Last updated: 6/14/22
*** On June 10, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rescinded the Order titled “Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving in the United States from any Foreign Country.” This means that as of June 12, 2022, air passengers are no longer required to show a negative viral COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, before boarding a flight to the U.S.
Under CDC’s Amended Order, noncitizen nonimmigrants are still required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States. For more information, see CDC’s Amended Order: Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Exemptions to this requirement will be considered on an extremely limited basis. Please visit the CDC webpages for more information about exemptions.
*** As of March 1, 2022, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic’s “Green Corridor” policy allowing foreign citizens to remain in the Kyrgyz Republic without requiring an exit visa or extension of registration has expired. U.S. citizens whose visas or registration are expired will now be required to pay a fine and obtain an exit visa prior to departure. The Visa Service Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closed for in-person visitors, but open for phone or email consultation at +996 -312-66-30-70, +996-703-42-88-65 (WhatsApp), or e-visa@mfa.gov.kg
Country-Specific Information:
- As of April 20, 2022, the Department of State has issued a Level 1 Travel Advisory: Exercise Normal Precautions for Kyrgyzstan. Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 (Low) COVID-19 Travel Notice for Kyrgyzstan.
- Medical services have struggled to provide adequate care for serious cases of COVID-19. The healthcare system in the Kyrgyz Republic faces limitations and adequate care may not be available everywhere. United States citizens in the Kyrgyz Republic should continue to follow CDC recommendations for preventing infection.
COVID-19 Testing
- Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in the Kyrgyz Republic? Yes
- If so, are test results reliably available within 72 hours? Yes.
- 24-hour COVID testing is available at Manas International Airport. Other local labs may have extended operating hours but do not provide 24-hour service. Travelers should plan accordingly to ensure that they will have current test results prior to boarding their flight(s).
- The Ministry of Health provides free testing only for symptomatic patients. For those requiring a negative PCR test for travel, state laboratories in Bishkek and Osh can provide tests for a fee (approximately $20), depending on testing capacity. Private COVID-19 testing is also available for a fee ($30) at Bonetsky Laboratory or Aqualab. Please contact the laboratory directly to inquire about their testing capacity. All four labs deliver results via email and include a QR-code to verify the authenticity of the test results.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
- Has the government of the Kyrgyz Republic approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? Yes
- Are vaccines available in the Kyrgyz Republic for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes
- Which vaccines are available in the Kyrgyz Republic? Sinopharm, SinoVac, QazVac, Sputnik V, Sputnik Light, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna
- According to Kyrgyz Republic authorities, vaccines are now available at government clinics for all those who wish to receive them. An online vaccination appointment can be made here: https://vc.emed.gov.kg
- Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
- The U.S. government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
- United States citizen travelers may enter the country via international airports in Bishkek, Osh, and Issyk Kul.
- United States citizen travelers may also enter the country from Kazakhstan via land border crossing points. However, travel across international land borders with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China is not permitted at this time.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No
- Travelers no longer need to provide a negative PCR test result or a certificate of vaccination to be permitted entry into the Kyrgyz Republic, however:
- Entry and exit requirements are subject to change with little or no notice. U.S. Embassy Bishkek recommends that U.S. citizens traveling to or from the Kyrgyz Republic carry both their original vaccine card showing proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel.
- Please note that some countries may have PCR testing requirements even for transit. Therefore, travelers should check PCR testing requirements for all the stops along their transit route into or out of the Kyrgyz Republic. This information may be available on the COVID-19 web pages of U.S Embassies or Consulates in countries through which you will transit.
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
- U.S. citizens may be admitted to Kyrgyzstan without a visa. However, those who overstay the 60-day visa-free period may be required to pay an administrative fine of 10,000 Kyrgyz som (KGS) to receive an exit visa prior to departure. This process is time consuming and cannot be completed at the airport at the time of departure. If you plan to spend more than 60 days in the Kyrgyz Republic, obtain a visa from the Kyrgyz Embassy to the United States before you travel, upon your arrival at the airport in Bishkek or apply for visa locally by submitting application online at: https://www.evisa.e-gov.kg/.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? No
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes
- Limited commercial flights continue with flights operating to Dubai, Istanbul, and Moscow. Please monitor the individual airlines’ websites or contact the airlines directly for any questions about ticket availability. Flights are frequently cancelled with little notice.
- Is public transportation operating? Yes
- Bishkek city public transport operates on weekdays and weekends from 7:00 – 23:00.
- Masks are required on public transit.
Fines for Non-Compliance: N/A
Consular Operations:
- Appointments are available for all American Citizen Services on a weekly basis. Click here to make or cancel an appointment for passport services, consular report of birth abroad, or notarial services.
- U.S. Embassy Bishkek has resumed routine visa services for nonimmigrant visas. We are currently offering as many appointments as local conditions, resources, and safety considerations allow. To make an appointment for a nonimmigrant visa interview, please use our online NIV Appointment System.
- Emergency appointments for non-citizen applicants are available on a very limited basis and must be scheduled via email at ConsularBishkek@state.gov
- Immigrant and diversity visa applicants should wait to be notified of the scheduling of an interview. For more information about immigrant and diversity visas, please visit our immigrant visa page.
Local Resources:
Other Links:
- COVID-19 Traveler Information page on travel.state.gov
- CDC page on COVID-19 for travelers
- Country Information page for the Kyrgyz Republic on travel.state.gov
- Travel Advisory page for the Kyrgyz Republic on travel.state.gov
