Kyrgyzstan Visa-Free Rules 2026: 30 Days in Any 60 for US, UK and EU Passports
Last checked October 15, 2026
Kyrgyzstan halved its visa-free stay for 55 countries, including the US, UK, the EU, Canada, Australia and Japan. You now get 30 days in total within each 60-day period, down from 60 days in 120.
A two-week trek is still easy. A long overland trip through Central Asia with repeat entries needs a calendar, and anything over 30 days needs an e-visa arranged before you arrive.
7 min read
What changed
Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 855 of 31 December 2025 cut the visa-free stay to 30 days in each 60-day period. The Foreign Ministry announced it the same day, and the official e-visa portal now lists "up to 30 days" for every country on the list.
Until the end of 2025 the same passports got 60 days within 120. You still need no visa and no paperwork at the border for a stay of up to 30 days, just a passport valid for the trip.
Who it applies to
The 30-day rule covers most Western passports. Neighbours and a few partner countries keep longer terms, and some nationalities need a visa from day one.
30 days in any 60
USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Israel, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, every EU country, and also Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Western Balkans.
90 days in each 180
EAEU citizens (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia), plus Turkey, Serbia, Ukraine and Mongolia.
Longer or different terms
Uzbekistan: 60 days. Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain): 180 days in each 360. Tajikistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova are also visa-free on their own terms.
Visa needed
India, China and many other countries are not visa-free. Apply for an e-visa before the trip. Check your passport in the "Do I need a visa?" tool on evisa.e-gov.kg.
How the 30 in 60 count works
Days add up across trips: the rule is 30 days in total within each 60-day period, counted from the date of entry. A quick hop to Almaty or Tashkent and back does not reset the count.
The resolution does not say whether the 60-day window rolls day by day or runs in fixed blocks from your first entry. Plan for the stricter rolling reading: on any day of your stay, count back 60 days, and you must have spent no more than 30 of them in Kyrgyzstan.
Three example trips
- One 21-day trek
Fine. 21 days is under 30, nothing to arrange.
- 20 days, a week in Almaty, then back
You have 10 days left on return. Staying 15 more would put you at 35 days within 60, an overstay.
- 30 days, out for a month, then back
Risky. Under the rolling reading, days from your first stay are still inside the window. To be safe, leave a 60-day gap after a full 30-day stay, or get an e-visa for the second visit.
Fines start at 5,500 som for an overstay of up to a month and rise with its length, according to Kyrgyz media reports on the Code of Offenses. The UK government warns of possible deportation, and since September 2026 an overstayer is refused the next visa-free entry for a period equal to the visa-free term, as reported by Kyrgyz media.
Staying longer: the e-visa
For more than 30 days you need a visa, and the official route is the e-visa portal. The tourist e-visa (TS) runs up to 30 days and costs $51.50 single entry or $61.80 multiple entry for a US passport, per the portal's fee calculator.
- 1
Pick the visa type
Tourist (TS) covers up to 30 days. For longer stays the portal offers the Sapar (J) visa for up to one year, and a Digital Nomad visa for IT workers.
- 2
Apply online before you enter
Fill in the form on evisa.e-gov.kg and upload a passport scan and a photo. The portal states that a tourist visa cannot be issued while you are inside Kyrgyzstan.
- 3
Pay and wait
Standard review takes 5 working days. A 2-business-day option costs more ($154.50 single entry). Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.
- 4
Carry the e-visa
Save the approved e-visa on your phone and print a copy for the border check.
Supporting documents must be in Kyrgyz or Russian. Fees differ slightly by passport, so run the fee calculator on the portal for yours.
Registration
Visa-free stays of up to 30 days need no registration. The Foreign Ministry's announcement of the new rule describes the 30 days as visa-free and registration-free.
Stay longer on a visa and you must be registered at your address within 5 working days of entry. Under new rules in force since 23 September 2026, the host (hotel, guesthouse, landlord or employer) files it online at ereg.e-gov.kg or at a public service centre, as reported by Kyrgyz media. Registration does not extend your permitted stay.
Trekking season tips
Most visitors come for the mountains: Ala-Archa an hour from Bishkek, the yurt camps of Song-Kol, the Tash-Rabat caravanserai on the road to China, and the routes around Karakol. Thirty days covers a good summer, if you plan the order.
Season
High lakes and passes are usually reachable in summer, and Song-Kol yurt camps run in the warm months only. The UK government warns that snow can fall at altitude even in summer.
Border-zone permits
Areas near the borders, such as Inylchek and Khan Tengri, Ak-Sai, Lenin Peak base camp and Kel-Suu, need a border-zone permit. Trekking agencies arrange it and ask for one to three weeks. Song-Kol and Ala-Archa need none.
Signal
Coverage is good in towns and along main roads, and patchy to absent in high valleys. Download offline maps and send your route to someone before you set off.
Safety
Avalanches, rockfall and altitude sickness are real risks, and rescue is basic. Get insurance that covers high-altitude trekking and use a reputable agency for remote routes.
Mobile data in the mountains
Kyrgyzstan is outside the roaming bundles of US, UK and EU carriers, so daily roaming fees stack up fast. Buying a local SIM means a passport check and registration at a carrier shop.
An eSIMPal Kyrgyzstan eSIM installs before you fly and runs on the Beeline network with 4G LTE. Plans start at $2.90, and the 30-day plans line up with the visa-free window.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Kyrgyzstan?
No, for stays of up to 30 days in total within each 60-day period. The same applies to UK, EU, Canadian, Australian and Japanese passports. For longer stays, apply for an e-visa on evisa.e-gov.kg before you travel.
When did the 30-day rule start?
Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 855 is dated 31 December 2025, and the rule applies throughout 2026. Before that, the same countries had 60 days within 120.
Does a border run to Kazakhstan reset my 30 days?
No. Days add up across all trips within the 60-day period, so a short exit and re-entry leaves the count where it was.
How can I stay in Kyrgyzstan longer than 30 days?
Get a visa before you enter. The tourist e-visa covers up to 30 days, and the portal lists the Sapar (J) and Digital Nomad visas for stays of up to a year. A tourist visa cannot be issued while you are already in the country.
Do I need to register in Kyrgyzstan?
Not for a visa-free stay of up to 30 days. Longer stays need registration at your address within 5 working days of entry, which your host files online.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Kyrgyzstan?
If your passport is on the visa-free list, you need no visa for up to 30 days. Everyone else should get the e-visa before flying, since the e-visa portal is the official way to apply.
Do I need a permit for Song-Kol, Ala-Archa or Khan Tengri?
Song-Kol and Ala-Archa need no permit. Khan Tengri, Inylchek, Ak-Sai and other areas near the borders need a border-zone permit, which trekking agencies arrange.
What are the rules for Russians and Kazakhs?
Citizens of the EAEU (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia) can stay 90 days in each 180-day period without a visa. The 30-day cut does not apply to them.
Heading to Kyrgyzstan? Land with data that works
Maps, taxi apps and your e-visa all live on your phone. Install an eSIMPal Kyrgyzstan eSIM before you fly and you are online from the Manas arrivals hall.
Last checked October 15, 2026. Based on the official e-visa portal evisa.e-gov.kg (country regimes, visa types and fee calculator, checked 15 October 2026), UK government travel advice for Kyrgyzstan, Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 855 of 31 December 2025 and the Foreign Ministry statement of the same day as reported by economist.kg, 24.kg and VisasNews, and the September 2026 registration and entry rules (Resolutions No. 600 and No. 602) as reported by for.kg, Azattyk and economist.kg. Permit details come from Kyrgyz trekking agencies. Rules can change quickly, so check evisa.e-gov.kg before you travel.
