South Africa to Uzbekistan visa requirements

South African ordinary passport holders need a visa for Uzbekistan but can apply online for a tourist e-visa via the official portal e-visa.gov.uz. The single-entry e-visa costs about USD 20, is valid for 90 days from issue, allows a stay of up to 30 days, and is normally processed within 2-3 working days. There is no general visa-free entry for South Africans (a 5-day air-transit visa-free option exists for through travelers only). As of 30 May 2026, Uzbekistan is NOT a visa-free destination for ordinary South African passport holders for tourism. Uzbekistan is not in the Schengen area, so the 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply. South Africa appears on Uzbekistan's electronic-visa eligibility list, so the appropriate and recommended channel for a short tourist visit is the online e-visa submitted through the official Republic of Uzbekistan portal at e-visa.gov.uz. The standard tourist e-visa is single-entry, USD 20, valid 90 days from issue and permits a stay of up to 30 days, with double-entry (USD 35) and multiple-entry (USD 50) options also available. Official processing is normally 2-3 working days, excluding the submission day, so travelers should apply at least 3-4 business days ahead. Note that some older country-specific guides still describe an embassy/sticker visa requiring a Letter of Invitation through a travel agency (Uzbekistan has no embassy in South Africa) with a USD 65 airport fee; this reflects the legacy process and the modern e-visa is the practical route. A separate 5-day visa-free transit applies only to genuine air transit passengers with onward tickets to a third country. Passport should be valid for the duration of stay (commonly advised 3-6 months) and travelers must register their stay (hotels do this automatically) within 3 days of arrival. Because individual eligibility can change, always confirm on e-visa.gov.uz before booking.