Uzbekistan slams general visa ban on Nigerian passport holders

Uzbekistan has introduced temporary restrictions on visa issuance and entry for Nigerian citizens.

 The policy came to light through an official notice published on the portal of the Green Energy Technologies Central Asia (GETCA) exhibition.

According to the update, Nigerian nationals are among several foreign citizens affected by measures suspending visa processing and entry into the Central Asian nation.

"Temporary restrictions have currently been introduced on the issuance of visas and entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan for citizens of your country," the notice stated.

The platform advised Nigerian travelers requiring entry under exceptional circumstances to consult the consular section of the Uzbek embassy for administrative guidance. Nigeria is not alone in facing the restrictions, as identical measures were indicated for nationals from Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Iraq, and Bangladesh.

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not released an official public statement detailing the rationale behind the policy change or its intended duration. While the ministry's central visa portal continues to outline general entry regulations, it does not explicitly clarify the specific restrictions currently affecting Nigerian passport holders.

The temporary suspension is expected to impact Nigerians planning travel to Uzbekistan for business, education, tourism, or trade events. Intending travelers are urged to engage the nearest Uzbek diplomatic mission to verify their eligibility under exceptional entry frameworks.