How to Enter Kyrgyzstan
Do I need a passport or visa to enter?
You must have a valid U.S. passport to visit Kyrgyzstan. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of three months from the date of entry into Kyrgyzstan and must have at least one full blank page if you are applying for a visa.A visa-free regime for citizens of some states, including the United States of America, was introduced in July 2012. U.S. citizens are permitted to enter the country for tourism for up to 60 days without a Kyrgyz visa.
US citizens present in the Kyrgyz Republic for more than 60 days mustobtain a Kyrgyz visa at the Department of Consular Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic located at 10A Togolok Moldo Street, Bishkek, telephone: 0(312) 663270, or at the Department of Visa and Passport Control under the Ministry of Internal Affairs located in the main building of GUVD (Bishkek City Police Department), intersection of Pravda & Toktogul Street, telephone 0(312) 431179.Individuals traveling to the Kyrgyz Republic to perform religious work or work in affiliation with any religious organization in any capacity are required by Kyrgyz law to declare so on their visa applications. Individuals engaging in any type of missionary activity must obtain a work visa and register with the Office of Religious Affairs after arrival. It is illegal to engage in religious activity on a tourist visa. Travelers should apply for the correct category of visa for their purpose of travel. The Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens traveling in the Kyrgyz Republic also obtain Kazakh visas, as commercial air travel out of the Kyrgyz Republic is limited and U.S. citizens may need to travel through Kazakhstan to return to the United States. Travelers intending to transit through Russia en route to a third country must have a Russian transit visa. Even travelers who are simply changing planes in Moscow or another international airport in Russia for an onward destination will be asked to present a transit visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. Russian authorities may refuse entry to travelers who do not have visas. For further information regarding entry/exit requirements, contact the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic at 2630 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone:(202) 338-5141, fax:(202) 742 6501.
Special Travel Circumstances in Kyrgyzstan
The borders between the Kyrgyz Republic and its neighbors are poorly delineated and often unmarked, and several areas are in dispute. Border guards on both sides have been known to apprehend travelers in disputed territories to check travel documents. There have been a number of cases along the Tajikistan and Uzbekistan borders where foreign travelers were detained by immigration officials of those countries because the visitor entered the country without a proper visa, even though the traveler had no intention of leaving the Kyrgyz Republic and entering another country. Anyone traveling in those border areas should be especially careful and it is advised that travelers have a valid visa for the neighboring country.
Kyrgyz customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from the Kyrgyz Republic of items such as antiquities or hunting trophies. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic at 2630 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., 20008, telephone:(202) 338-5141, fax:(202) 742-6501, for specific information regarding customs requirements.
The Kyrgyz Republic is a mostly cash-based economy, although credit cards can be used at major Western-style stores and some restaurants. ATMs are available, although you should use only those installed at bank branches or large, reputable hotels. A hotel or bank may, on occasion, accept traveler’s checks, but the fees can be as high as 20 percent.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passport and Kyrgyz visa with them at all times, so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and citizenship are readily available.
The Kyrgyz Republic is an earthquake-prone country. Flooding is also common at some times of the year and in some locations. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Hunting and trekking are popular sports for locals and tourists in the Kyrgyz Republic; however, U.S. citizens traveling to the Kyrgyz Republic should be aware that hunting in the Kyrgyz Republic without proper licenses is illegal. It is also illegal to import or own firearms in the Kyrgyz Republic without a permit issued by the Kyrgyz government. Foreign hunters who do not have official permission to hunt or take trophies out of the country may face criminal and/or civil charges. Both hunting and trekking infrastructures are underdeveloped with limited services, especially in the high mountainous regions. Avalanches and landslides are common in these mountainous regions, often cutting offvillages for weeks at a time. These villages and hunting areas are in isolated, rugged, mountainous areas inaccessible by the limited rescue services available in the Kyrgyz Republic. U.S. citizens traveling to the Kyrgyz Republic to hunt or trek need to be aware of the risks involved.
Disclaimer
You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Information provided is subject to change without notice. One should confirm content prior to traveling from other reliable sources. Information published on this website may contain errors. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us.