Yes, a travel eSIM works in Uzbekistan, and it is the simplest option for a short stay: you install it before you leave, it connects to an Uzbek network and it spares you the paperwork of a local SIM card. The point most guides miss is IMEI registration of phones, which is compulsory in Uzbekistan for devices used with a local SIM. According to the operator Mobiuz and the official UzIMEI system, it is neither mandatory nor paid if you stay on roaming with a foreign SIM; and the Uzbek government gives foreign visitors 60 days before any obligation applies.
This guide covers those rules, phone compatibility, the options (eSIM, local SIM, home carrier roaming) and the mistakes to avoid. To plan the trip, see our Uzbekistan travel guide, when to go to Uzbekistan and the Samarkand page; for the general principle, our travel eSIM guide.
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eSIM in Uzbekistan: key facts
- Roaming: check your home carrier’s international roaming rates or add-on for Uzbekistan before you go.
- IMEI registration: not mandatory and free for a foreign SIM on roaming (Mobiuz, UzIMEI).
- Local SIM: foreign visitors have 60 calendar days before they must register their device (Uzbek government, 2023; Mobiuz).
- Phone: eSIM-compatible and unlocked; note its IMEI by dialing *#06#.
- Install the eSIM before you leave, on Wi-Fi; activate it on arrival in Tashkent, Samarkand or Bukhara.
How a travel eSIM works in Uzbekistan
An eSIM is a SIM card built into the phone: instead of inserting a chip, you download an operator profile. A travel eSIM is a prepaid data plan, valid for a set number of days, sold by an international provider and carried over the network of a partner Uzbek operator. Technically, your phone is then on roaming: that is what matters for the IMEI rule below.
Most of these offers are data-only plans with no Uzbek number. Calls go through messaging apps. The profile is downloaded by QR code or from the provider’s app, which needs an internet connection: do it at home.
Is your phone compatible?
- eSIM support: in Settings, look for « Add eSIM » or « Add cellular plan ».
- Unlocked: the phone must not be locked to your home carrier.
- IMEI: dial *#06# to display it (a tip given by UzIMEI and Mobiuz) and keep it in your notes: you will be asked for it if you take a local SIM.
IMEI registration: what you need to know
Uzbekistan keeps a national register of mobile devices, UzIMEI. A phone used with a local operator’s SIM card must be registered there, otherwise network access may be refused. Residents have 30 days; for foreign visitors on business or tourism, the Uzbek Ministry of Digital Technologies extended this period in 2023 to 60 calendar days. The operator Mobiuz confirms the 60 days, counted from the first network event.
For anyone keeping a foreign SIM on roaming, the situation is simpler: UzIMEI states that registration is free for users of a foreign SIM, and Mobiuz says it is not mandatory if you do not buy a local SIM. A travel eSIM from an international provider normally works on roaming: ask the provider if you have any doubt, especially for plans that include an Uzbek number.
| Your situation | IMEI registration | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Home carrier plan or travel eSIM on roaming | Not mandatory, free | Mobiuz, UzIMEI |
| Local SIM, stay under 60 days | Not required before 60 days for a foreign visitor | Ministry of Digital Technologies (2023), Mobiuz |
| Local SIM beyond 60 days | Mandatory, paid (percentage of a base value set by UzIMEI) | UzIMEI, Mobiuz |
| Device not declared at import | Registration only after payment of duties | Mobiuz |
The registration channels cited by Mobiuz are the code *1170#, a text message to 1170, the websites uzimei.uz and my.gov.uz, the MyGov and Birda apps, post offices and the operator’s shops.
eSIM, local SIM or home carrier roaming: which to choose?
| Option | Best for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Travel eSIM (data) | Tourist trip, maps, ride-hailing, messaging | Uzbek network used, data allowance, validity, tethering |
| Local SIM (Ucell, Mobiuz…) | Long stay, need for a local number | SIM registration and the IMEI rule; since June 2026 Ucell lets foreigners self-register their SIM in its app |
| Your home carrier’s roaming | Occasional use | Rate or add-on for Uzbekistan to check with your carrier |
| Accommodation Wi-Fi only | Minimal use | No connection between cities |
Our decision tree: if you stay fewer than 60 days and do not need an Uzbek number, take a travel eSIM; if you want a local number to book taxis or rooms by phone, a local SIM remains possible without IMEI registration for 60 days; if your phone does not support eSIM, a local SIM is the only alternative to roaming.
Installing your eSIM step by step
- Before you leave, check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked (« No SIM restrictions » on iPhone; manufacturer’s spec sheet on Android).
- Buy the plan and note whether it starts at installation or at first connection in Uzbekistan.
- Install the profile at home, on Wi-Fi (QR code or app), and label the line so you recognize it.
- On arrival: select this line for mobile data, turn on data roaming for this line only if the provider asks you to, and turn off data on your home line.
- Keep your home line active for texts such as bank verification codes, after checking that your carrier does not charge for receiving texts abroad.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Believing every phone must be registered on arrival: on roaming, it is not mandatory according to Mobiuz.
- Buying a local SIM for a long stay without planning IMEI registration before the 60 days end.
- Paying an intermediary for registration: use the official channels listed above.
- Installing the eSIM profile on arrival, without Wi-Fi.
- Leaving data switched on for your home line, which would bill roaming.
Buying an eSIM for Uzbekistan
To choose, compare the advertised Uzbek network, the data allowance, the validity period, tethering, top-up options and when validity starts. A data-only eSIM is enough for most travelers. If you continue to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan, look at regional Central Asia plans and check the exact list of countries covered.
Frequently asked questions
Does eSIM work in Uzbekistan?
Yes. Travel eSIMs rely on partner Uzbek networks. Check the network and the validity period before you buy.
Do you need to register your phone (IMEI) in Uzbekistan?
Not if you stay on roaming with a foreign SIM, according to Mobiuz and UzIMEI. With a local SIM, a foreign visitor has 60 days before registration becomes mandatory.
Will my home phone plan work in Uzbekistan?
Roaming terms depend on your carrier and plan. Ask your carrier about rates or an international add-on for Uzbekistan before you travel.
Can you buy a local SIM in Uzbekistan?
Yes. Since June 2026, Ucell even lets foreigners register their SIM from its app. The device must be registered in UzIMEI after 60 days.
How do you find your phone’s IMEI?
Dial *#06#: the number appears on screen. Write it down before you leave.
Our sources
- Ministry of Digital Technologies Development of Uzbekistan (gov.uz), news item of 27 October 2023 on the registration of foreign visitors’ devices, consulted on 24 October 2026.
- UzIMEI (uzimei.uz), « About » page, consulted on 24 October 2026.
- Mobiuz (mobi.uz), « IMEI » support page, consulted on 24 October 2026.
- Ucell (ucell.uz), news item of 12 June 2026 on self-registration of SIM cards by foreigners, consulted on 24 October 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Registration rules and offers may change: check uzimei.uz and with your provider before you travel.