Visa

A visa is a formal stamp, normally placed in the traveler’s passport, granting permission to enter (and/or leave) the country. Technically, however, it does not provide a guarantee that the traveler will be allowed to enter the country – as that decision is delegated to the official at the immigration, or passport control, post at the point of entry. (In practice, it is very rare for entry to be denied … although we are aware of occasions where this has happened – mainly in other countries. For example: in one particular case, in 2004 in Turkmentistan, the refusal was based on the fact that the group had been in China at the time of the SARS outbreak).

There is much confusion over the question of visas … partly because the law and regulations are constantly changing.

In fact, Kyrgyzstan operates one of the most liberal visa regimes in the former Soviet Union – and probably the most liberal in Central Asia.

Visa Regimes

The law and regulations concerning visas change from time to time … and this has been the cause of much confusion. There is also considerable discussion within Kyrgyzstan about ways of simplifying the system even further. The current (2006) situation is as follows: Most visitors to the Kyrgyz Republic require a visa, however, there are three regimes which operate.