Uzbekistan Tourist SIM Card: What to Buy and What It Costs
Beeline, Ucell, Mobiuz and Uzmobile, prices in soums, passport registration, IMEI rules for phones bought abroad, and when an eSIM is simpler.
A tourist SIM in Uzbekistan usually costs 25,000–55,000 soums (about $2–5) for a pack with 5–10 GB. You buy it with your passport at a store or at Tashkent airport, from Beeline, Ucell, Mobiuz or Uzmobile. An important note on IMEI: if you put a local SIM into a phone bought abroad and stay for a long time, the phone must be registered (sources say 30 or 60 days). For a short trip, an eSIM set up in advance is simpler.
Prices checked in October 2026 from reviews and public sources. Tariffs and tourist lines change, so amounts are given as ranges. Exchange rate used: about 12,000 soums per dollar.
Which operators are there in Uzbekistan?
There are four main operators, each with its own strengths.
- Beeline Uzbekistan. A large operator with wide coverage that sells SIMs at Tashkent airport. It has a separate tourist line, but sources note it may be sold only to foreigners, so bring your passport.
- Ucell. A network with a good reputation in the cities. According to one recent review, its Tourist line has been archived, so you would buy a regular prepaid plan.
- Mobiuz. According to the same review, it stopped new connections on its Tourist SIM from 19 February 2026. Older reviews with Mobiuz prices may be out of date.
- Uzmobile (Uztelecom). A state operator. Reviews mention its Travel 5 pack for 55,000 soums (6 GB and minutes).
How much does a SIM card cost for a tourist?
We could not find a single official price list for tourists. Below are guides from reviews, which disagree with each other.
| Operator | Example pack from reviews | Price (checked October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Beeline, Tashkent airport | 5 GB, 20 GB or 50 GB | 25,000, 50,000 and 100,000 soums (~$2, ~$4, ~$8) |
| Ucell | Cordial Welcome, 10 GB | about 50,000 soums (~$4) |
| Mobiuz | Tourist SIM Lite 3 GB / Tourist SIM 8 GB (line closed to new connections) | 21,000 / 42,000 soums according to older data |
| Uzmobile | Travel 5: 6 GB and 500 minutes | about 55,000 soums (~$4.5) |
Overall, a month of connectivity with a comfortable data allowance costs $3–8. There are no nasty surprises, but check what the pack includes: validity period, the allowance for night-time traffic, and minutes. At some outlets the plastic card is given away free, and at others a small fee is charged.
Do you need a passport and registration?
Yes. SIM cards in Uzbekistan are registered with a passport: the staff scans the document and links the number to you. One review suggests that registration may not be required for short trips, but most sources require a passport, so plan on that. The original document is better than a photo.
For an eSIM bought online you don’t need a passport, but it has no local number: it is mobile data only.
IMEI registration: what to know if your phone was bought abroad
Uzbekistan runs UzIMEI, a system that registers phones brought in from abroad. Here is what we found in open sources.
- Arrival declaration. Since 20 December 2024, individuals entering with mobile devices must fill in a passenger customs declaration that lists the IMEI. According to Ucell, registration is free for up to two devices worth no more than $2,000. If there is no declaration, a state fee is issued through customs.
- Registration deadline. Mobi.uz says 30 calendar days from the first connection of a local SIM, and for foreign citizens the period is extended to 60 days. Kun.uz says 30 days. Sources disagree, so a foreigner should plan for 30 days and check the rule with the operator or on uzimei.uz.
- Cost. Mobi.uz lists 82,400 soums for registration within 30 days and 103,000 soums later. Prices are tied to a base calculation value and change over time, and you pay for each IMEI (a phone with an eSIM has two).
- Where to register. On uzimei.uz, at the system’s operator, or at post offices. Customs helpline: 1108.
What this means for a tourist: if you travel for a week or two and use only an eSIM or roaming, you won’t reach the 30- or 60-day deadline. If you plan to live in the country and insert a local SIM, keep this deadline in mind, or your phone may lose service. We found no official confirmation that a short trip requires any action from a tourist, but it is better to fill in the border declaration.
Is a local SIM or an eSIM better for tourists?
| Local SIM | Travel eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | At a store or the airport, with passport | Online before the trip |
| Passport / documents | Required; the number is registered to you | Not needed, only email |
| Internet on landing | After the queue and registration | Immediately, if the profile was installed in advance |
| Price | ~$2–8 a month | Depends on data volume, see the table below |
| Local number | Yes | No, data only |
| IMEI question | Comes up with long use | Doesn’t come up on a short trip |
| Main SIM | Needs a second slot or a card swap | Stays in place; SMS codes still arrive |
Honest verdict: if you stay in Uzbekistan longer than two weeks and need a local number for taxis, delivery and bookings, a local SIM is cheaper. For 3–7 days, a transit or a late arrival, an eSIM is more convenient. More on the difference: eSIM or physical SIM.
How much does an eSIM for Uzbekistan cost?
You can buy a plan in advance and activate it within 180 days of purchase. The cheapest plan starts from $2.69.
| Plan | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $2.69 |
| 3 GB | 1 month | $5.89 |
| 5 GB | 1 month | $9.29 |
| 10 GB | 1 month | $15.29 |
| 20 GB | 1 month | $22.39 |
| Day pass 1 GB/day | 7 days | $9.90 |
| Day pass 1 GB/day | 15 days | $19.90 |
| Day pass 1 GB/day | 1 month | $37.90 |
Our Uzbekistan plans use Beeline, with 5G on Beeline. The eSIM has no local number: you can call through messengers and receive SMS codes on your main SIM. Hotspot works on most plans, and if data runs low, you can top up the same eSIM on most plans. All plans: eSIM for Uzbekistan.
How to get internet in Uzbekistan before your flight: step by step
- Check your phone. eSIM works on iPhone XS and newer and on most current Android phones. Compatibility list.
- Buy the plan in advance. The QR code arrives by email, usually within a few minutes.
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. On iPhone: Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM. Details: how to install an eSIM.
- Don’t turn it on before the flight. The plan starts when your phone first connects to a network in Uzbekistan.
- After landing, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming on that line. Keep your main SIM for calls and SMS, and turn off mobile data on it.
If something went wrong: how to activate an eSIM.
What is the coverage in Tashkent, Samarkand and Khiva?
In Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Fergana the signal is stable for all operators, and 4G is almost everywhere. In Khiva, in the Khorezm region, in the Kyzylkum desert and in the mountains (Chimgan, Nuratau) the signal is weaker: for trips out of town, download offline maps and check your operator’s coverage map. High-speed Afrosiyob trains keep a signal, but it drops on some sections.
When is a local SIM cheaper, and when isn’t it?
Count by duration. For a month, a pack at $4–8 is almost always cheaper than an eSIM with the same volume, and you get an Uzbek number. For 5–7 days the picture changes: you pay for a monthly pack, spend time in the queue and on registration and, if the phone was bought abroad, on IMEI questions too. A mixed option: an eSIM for the first days and for trips between cities, and a local SIM only if you really need a number.
Travel tips
- Fill in the customs declaration with your phone’s IMEI if you are bringing it into the country for the first time. The app is called “Yo’lovchi deklaratsiyasi”.
- Turn off data roaming on your main SIM, or background updates will charge you.
- Dual SIM saves SMS codes. The main line receives the bank codes, and data comes from the eSIM.
- Bring cash. Cards work in the cities, but not everywhere in the regions.
FAQ
How much does a SIM card cost for tourists in Uzbekistan?
Usually 25,000–55,000 soums for a pack with 5–10 GB ($2–5), and monthly packs come to $3–8. Sources disagree, so check prices on site.
Do I need a passport for a SIM card in Uzbekistan?
Yes, SIM cards are registered with a passport. A travel eSIM does not need one.
Do tourists need to register their IMEI?
Only with long use of a local SIM in a phone brought from abroad: the deadline is 30 days, and some sources give foreigners 60 days. With a short trip on an eSIM, the question doesn’t arise.
Which operator is best for tourists?
Any of them in the cities. For travel around the country, compare the coverage maps of Beeline, Ucell, Mobiuz and Uzmobile.
Can I buy a SIM at Tashkent airport?
Yes, SIMs are sold there. Counter prices are sometimes higher than in the city.
Does an eSIM work as a hotspot for a laptop?
On most plans, yes. Check the plan description for the conditions.
Conclusion
If you are staying two weeks or longer and need a local number, buy a SIM with your passport, and don’t forget the customs declaration and the IMEI deadline. If the trip is short or you need internet right after landing, set up an eSIM in advance: plans for Uzbekistan. Refunds: 180 days if the profile is not installed, and 30 days if it is installed but not activated.