If you are coming to Kyrgyzstan, besides possibly needing a Kyrgyz visa, you might need to register with local authorities.
History
A bit of history first. On November 4th 2016, a law was passed forcing all foreign citizens that stayed in Kyrgyzstan more than 5 days to register at the Migration Police (OVIR), or face a 10 000 som ($145) fine (or best bribe offer). The only country exempt from the rule was Russia.
On December 19th, 2016, the law was amended. Somewhere in January 2017, the law was amended again. For about 90 nationalities, registration is now only necessary if you stay longer than the standard tourist visa or visa-free period for your country. You can double-check below.
If your country is not in the list of 91 countries below, you still need to register within 5 days. The fine/bribe for not registering also remains unchanged.
Registration procedure
The current fee for registration is 120 som and will be valid for the duration of one’s Kyrgyz visa.
OVIR in Bishkek is located at Kievskaya 58 Tel: (312) 66-61-20 Hours: 9:00-18:00. Here is a list of OVIR offices in other cities.
Reports of the procedure are posted at the bottom of the page, below the country table. Updates and reports very welcome here.
List of countries
| Country | Number of days without registration |
|---|---|
| Albania | 60 days |
| Andorra | 60 days |
| Argentina | 60 days |
| Armenia | 30 days |
| Australia | 60 days |
| Austria | 60 days |
| Azerbaijan | 10 days |
| Bahamas | 90 days |
| Bahrain | 30 days |
| Barbados | 28 days |
| Belarus | 30 days |
| Belgium | 60 days |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 60 days |
| Brazil | 60 days |
| Brunei | 60 days |
| Bulgaria | 60 days |
| Canada | 60 days |
| Chili | 60 days |
| Costa Rica | 30 days |
| Croatia | 60 days |
| Cuba | 30 days |
| Cyprus | 60 days |
| Czech Republic | 60 days |
| Denmark | 60 days |
| Dominica | 21 days |
| Ecuador | 30 days |
| El Salvador | 90 days |
| Estonia | 60 days |
| Finland | 60 days |
| France | 60 days |
| Georgia | 90 days |
| Germany | 60 days |
| Greece | 90 days |
| Hungary | 60 days |
| Iceland | 60 days |
| India | 30 days |
| Indonesia | 60 days |
| Israel | 60 days |
| Iran | 8 days |
| Ireland | 60 days |
| Italy | 60 days |
| Japan | 60 days |
| Kazakhstan | 30 days |
| Kuwait | 60 days |
| Laos | 30 days |
| Latvia | 60 days |
| Liechtenstein | 60 days |
| Lithuania | 60 days |
| Luxemburg | 60 days |
| Macedonia | 60 days |
| Malaysia | 30 days |
| Maledives | 30 days |
| Malta | 60 days |
| Mexico | 60 days |
| Monaco | 60 days |
| Mongolia | 30 days |
| Montenegro | 60 days |
| Netherlands | 60 days |
| New Zealand | 60 days |
| Nicaragua | 90 days |
| Norway | 60 days |
| Oman | 60 days |
| Peru | 90 days |
| Philippines | 60 days |
| Poland | 60 days |
| Portugal | 60 days |
| Qatar | 60 days |
| Romania | 60 days |
| Russia | 30 days |
| San Marino | 60 days |
| Saudi Arabia | 60 days |
| Serbia | 60 days |
| Singapore | 60 days |
| Slovakia | 60 days |
| Slovenia | 60 days |
| South Africa | 60 days |
| South Korea | 60 days |
| Spain | 60 days |
| Sri Lanka | 30 days |
| Sweden | 60 days |
| Switzerland | 60 days |
| Thailand | 60 days |
| Turkey | 90 days |
| Turkmenistan | 10 days |
| UK | 60 days |
| Ukraine | 90 days |
| United Arab Emirates | 60 days |
| USA | 60 days |
| Vatican | 60 days |
| Venezuela | 90 days |
| Vietnam | 60 days |
Source: announcement hanging at Osh OVIR.
Reports
Bishkek
December 2016: Registration office in Bishkek is now at Prospekt Mira 95. Chaos.
You need a copy of passport and copy of entry stamp. They can copy it for you for 3 som per scan. You need to fill in a form (5 som for the form) and provide the address where you staying. If you are couchsurfing or renting a place, you also need to provide the passport number of your landlord or host.
After that, go to another counter to pay 120 som. Then they give you a number and you have to wait until your number is on the screen. Go to another counter where they stamp your passport with a registration stamp. You need to fill in the (Russian-language) forms in Russian as well. They don’t accept English writing. I assume Kyrgyz is fine too.
It took me around 30 minutes I guess but only because a girl helped me fill in everything, let me call my friend with her phone to ask for his passport number and joined me to every counter.
Maybe it is possible at Kievskaya 58 if you speak Russian and maybe it is easier there but at least I’m happy that I have the stamp.
Osh
January 2017: I had my hostel in Osh fill out all the documents (plenty of them, and lack of decent information in the city hall). I brought everything that was needed, but lacked a stamp on one of the forms, which was a good enough reason for the person in the city hall to extort a bribe from me. All in all 230 soms for the registration (2 people) and 400 for the lady stamping the form herself.
Better not to know any Russian, they will question everything if you appear to understand.