Just Landed in Uzbekistan? Your First 7 Days

Mobile data is cheap and 4G coverage is strong across Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, with 5G now live in parts of the capital, though coverage thins in rural areas and mountain regions. Beeline generally posts the fastest average speeds, followed by Uztelecom, with Ucell and Mobiuz competitive on price. Be aware that some Western sites and apps can be slow or intermittently throttled, so a reputable VPN is a sensible thing to install before you rely on it.

Typical cost: Around 50,000 to 120,000 som per month for a generous data bundle with local calls and texts.

Uzbekistan runs largely on cash in som, though card payments through the local Uzcard and Humo networks are now standard in Tashkent shops and restaurants. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work at bank ATMs and larger venues but are far from universally accepted, so never assume a card will be taken. The som is a low-value currency, so budget for handling thick bundles of notes and keeping a mix of denominations.

Opening an account: Opening a resident account is easiest once you hold a residence permit or work registration. Kapitalbank, Ipoteka Bank, TBC Bank Uzbekistan and Hamkorbank are among the more foreigner-friendly options, and TBC's app-based account with an English interface is popular with newcomers. Bring your passport, registration slip, proof of address and a couple of photos, and expect the process to be paper-heavy.

Cash: Cash is king outside modern Tashkent venues; bazaars, taxis, marshrutkas and small eateries expect som. Local payment apps like Click and Payme, linked to Uzcard or Humo, handle bills, top-ups and transfers once you have a local card, and are worth setting up early. Carry small notes, because change for large denominations is often unavailable.

Tipping: Tipping is not obligatory. Many restaurants add a service charge of around 10 to 15 percent to the bill, so check before adding more. Rounding up for taxis or leaving small change for good service is appreciated but never expected.

Foreigners must register their place of stay with the migration authorities, and this is the rule that trips up newcomers most often. Hotels and licensed accommodation register you automatically through the Emehmon (E-Mehmon) system at check-in and hand you a slip. If you stay in a private flat or with a host, that person is legally responsible for registering you at the local migration office (OVIR) or on Emehmon, and for giving you the confirmation. Keep every slip as an unbroken chain covering your whole stay: officials check it on departure, and gaps can mean fines that historically run into hundreds or thousands of US dollars. Stays of up to three days generally do not require registration, but do not gamble on the edge of that window.

Deadline: By the morning of the third business day of your stay (weekends and public holidays are not counted).

Where: Handled automatically by your hotel, or by your landlord or host through the local migration office (OVIR) or the online Emehmon system if you rent privately.

Tashkent has a clean, cheap and famously ornate metro plus an extensive bus and marshrutka network, all payable with the ATTO card at 1,700 som a ride. Inter-city travel runs on the fast Afrosiyob high-speed trains, which reach Samarkand in about two hours and Bukhara in roughly four, and should be booked ahead as they sell out. Ride-hailing is inexpensive and the norm for door-to-door trips within the city.

From the airport: From Tashkent (Islam Karimov) International Airport (TAS), a Yandex Go ride to the city centre costs roughly 60,000 to 100,000 som and takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Order the car in the app rather than accepting drivers who approach you inside the terminal offering fixed dollar fares, which typically cost several times more.

Most newcomers rent furnished flats found through OLX.uz, local Telegram housing channels or an agent, and Tashkent has by far the widest choice. Listings move fast and often circulate on Telegram before they hit websites, so joining a couple of channels early pays off. Agents typically charge a fee of around half a month's to a full month's rent when they close a deal.

Typical rent: A furnished one-bedroom flat in central Tashkent runs roughly $400-700 per month; suburbs and other cities are noticeably cheaper.

Deposit norm: One month's deposit plus the first month upfront is typical, but many landlords ask for several months in advance, quote in US dollars and strongly prefer cash. Get any agreement, and the return terms for your deposit, in writing.

Public healthcare is basic and best avoided for anything serious; most expats rely on private clinics in Tashkent, which are decent for routine and outpatient care. Standards drop sharply outside the capital, and for complex or emergency treatment many residents plan to travel abroad. Pharmacies (dorixona) are plentiful, cheap and stock most common medicines, often without a prescription.

How to access it: Walk in or book directly at a private clinic in Tashkent; payment is usually cash or local card at the point of service. There is no family-doctor gatekeeping system, so you approach specialists directly. Keep every receipt if you plan to claim on insurance, as clinics rarely bill insurers directly.

Insurance: There is no automatic public cover for foreigners, so carry comprehensive international health insurance that includes medical evacuation. Serious cases are frequently flown to Turkey, India, the UAE or Europe, and evacuation is expensive without cover, so do not treat this as optional.

• Accept tea and food when offered; hospitality is central to Uzbek life and refusing outright can seem rude, so at least take a token amount.
• Greet elders first and use your right hand, or both hands, when giving or receiving money, business cards or gifts.
• Remove your shoes when entering a home, and bring a small gift such as sweets, fruit or pastries if you are invited to eat.
• Dress modestly at mosques and mausoleums: cover shoulders and knees, and women should carry a headscarf to cover their hair.
• Learn a few words of Uzbek or Russian; even a simple greeting like 'rahmat' (thank you) is warmly received and opens doors.
• Bread (non) is treated with respect: never place it upside down or on the ground, and tear it rather than cutting it at the table.
• Let your host lead the pace of a meal and expect generous, repeated offers of food; leaving a little on your plate signals you are satisfied.

• Photographing government buildings, military sites, police, and some metro areas can cause real problems; ask before you shoot.
• Keep every address registration slip in an unbroken chain, as gaps can mean significant fines when you leave the country.
• Public criticism of the government or sensitive political topics is best kept private; discretion is the norm.
• Do not photograph people, especially women and elders, without asking, particularly in rural or traditional areas.
• Avoid discussing or handling anything drug-related; penalties are severe and enforcement is strict.