The Uzbek Passport
The Uzbek passport is the official travel document issued to citizens of Uzbekistan for international travel. As of 2025, the Uzbek passport is ranked 77th on the Passport Index, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 63 countries. It ranked 79th in 2023, 78th in 2024, and rose slightly to 77th in 2025. This gradual improvement reflects Uzbekistan’s expanding diplomatic relations and efforts to strengthen global mobility for its citizens. While the passport still requires visas for many destinations in Europe and North America, it grants access to several countries in Asia, the Middle East, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The State Personalisation Centre issues Uzbek passports under the authority of the Cabinet of Ministers. Uzbekistan is not part of the Schengen Area or the European Union, so its citizens must apply for visas to enter most EU countries. However, Uzbekistan has entered into various bilateral agreements aimed at easing visa procedures with neighbouring and strategic partner nations.
Passport Validity for Adults and Children
The validity of an Uzbek passport depends on the holder’s age:
Adults (age 16 and older): Valid for 10 years from the date of issue. A new passport must be applied for upon expiration.
Children (under 16 years): Typically valid for 5 years, given changes in appearance and personal details over time.
All citizens must provide biometric data, including fingerprints and a digital photograph, at the time of application.
Types of Uzbek Passports
Uzbekistan issues several types of passports to its citizens, each identified by a specific purpose and cover colour. All modern Uzbek passports are biometric and meet ICAO standards.
Ordinary Passport (Dark Green Cover): Issued to regular citizens for personal travel, tourism, education, work, and family visits abroad. This is the most widely used type of passport in the country.
Service Passport (Dark Blue Cover): Issued to government officials and civil servants travelling abroad on official state or institutional business. It grants certain administrative privileges but not diplomatic immunity.
Diplomatic Passport (Burgundy Cover): Issued to high-ranking state officials, diplomats, and representatives of Uzbekistan on foreign missions. It provides diplomatic privileges under international law.
Each type of passport includes modern security features such as UV-reactive elements, watermarks, microprinting, and a machine-readable zone.
Inside the Uzbek Passport
The biometric Uzbek passport contains an electronic chip that stores the holder’s fingerprints, digital photograph, and personal information. The information page is printed in Uzbek, Russian, and English. The following details are displayed:
Passport Type
Country Code (UZB)
Passport Number
Surname and Given Names
Nationality
Date and Place of Birth
Gender
Occupation
Date of Issue and Expiry
Issuing Authority
Photo and Signature of Holder
Machine-readable zone (MRZ)
Uzbekistan’s biometric passport system strengthens border security and enables faster, safer international travel. The transition from non-biometric to biometric passports has been fully implemented across the country.