The official Criminal Code is the Uzbek text on lex.uz; we read it on 24 September 2026.

On registration, your hotel records your stay for you; if you stay in a private flat, read visa and registration before you arrive.

07

Can I bring my prescription medicines into Uzbekistan?

Yes, within limits set by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 191 of 8 June 2016, last amended on 30 June 2026. Up to 10 different medicines, 5 packs of each, enter without a medical document. Narcotic and psychotropic medicines must be declared, and narcotic ones need a medical document and are capped at 7 days' supply. Resolution No. 191, paras 5–14, checked 24 September 2026 and matching the Customs Committee's own summary.

Which substances count as narcotic or psychotropic is set by lists in Resolution No. 330 of 2015. Codeine, for example, is on its List II of narcotic drugs, which fits the FCDO's warning that codeine causes problems on entry. From 12 January 2027 new lists under Resolution No. 359 of 2 July 2026 replace them. Resolution No. 330, Resolution No. 359, FCDO.

Germany reports travellers stopped at exit over medicines treated as drugs in Uzbekistan and not declared on entry, with lab tests lasting days, blood samples and heavy fines. Auswärtiges Amt. Anything beyond the document or the declaration is confiscated and destroyed (para 14).

1. 1

   Check the substance

   Check each active ingredient, not the brand name; ask a pharmacist whether it is narcotic or psychotropic.

2. 2

   Get the document

   A doctor's letter naming the medicine, form, dose and course length, plus the original prescription (Canada).

3. 3

   Declare and keep the form

   List them on the customs declaration, keep them in the maker's packaging in hand luggage, and keep the stamped form until you leave.

08

Is Uzbekistan safe for LGBT travellers?

Sex between men is a crime, and the law is used. Art. 120 of the Criminal Code carries up to 3 years in prison. The Interior Ministry's prison directorate told local media that 44 people were prosecuted under it in 2016–2020 and 49 were serving sentences in April 2021. Gazeta.uz, 22 April 2021.

Sex between women is not in the Code, but Germany notes that LGBTIQ relationships are not socially accepted. The FCDO advises against public displays of affection. Auswärtiges Amt, FCDO.

09

Which areas of Uzbekistan should I avoid?

The Afghan border is the only area any of the four governments tells you to stay away from. The table covers the other border areas that come up in trip planning. Classic routes through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva carry no area warning in any of the four advisories.

For the Fergana Valley, see our Fergana Valley itinerary; for the Aral Sea, the Aral Sea trip guide. How to cross each border that is open to travellers: Tashkent to Almaty, Tashkent to Bishkek, Samarkand to Dushanbe and, from Karakalpakstan, Nukus to Beyneu.

10

Terrorism, earthquakes, health and heat: how worried should I be?

Terrorism is a background risk. The FCDO says attacks "cannot be ruled out"; the last cross-border incident it cites is the 2022 rocket fire from Afghanistan, claimed by Islamic State Khorasan Province. Germany says the extremist threat has so far not been directed at tourism. FCDO, Auswärtiges Amt.

Uzbekistan is in an active seismic zone with regular tremors (FCDO). Medical care is the larger practical risk: the FCDO calls it "generally poor", especially in rural hospitals, and Canada advises insurance that covers hospital stays and medical evacuation. FCDO health. Between November and February, air pollution is high in Tashkent and the Fergana Valley (FCDO).

For summer heat, our guide to the seasons covers June to August. We drink bottled or filtered water and suggest you do the same; that is our habit, not an official finding.

11

Which emergency numbers should I save?

Save 112 and 1173. 112 is the unified emergency line set up by Cabinet Resolution No. 304 of 29 May 2024, which scheduled it for Tashkent from 1 June 2024 and every region, including Karakalpakstan, by the end of 2024. The FCDO says the old numbers still work. Resolution No. 304, para 6, FCDO.

1173 is the Interior Ministry's safe-tourism call centre: 24 hours a day, every day, with operators who speak Uzbek, Russian and English. Tourism Committee notice as republished by APTA, FCDO. Tourist police have worked in Tashkent since June 2019 and in Samarkand, Bukhara and other cities since the same year; their offices sit in the tourist information centres and patrols cover the main sights, stations and airports. Uzbekistan Travel.

12

What still goes wrong?

These are the problems the advisories and travellers' reports return to: harassment of women travelling alone; pickpockets in bazaars; street taxis, many without rear seatbelts; fake police officers; traffic police stopping drivers and, Canada says, sometimes asking foreigners for bribes; flights disrupted by the Middle East situation; and land borders that close at short notice.

Failing to declare a medicine can have serious consequences. Germany reports multi-day lab tests and heavy fines at exit. Some things we could not verify: we did not open the State Department's web page (only its data feeds), and the Interior Ministry's own notice on 1173 would not load, so we cite the Tourism Committee text as republished. We found no tourist-police phone number we could attribute, and we have not test-called 112 or 1173.

If you would rather not handle taxis, trains and hotels yourself, compare the options in independent or guided or start from our 10-day Uzbekistan itinerary. Combining countries? The Central Asia trip planner compares entry rules and border crossings across all four.

Common questions