Tightening of standards for the duty-free import of goods in Uzbekistan

published in 22 May 2025

From May 1, 2025, there will be stricter regulations for the duty-free import of goods by private individuals in Uzbekistan. This affects both the personal movement of goods via various means of transport and international courier and postal shipments. The changes were adopted by a decree of the Uzbek government on 19 April 2025 and are intended to further optimize the control mechanism for the cross-border movement of goods. From July 20, 2025, these regulations regarding the duty-free import of goods by private individuals will come into force.

The new regulations affect imports via airports as well as land, sea and rail transport:

The duty-free amount for imports by air will be reduced from the current 2000 US dollars to 1000 US dollars.
For transportation by rail or ship, the allowance is reduced from 1000 US dollars to 500 US dollars.
For imports via car and crosswalks, the allowance is set at 300 US dollars.

In addition, the allowance for international courier parcels will be drastically reduced. Instead of the previous limit of 1000 US dollars per quarter, an allowance of only 200 US dollars per month will now be granted. The amount for goods received by post remains at 100 US dollars.

The government is also introducing new requirements regarding the length of stay abroad. In order to benefit from the duty-free amounts, travelers must prove a minimum length of stay outside Uzbekistan:

Pedestrians and drivers must have been abroad for at least two days.
Air travelers must provide proof of a stay of at least three days.

If these conditions are not met, the entire value of the goods becomes subject to customs duty and is subject to a flat-rate customs fee of 30%.

The regulations for the export of goods by private individuals remain largely unchanged, with an upper limit of 5000 US dollars without the need for a customs declaration, unless the goods in question are subject to export duties.

However, there is an exception for precious metal bars and coins that were produced in the country. These can be exported from Uzbekistan without restrictions if they have the appro-priate certificates. However, if the value of the precious metals exceeds 5000 US dollars, a customs declaration is required.

In addition, there has been an increased focus on enforcing the new regulations. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard and the Customs Committee have been asked to work closely together to prevent violations of the legal requirements. This also includes measures against organized resistance and disturbances of public order at border checkpoints.

The Ministry of Health and the Customs Committee should also take precautions to prevent the import of used goods that could pose a health risk to the population.

Another aim of the new regulations is to simplify the customs clearance process for interna-tional postal and courier parcels. A draft law is to be developed within the next three months that will enable the customs procedure for these consignments to be carried out on the basis of electronic data in order to increase efficiency and reduce the administrative burden.

The tightening of the rules for the duty-free import of goods in Uzbekistan demonstrates the government's efforts to intensify control over international trade and improve customs procedures. While the new regulations represent cuts for many private individuals, attempts are also being made to simplify the exemptions for certain goods and make them more transparent. In this respect, the adjustment of import limits is seen as part of a broader strategy to modernize the customs administration and combat the illegal flow of goods.