Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan announce new visa free trade zone

The governments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have launched a new visa-free border trade zone at Shavat–Dashoguz that allows mutual visa-free movement for their citizens.

The move underscores Uzbekistan’s broader drive this year to liberalise entry rules and attract foreign visitors and investment.

The six-hectare border trade and service, permits citizens of both countries to enter without a visa for short-term stays, including trade and tourism activities.

The zone includes customs and warehouse infrastructure and is intended to enhance regional commerce and cross-border mobility.

Uzbekistan visa-policy changes in 2025

As part of its 2025 entry-policy reforms, Uzbekistan enacted a mutual visa-free regime with China effective 1 June 2025, allowing citizens of each country to stay for up to 30 days. 

In October 2025 the government introduced a 30-day visa-free regime for citizens of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, and extended the Chinese visa-free stay period from seven days to 30 days. 

In addition to that, a Presidential decree issued in November confirmed that U.S. citizens will be eligible for visa-free entry to Uzbekistan for up to 30 days from 1 January 2026. 

Officials describe the visa changes as a deliberate strategy to position Uzbekistan as an open destination for tourism, business and foreign direct investment.

The border zone with Turkmenistan is expected to boost trade in goods and services between the two countries, and the expanded visa-free regimes aim to attract new visitors from Asia, the Middle East and North America.

Analysts note that simplifying entry contributes to infrastructure investment, hospitality growth and increased regional connectivity.

Uzbek authorities are simultaneously working to streamline customs, border-service processes and transport links to handle the expected rise in cross-border flows. The Turkmen-Uzbek zone is presented as the first phase of a larger programme of border-economic cooperation.

The government plans to continue negotiating visa facilitation with more countries and to adjust stay-durations and processing times accordingly.

Copied