Kyrgyzstan Customs Regulations

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Import Regulations

1000 cigarettes or
1000 grammes of tobacco products
1.5litres of alcoholic beverages and 2litres of wine
Travellers can import and export an unlimited amount of foreign currency without incident. Citizens of Kyrgyzstan can import or export unlimited sums of local currency providing a declaration is made at the customs department upon entering or leaving the country. A small Embarkation tax equal to 10 USD will have to be paid all travellers leaving the country.

Illegal drugs
Weapons, explosives and ammunition – unless permission has been obtained
Knives and deadly weapons
Fruit and vegetables
Plant and plant products
All birds and poultry coming from or via Turkey
Precious metals including gold and silver not declared at customs
Printed material attacking the country and people of Kyrgyzstan
Counterfeit money and goods
Pornographic material

On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs declaration form which must be retained until departure, and then handed over on the international flight leaving any CIS country. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Customs inspection can be long and detailed.
All weapons and ammunition will require a special permit before being granted admission into the country.
Cats, dogs and other animals being imported will need a Veterinarian health certificate issued less than 10 days prior to flight. All pigeons are currently banned from entering the country.

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Export Regulations

No information available

Illegal drugs
Weapons, explosives and ammunition – unless permission has been obtained
Knives and deadly weapons
Fruit and vegetables
Plant and plant products
All birds and poultry coming from or via Turkey
Precious metals including gold and silver not declared at customs
Printed material attacking the country and people of Kyrgyzstan
Counterfeit money and goods
Pornographic material

All antiques and valuable pieces of Art will require a special permit from the Ministry of Culture before legally leaving the country.

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Health & Security

Basic health information for travelers to Kyrgyzstan

Basic security information for travelers to Kyrgyzstan

🩺 Basic Health Information for Travelers to Kyrgyzstan

Tap and other local water sources should be considered contaminated and thoroughly boiled before being drunk. Travellers are advised to stick to bottled water whenever possible throughout their stay inside the country. Milk and dairy products might be unpasteurised and should be avoided for safety reasons. All meat, fish and vegetables should be well cooked and served boiling hot whilst fruit should be peeled prior to consumption.
Diseases which can be contracted from contaminated food and water are present throughout the country and include Hepatitis A, E, Diphtheria and Typhoid. There have been recent outbreaks of Brucellosis in the Naryn region of the country and travellers to the region should exercise extreme caution if consuming unpasteurized dairy products or potentially infected animals.
Additional vaccinations against Polio and TB are recommended prior to entering the country and all travellers should avoid swimming in any local lakes, streams or other water sources unless chlorinated first.
There is a serious risk of Malaria between the months of June and September. Although the disease is mostly reported in the southern and western parts of the country bordering Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, travellers to other sections of the country are still advised to take all necessary precautions to prevent any chances of infection. All visitors to the region are strongly advised to wear close clothing that exposes little in the way of raw skin and should buy plenty of insect repellent for protection.
Other insect based threats in evidence throughout the country include Cutaneous leishmaniasis from sand flies and Lyme disease. Both of these are found in more remote forested areas and all travellers to the region should take great care to avoid any risk of infection and should immediately seek out medical care if symptoms develop.
Blood related diseases including HIV and Hepatitis B are present and all travellers to the country should exercise great care when dealing with bloody or dirty needles or when engaging in sexual activity during their visit. Visitors staying inside the country for over a month will be required to submit to a HIV test to check for sign of infection.
Travellers to the country are advised against any contact with wild dogs or other animals whose bites might contain Rabies. If bitten, travellers should immediately clean the wound and seek out medical assistance to check for any signs of infection.
The overall standard of healthcare is considered quite poor inside this country and all travellers requiring regular medication are strongly advised to bring emergency supplies of any required drugs with them has supplies may be difficult or expensive to obtain. Medical facilities are likely to be very limited and most doctors will likely demand instant payment for any services rendered. Complete medical and travel insurance should be obtained prior to entry and an emergency airlift to a nearby country may be required in the event of a serious accident or illness.

🛡 Basic Security Information for Travelers to Kyrgyzstan

Owing to the ongoing political uncertainty and violence throughout the region, all foreigners choosing to visit this country are strongly advised to exercise great caution throughout the course of their visit and should stay updated regarding the current social and political situation prior to their arrival.
There is a slightly higher than normal risk of terrorist related activity inside this country and travellers should take care when visiting public places and should immediately point out any unknown or suspicious objects to the security services. All British nationals inside the Oblasts (Provinces) of Osh and Jalal-Abad have recently been evacuated from the area because of the recent fighting which resulted in hundreds being killed and thousands being displaced throughout the county and all but essential travel to the region should be avoided where possible.
Incidents of violent crime have been reported inside the country including theft at gunpoint. All visitors to the country are strongly advised to keep their passport and other valuables in a safe and secure location for the duration of their visit and should avoid any obvious displays of wealth which could serve to attract unwanted attention. Travellers should also avoid any poorer sections of the country where crime might be rife and should not travel down any poorly lit roads alone after dark. Reports of kidnapping of women for the purpose of forced marriages have come to light and all foreign women should exercise caution at all times and avoid travelling alone throughout the country.
There have been a number of large scale demonstrations throughout the country which have resulted in violent and prolonged clashes with the security services. These protests resulted in the resignation of the countries Prime Minister and the installation of a new Provisional government in 2010 but the situation is likely to remain tense. Ethnically based clashes in Osh Oblast and other regions have resulted in much destruction and loss of life and all travellers to the country are urged to avoid any large gatherings or demonstrations which could quickly turn unpredictable or violent.
UK citizens planning on driving throughout the country can do so on a valid British driving licence. All foreign drivers should exercise caution if visiting the Kyrgyz/Uzbek border has there has been a number of violent clashes between the two countries and the situation remains tense. Travellers to the region should stick to the main roads has much of the border region may contain unexploded bombs and other deadly ordinance. Additionally, many of the border crossings between the two countries may close unexpectedly and all drivers should check with the local authorities before for any security complications which could adversely affect their journey.
Many of the roads outside the main cities are likely to be poorly lit and maintained and should not be driven after dark for fear o a serious accident or illness. Signposts for blocked or damages roads may not always be evident and all travellers should check with the local authorities to make sure that their intended route is still open and serviceable. Snow may block many of the roads during the winter months and supplies of fuel are extremely limited throughout the country. Car accidents resulting from either poorly maintained cars or the dangerous environment are common and all foreign drivers are advised to keep a copy of their passport with them at all times in the event of an accident or an emergency.
Travellers visiting the more remote mountainous regions of the country should exercise considerable caution at all times and may end up requiring evacuation to a neighbouring country in the event of a serious accident. Kyrgyzstan is in a seismically active area and Earthquakes are a possibility. All travellers to the country should say calm and contact their nearest embassy in the event of a serious quake occurring during the course of their visit.
Kyrgyzstan is a largely Muslim country and all visitors to the region are urged to respect the local traditions during the course of their visit and to avoid any behaviour which could serve to attract attention. If visiting during the holy month of Ramadan, travellers should avoid eating or drinking in public and should remember to dress conservatively when in public.
Photos of important government or military installations could lead to trouble from the security services whilst any other pictures taken of local everyday inhabitants may cause unease and permission should always be requested beforehand out of common decency. Strongly held religious or political views should be discussed with great care whilst in public.
Whilst Homosexuality is not formally illegal inside this country, overt displays of affection could attract attention and are not advised.

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Contact Information

For further assistance please contact the Kyrgyzstani Customs authorities directly. They will provide the latest information about customs regulations and export-import procedures.

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Official Website

www.customs.gov.kg