Sleeping in family or countryside with tourist visa - OVIR

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cvo
cvo

Hi there everybody.

I'm planning a trip to Uzbekistan and have a question concerning transportation and sleeping. I would very appreciate if anyone can get me on the right track.

I will have tourist visa, and want to travel to different regions of Uzbekistan.

To be precise It should look like this:
Tashkent > Samarqand > Bukhara > Khiva > Muynak > Aydarkul > Taskent (in 11 days)

I read there are some restrictions when it comes to traveling from one region to another.
As I understand, I need permission from local office (OVIR) to visit the region. The hotel should make it for me, but what if I decide to sleep in a family, or in the countryside? Would that make me illegal?

So my question is: Do I have to book a hotel in every region I want to visit, or can I just go there and sleep by the lake - for example?

I'm asking, because I like freedom of choice when it comes to travelling and want to be able to change my mind. I also would like to spend few nights in local family and one night by the Aydarkul lake. Is that even possible in Uzbekistan? I'm a bit confused about this OVIR stuff.

Big thanks for any advice.

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aleksey15619
aleksey15619

Hi,
1. I will have tourist visa, and want to travel to different regions of Uzbekistan.
Good. You're allowed to go anywhere in Uzbekistan except special restricted areas, such as military bases.

  1. I read there are some restrictions when it comes to traveling from one region to another.
    There are no restrictions. Make sure you have as many registrations (papers from all hotels you stayed in, as you can).

  2. As I understand, I need permission from local office (OVIR) to visit the region.
    Incorrect. You're free to go anywhere. Registrations - that's it.

  3. What if I decide to sleep in a family, or in the countryside? Would that make me illegal?
    yes, it would make you illegal if you stay without registration for many days. It's impossible for a tourist visa holder to register in private houses/apartments.
    You're going to stay in Uz for 11 nights. Nobody cares (and it's legal) to be without registrations for 1..2 days. May be even 2 times for 1..2 days (not in row).
    Official rule (may be interpreterred as officials want): a tourist visa holder has to be registered in any region of Uzbekistan if he stays there for 3 days or more.

  4. So my question is: Do I have to book a hotel in every region I want to visit, or can I just go there and sleep by the lake - for example?
    Try to follow such plan:
    Tashkent: hotel
    Samarqand: hotel
    Bukhara: hotel
    Khiva: hotel
    Muynak: feel free to stay in your own camping or with a local family - not more than 2 nights.
    Aydarkul: yurt campings will rengister you, no problems there. Or stay by your own, not more than 2 nights. Aidarkul is worh to visit between Samarkand and Bukhara parts of your trip.
    Taskent: hotel

  5. I also would like to spend few nights in local family and one night by the Aydarkul lake.
    Is that even possible in Uzbekistan?
    Possible, if few means 1..2 nights.

I'm a bit confused about this OVIR stuff.
Everybody are :-) Even the OVIR officers :-)

Uzbekistan is much better than some of our rules :-)

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cvo
cvo

Hi Aleksey. Very big thanks.
Do you think getting a invitation visa would be better for me?

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aleksey15619
aleksey15619

Invitation visa - do you mean, not a tourist visa, but issued by an individual from Uzbekistan? No.
100s of tourist make the same tour every year without putting themselves illegal. Just - a couple of days without registration is OK. Not more. And definitely not in row.
Have a nice trip, Aidarkul is great !

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uzb
uzb

Hey
the law is like dat! first 3 days you are ok to stay without registration. but after that you have to have a registration! each hotel you will stay they will give you the registration! so dont worry ! yes you can sleep by the river or lake or camp !!! but if you will stay in some ones house!! it's ok! but dont tell Immigration you stayed in the private house! just tell them you slept by the lake or camp etc! but don't tell them you slept in the private house! or you have another optione just make a registratione in the hotel in Tashkent for whole 11 days and be free!! so after that you dont have to stay in the hotels at all! and stay at the private houses! and not be illegal. if you want Ill give you email adress some on ein Tashkent he can help you and give you good advise!
good luck

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vghcaa
vghcaa

3 days = 2 nights without registration

And if any official is interested where you were spending the two nights without being registered never mention that you were staying at local friends' or familiars'. It is better to tell that you were just camping somewhere - the conversation with the official would be shorter.

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cvo
cvo

Ok, thanks for all that advice. If anyone asks, I'll say I didn't sleep that night at all :)
I hope there is no law saying I have to sleep at night.

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vghcaa
vghcaa

What the good idea!

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uzb
uzb

yeah!! have a good trip!

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