Uzbekistan plans to expand its visa-free regime to 50 countries by 2030, according to the draft updated Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy.
Uzbekistan has made significant progress under the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy, with the poverty rate falling from 11% to 6.8%, GDP rising from $107.5bn to $140bn, exports increasing from $24.9bn to $27.9 bn, foreign investment surging from $17.1bn to $42bn, and unemployment dropping from 6.8% to 4.9%. Foreign tourist arrivals grew from 6.6 mn to 9.7mn, the country’s Global Innovation Index ranking improved from 82nd to 79th, and diplomatic ties expanded from 144 to 164 countries.
While these results reflect notable achievements, analysis of performance indicators shows that many targets remain unmet or need updating, prompting the government to revise and modernize the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy to align with global trends, technological advances, and new socio-economic challenges for 2026–2030.
The updated strategy aims to ensure Uzbekistan’s medium-term development plans are fully implemented, with measurable performance indicators reflecting achievements and challenges, updated for global trends, fully digitalized monitoring, and alignment of sectoral and regional plans with the “Uzbekistan–2030” goals.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the updated document, has been tasked with gradually expanding visa-free access for Uzbek citizens, targeting 37 countries by 2026, 42 by 2027, 45 by 2028, 48 by 2029, and 50 by 2030.
At the same time, the number of countries offering simplified entry procedures is set to increase significantly, with at least 15 additional countries—growing from 45 to 60—over the next five years. As part of regional integration efforts, the strategy also aims to sign at least three agreements enabling Uzbek citizens to travel within Central Asia using ID cards, with two agreements expected in 2026 and a third in 2027, facilitating easier cross-border movement and strengthening cooperation in the region.
As reported earlier, in the first half of 2025, over 3.5mn Uzbek citizens traveled abroad for tourism, a nearly 30% increase from last year. Neighboring Central Asian countries were the most popular destinations, with Kyrgyzstan hosting 1.53mn visitors, followed by Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The growing interest in international travel highlights the importance of expanding visa-free access for Uzbek citizens under the updated “Uzbekistan–2030” strategy.
