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Kyrgyz President Proposes Unified Visa System for Central Asia

24 March 2025

Kyrgyzstan's President, Sadyr Japarov, has proposed the establishment of a mutual visa-free regime among Central Asian countries and the introduction of a unified regional visa for foreign visitors. According to Japarov, holders of this visa would be able to travel freely across the territories of five Central Asian nations without restrictions.

The president announced this initiative following the resolution of long-standing border disputes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. He described the signing of the State Border Agreement as a significant milestone, not only for the two countries but for the entire region.

"An eternal peace has now been established in Central Asia," Japarov declared in his official statement.

In his proposal, Japarov invited the leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to collaborate on establishing a visa-free regime between their countries. He emphasized that such a measure would stimulate the region's economic development and boost the tourism sector.

"A unified regional visa for foreign visitors is necessary," Japarov stressed. "This visa should allow seamless travel across all participating nations."

Currently, most Central Asian countries maintain visa-free travel for their citizens, with Turkmenistan being the sole exception. The concept of a unified regional visa for foreign tourists is not new. It was first proposed in 2018 by Dariga Nazarbayeva, daughter of Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. She dubbed the initiative the "Asian Schengen Visa," drawing a parallel with the European Union's border-free travel system.

In December 2018, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan announced plans to launch a joint visa program called "Silk Road Visa" in 2019. However, for various reasons, the project never came to fruition.

The introduction of a regional visa system could significantly enhance Central Asia's appeal as a tourist destination. By simplifying travel across borders, the initiative could foster the growth of the tourism industry while strengthening economic ties among the participating nations. This move would be especially beneficial in promoting historical Silk Road routes and expanding tourism infrastructure.

Experts believe that a unified visa system could also open new avenues for business opportunities. With a shared visa framework and a visa-free regime, Central Asian countries could deepen regional integration and attract greater foreign investment.

President Japarov's proposal for a unified Central Asian visa is viewed as a pivotal initiative aimed at unlocking the region's economic and tourism potential. If successfully implemented, it could transform Central Asia into a more accessible destination for travelers and businesses alike, paving the way for a new era of international cooperation and regional prosperity.

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Did you know?

Uzbekistan is one of only two countries in the world to be ‘double landlocked’ (landlocked and totally surrounded by other landlocked countries). Liechtenstein is double landlocked by 2 countries whilst Uzbekistan is surrounded by 5!

Did you know that Uzbekistan lies in the very heart of Eurasia, the coordinates for Uzbekistan are 41.0000° N, 69.0000°

Uzbekistan is home to the Muruntan gold mine, one of the largest open pit gold mines in the world! The country has 4th largest reserves of gold in the world after South Africa, USA and Russia

Uzbekistan is the world capital of melons. They have in excess of 150 different varieties, which form a staple part of the local diet, served fresh in the summer and eaten dried through the winter.

It is Uzbek tradition that the most respected guest be seated farthest from the house’s entrance.

Tashkent’s metro features chandeliers, marble pillars and ceilings, granite, and engraved metal. It has been called one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

The Uzbek master chef is able to cook in just one caldron enough plov to serve a thousand men.

When you are a host to someone, it is your duty to fill their cups with for the whole time they are with you. What you must not do, however, is to fill their cup more than half-full. If you do that as a mistake, say it is a mistake immediately. Doing it means you want them to leave. Wow! Amazing, right?

To Uzbeks, respect means a whole lot. For this reason they love it if, even as foreigners, you endeavour to add the respectful suffix opa after a woman's name; and aka after a man's. Example: Linda-opa and David-aka. You could also use hon and jon respectively.

Having been an historic crossroads for centuries as part of various ancient empires, Uzbekistan’s food is very eclectic. It has its roots in Iranian, Arab, Indian, Russian and Chinese cuisine.

Though identified with the Persia, the Zoroastrism probably originated in Bactria or Sogdiana. Many distinguished scholars share an opinion that Zoroastrianism had originated in the ancient Khorezm. Indeed, today in the world there were found 63 Zoroastrian monuments, including those in Iran, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thirty-eight of them are in Uzbekistan, whereas 17 of these monuments are located in Khorezm.

One of Islam's most sacred relics - the world's oldest Koran that was compiled in Medina by Othman, the third caliph or Muslim leader, is kept in Tashkent. It was completed in the year 651, only 19 years after Muhammad's death.

Tashkent is the only megapolis in the world where public transport is totally comprised of Mercedes buses. And due to low urban air polution it is one of the few cities where one can still see the stars in the sky.

You would be surprised to know that modern TV was born in Tashkent. No joke! The picture of moving objects was transmitted by radio first time in the world in Tashkent on 26 of July 1928 by inventors B.P. Grabovsky and I.F. Belansky.

Uzbekistan is the only country in the world all of whose neighbours have their names ending in STAN. This is also the only country in Central Asia that borders all of the countries of this region

Uzbeks are the third populous Turkik ethnicity in the world after Turks and Azeris (leaving both in Azerbaijan and Iran)

Did you know that there was silk money in Khiva? Super interesting right? Of course, but the best part of having silk money was that it could be sewn into your clothing.

Famous Islamic physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna in the Latin world) who was born near Bukhara was the one of the first people to advocate using women’s hair as suture material – about 1400 years ago.

Uzbekistan has a long and bloody history. The most notorious leader of Uzbekistan was Timur (or Tamerlane) who claimed descent from Genghis Khan. His military campaigns have been credited for wiping out some 5% of the world’s population at the time.

If you have thought that some of the Islamic architecture in Uzbekistan resembles that from Northern India, then that is because Timur’s great great great Grandson, Babur Beg, was the founder of the Moghul Empire that ruled much of India for almost four centuries! Babur’s great great Grandson was Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal.

Uzbekistan was once a rum producig country. There is still a real arboretum in Denau (city near Termez on the border with Afghanistan), grown from a selection station that studied the prospects of plant growing in the unusual for the Soviet Union subtropical climate of Surkhandarya region: only here in the whole of the USSR sugar cane was grown and even rum was produced!

Uzbekistan has been ranked one of the safest countries in the world, according to a new global poll. The annual Gallup Global Law and Order asked if people felt safe walking at night and whether they had been victims of crime. The survey placed Uzbekistan 5th out of 135 countries, while the UK was 21st and the US 35th. Top five safest countries:

Singapore
Norway
Iceland
Finland
Uzbekistan

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