A transit visa allows you to stay in Uzbekistan for maximum 2 times 3 days. No LOI is needed. Besides other documents, to apply you will need a visa for your onward destination (or need to explain you do not need such a visa).
If you are planning to stay in Uzbekistan for a short time only, a transit visa is a good idea for those who would need a LOI for a tourist visa. Since you do not need a LOI for a transit visa, it comes out a lot cheaper.
If you do not need a LOI anyway, the transit visa is only marginally cheaper than the tourist visa to Uzbekistan.
Visa requirements and visa validity
Besides the usual passport pictures, passport copies and filled-in forms (every embassy has slightly different rules), most importantly is proof of onward travel in the form of an air ticket and/or visa. You do not need a visa from the country you are coming from.
Visa validity is usually date-specific, but if you ask nicely, we have heard of people getting their 1, 2 or 3-day visas within a 1-month or even 3-month window. If you have a 1-day visa, you have 1 day to exit and enter, not 24 hours. Same for 2 or 3-day visas. Example: if you have a 1-day visa and you enter on a Monday, you have to leave the same day. If you have a 3-day visa you have to leave on Wednesday.
All questions regarding the transit visa can be posted here.
Prices
The following price list is a compilation of different embassy websites and might differ (be a bit more expensive) where you apply:
- 1 day: 20-40$
- 2 days: 25-45$
- 3 days: 30-50$
- double entry (72 hours per entry): 40-60$
Transit visa on arrival
Starting from May 1, 2018, a transit visa on arrival can be issued at airports. The visas will only be valid for 72 hours, and you will need to have a tour. Visas will be given out between 8:00 and 21:00.
