Kyrgyzstan Cuts Visa-Free Stay to 30 Days for Travellers From 55 Countries

If Kyrgyzstan has been on your bucket list for a slow, visa-free travel in Central Asia, here’s an important update worth paying close attention to.

On December 31, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan confirmed that new entry rules had officially come into force. The change reduces how long many travellers can stay without a visa and without registration.

What’s Changed for Visa-Free Travellers

Under Resolution No. 855, citizens of 55 countries can now enter Kyrgyzstan visa-free for a maximum of 30 days within any 60 days.

That clock starts ticking from the day you enter the country. Once those 30 days are used up, travellers must either leave Kyrgyzstan or switch to a legal stay option such as a visa, residence permit, or temporary authorisation.

Here’s the key point. This is a tighter rule than before.

Until the end of 2025, travellers from these countries could stay 60 days within 120 days without any paperwork. That flexibility is now gone.

Why Kyrgyzstan Made This Move

Officials say the change is part of a broader effort to streamline migration rules and reduce confusion around overstays and registration requirements.

The government also wants the rules to better reflect national migration policy priorities. In plain terms, shorter visa-free stays make monitoring and enforcement easier.

Countries Affected by the Shorter Visa-Free Stay

The revised 30-days-in-60 rule applies to nationals of 55 countries and territories, including much of Europe, parts of Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.

This includes travellers from countries such as:

• Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia
• Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria
• Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland, France
• Germany, Greece
• Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy
• Japan
• Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
• Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro
• Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway
• Poland, Portugal
• Romania, Russia (wait, no—see exceptions below)
• San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
• Thailand
• United Kingdom, United States
• Vatican
• Vietnam

If you previously relied on the longer 60-day window, it’s worth double-checking your travel dates now. Overstays can lead to fines or future entry issues.

Different Rules Still Apply to Some

Not everyone is affected by this change.

According to the foreign ministry, Resolution No. 855 also updates earlier migration rules under Decree No. 541 and keeps separate arrangements for certain groups.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• Eurasian Economic Union nationals from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia can stay up to 90 days within 180 days without residence formalities.
• Uzbek citizens may remain 60 days within 180 days, unless an international agreement says otherwise.
• Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Mongolia enjoy 90 days within 180 days visa-free.
• Gulf nationals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain can stay up to 180 days within a 360-day period without a visa.

The takeaway is simple. Kyrgyzstan’s visa policy is now more segmented, and your passport matters more than before.

Planning to Stay Longer? The E-Visa Option Still Works

If 30 days isn’t enough, Kyrgyzstan still offers a practical alternative.

Travellers can apply for an electronic visa (e-Visa), a system that has been in place since 2017. Applications are submitted online through the official government portal and cover tourist, business, and private visits.

For digital nomads, long-term travellers, or anyone planning extended time around Issyk-Kul or Bishkek, the e-Visa remains the cleanest legal path once visa-free days run out.

What This Means for Travellers

Kyrgyzstan remains welcoming, but the rules are now stricter and less forgiving.

If you’re planning a trip in 2026, count your days carefully, especially if you’re entering multiple times within a short period. Host parties and accommodation providers are also being urged to follow the updated rules closely.

A little planning now can save you a lot of hassle at the border later.