Uzbekistan imposes temporary visa, entry restrictions on Nigerians

Uzbekistan has placed temporary restrictions on visa issuance and entry into the country for Nigerian citizens, according to a notice published on the website of the Green Energy Technologies Central Asia, GETCA, exhibition.

The notice stated that Nigerian nationals were currently affected by measures limiting the issuance of visas and their admission into the Central Asian country.

It reads, “Temporary restrictions have currently been introduced on the issuance of visas and entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan for citizens of your country.”

However, the notice advised Nigerians seeking to travel to Uzbekistan under exceptional circumstances to contact the consular section of the country’s embassy for clarification and further guidance.

Nigeria is not the only country mentioned in the notice, as similar restrictions have also been listed for nationals of Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Iraq and Bangladesh.

As of Friday, there was no formal public announcement explaining the reasons for the restrictions on the website of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Although the ministry’s general visa information portal contains details of entry requirements and visa arrangements for foreign nationals, it does not provide specific explanations regarding the reported measures affecting Nigerian citizens.

The development could pose challenges for Nigerians intending to visit Uzbekistan for tourism, business engagements, educational programmes and other purposes.

Prospective travellers affected by the restrictions have therefore been advised to seek clarification from the consular section of the Uzbek embassy to determine whether they qualify for entry under exceptional arrangements.