Uzbekistan SIM Card for Tourists (2026): Prices, Registration & Where to Buy

Can tourists buy a SIM card in Uzbekistan?

Yes. Current operator information confirms that foreign visitors can register local mobile service in Uzbekistan, though eligibility depends on the specific tariff.

Passport details matter because the subscriber line needs to be registered correctly. Several operators distinguish visiting foreigners from foreign citizens who hold permanent residence in Uzbekistan, so a tariff advertised to foreigners should not automatically be treated as available to every non-Uzbek citizen.

Three current routes stand out:

• UZTELECOM Travel tariffs: specifically restricted to foreign tourists and sold through UZTELECOM sales/service offices and dealer points.

• Ucell prepaid service: selected tariffs can be opened using a foreign citizen's passport, while foreign citizens can now complete SIM self-registration through the Ucell app.

• Beeline Hello tariffs: designed for foreigners, tourists and guests, with permanent residents excluded from the special eligibility category.

Recent changes make Ucell particularly worth checking before relying on older travel guides. Ucell announced foreign-citizen SIM self-registration on June 12, 2026, allowing eligible visitors to register through its mobile application rather than automatically requiring an office visit.

Best local SIM options for tourists

UZTELECOM Travel 5: the clearest dedicated tourist plan

UZTELECOM Travel 5 is the most straightforward option here because the operator explicitly restricts the tariff to foreign tourists.

The current UZTELECOM Travel 5 tariff includes:

• 6,144 MB of mobile data

• 500 outgoing minutes within Uzbekistan

• 500 local SMS

• 5 international outgoing minutes per month

• 5 international SMS per month

• 55,000 UZS monthly subscription fee

• Sales through UZTELECOM service offices and dealer points

• No international roaming on the Travel tariff

• Special tariff validity for two months from activation

The published 55,000 UZS figure is the subscription fee, not proof that every tourist pays exactly 55,000 UZS at the counter. UZTELECOM does not clearly publish a separate SIM/starter or activation charge on the Travel 5 page, so confirm the complete first payment where you buy it.

Ucell Foydali 45: useful when 10 GB is enough

Ucell's archived Tourist plans should no longer appear as current recommendations. Foydali 45 is more useful in 2026 because the tariff information explicitly addresses new connections using a foreign citizen's passport.

Current Foydali 45 terms include:

• 45,000 UZS monthly fee

• 10 GB of standard internet

• 15 GB for Tas-IX

• 700 minutes within Uzbekistan

• 700 SMS within Uzbekistan

• New connection referenced with a foreign citizen's passport

• Foreign-citizen SIM self-registration available through the Ucell app

• Eligible SIMs sold through Assorti stores, minimarkets and listed retail partners

June 2026 changed the purchase process substantially. Details are available in Ucell's foreign-citizen self-registration announcement.

One price component remains unclear: the tariff page publishes the 45,000 UZS monthly charge but not a definitive physical SIM/starter-card fee for a foreign tourist. Treat 45,000 UZS as the published plan fee rather than a guaranteed all-in counter price.

Beeline Hello: built around foreign visitors

Beeline Hello is explicitly designed around qualifying foreign visitors rather than the general resident market.

Current Hello conditions include:

• Eligibility for foreign citizens, subject to Beeline's residency exclusions

• Permanent residents excluded from the special foreign-visitor category

• Up to three subscriber numbers connected to foreign passport

• Special tariff conditions during the first 90 days from initial SIM connection

• Separate mobile-data packages available on top of the tourist tariff

• 7 GB for seven days listed at 30,000 UZS

• 10 GB plus a 5 GB YouTube bonus for 30 days listed at 50,000 UZS

Current Beeline Hello terms for foreign visitors confirm that the monthly subscription fee is charged in full at activation, but the accessible English page does not reliably expose the current base Hello tariff price.

Those add-on prices should not be treated as the complete SIM purchase total. Beeline separately lists self-registration SIM cards at 12,000 UZS elsewhere, but that self-registration route is limited to qualifying Uzbekistan residents and should not be presented as the tourist buying path.

What will you actually pay for a local SIM?

Headline tariffs are easy to compare; complete first-day spending is less consistent.

Keep these components separate when buying:

• Plan fee: the monthly or fixed-period charge for your chosen tariff.

• SIM/starter fee: the physical card or starter kit price, when charged.

• Activation or service fee: count it when the operator or seller actually states.

• Initial top-up: extra balance may be required if it is separate from the tariff payment.

• Optional data package: especially relevant when a base tourist line needs an additional internet package.

• UZIMEI registration: potentially relevant when an imported phone remains connected to a local mobile network beyond the registration window.

No published fee should be silently treated as zero. Store staff can confirm the exact amount due before activation when an operator page publishes the tariff charge.

Airport or hotel convenience also does not automatically mean a higher price. Reliable nationwide evidence is not strong enough to claim that airport SIMs always cost more than city purchases, so compare the quoted total rather than assuming location is cheaper.

SIM registration and UZIMEI are different

Two registration issues are easy to mix up in Uzbekistan.

Subscriber registration connects the SIM or mobile number to the customer's identity. Passport-based registration is therefore part of buying a tourist SIM.

UZIMEI registration concerns the mobile device itself. It is not simply another name for registering the SIM.

Uzbekistan's official UZIMEI registration system says residents and non-residents using imported mobile devices must register eligible IMEI codes within 30 calendar days after the first network event. Access to local GSM services can be denied after that window until the device is registered.

Current individual fees are calculated from a base value of 412,000 UZS:

• Within 30 calendar days: 20% of the base value, or 82,400 UZS

• After 30 calendar days: 25% of the base value, or 103,000 UZS

Short visits may finish before that 30-day deadline, which changes the practical importance of the fee. Longer stays with a local SIM deserve more attention because UZIMEI can become a meaningful extra cost beside the mobile tariff itself.

The SIM used for IMEI registration must also be registered under the applicant's name. Non-residents should make sure the mobile line is recorded with non-resident status when purchasing from a local operator.

Where to buy a SIM card in Uzbekistan

Official sales channels are the safest choice when eligibility or registration needs explaining.

UZTELECOM

Travel tariffs are sold through:

• UZTELECOM sales and service offices

• Authorized dealer points

Using an official channel also gives staff a chance to confirm whether an additional SIM or activation charge applies before payment.

Ucell

Foreign visitors gained more flexibility in June 2026. Ucell currently identifies:

• Assorti stores and minimarkets

• Listed marketplaces and delivery services

• Ucell's mobile app for foreign-citizen self-registration after obtaining an eligible SIM

Visitors who prefer staff assistance can still consider operator service channels rather than relying on app registration.

Beeline

Beeline maintains sales offices and dealer locations for mobile service. Tourists should use a channel that can confirm Hello eligibility and register the line correctly against their foreign-passport status.

Beeline's separate self-registration option should not be assumed to apply to tourists because the current official rules restrict that process to qualifying Uzbekistan residents.

Broader connectivity choices, including local SIMs, eSIMs and Wi-Fi, are covered separately in internet options for Uzbekistan.

Local SIM or Roafly eSIM?

The choice comes down to whether local-number features or pre-trip convenience matter more.

• Choose a local SIM when you want an Uzbekistan mobile number, included domestic calls or SMS, or a larger local allowance for a longer stay.

• Choose Roafly when data is the priority and you want setup before travel, no physical SIM swap and no dependency on local store stock or opening hours.

• Keep your primary SIM in place with Roafly rather than replacing it with a local physical SIM.

• Use hotspot when needed: tethering is supported across the purchased Roafly data allowance.

• Do not assume extra network features: Roafly lists Beeline for Uzbekistan, but that does not guarantee coverage, speed, 5G availability or automatic switching between operators.

Roafly's Uzbekistan country plans are data-only. Visitors who specifically need an Uzbekistan number or included voice/SMS should therefore consider a suitable local operator instead.

Readers comparing travel-eSIM choices rather than local prepaid SIMs can use eSIM options for Uzbekistan, where that broader provider decision belongs.

Which option suits your trip?

Short trip with moderate data

Roafly is the simpler route when mobile data is the main requirement and you would rather arrive connected than spend time buying and registering a local SIM.

UZTELECOM Travel 5 also works naturally for short visits when roughly 6 GB is sufficient and local minutes or SMS are useful.

Around 10 GB plus local calls

Ucell Foydali 45 has a clear combination of 10 GB, 700 domestic minutes and 700 SMS for 45,000 UZS per month. Foreign-passport eligibility and the new self-registration route make it more practical for visitors than Ucell's archived Tourist plans.

Higher data needs

Beeline's Hello line can be paired with larger internet packages, including 20 GB, 30 GB and higher 30-day options. Check the active Hello base tariff and full first payment before choosing an add-on.

Local plans may offer better value when very large data allowances matter more than pre-trip convenience.

Stay longer than 30 days

UZIMEI becomes part of the decision an imported phone reaches the registration window on a local network. Budgeting for the SIM tariff can therefore understate the practical cost of a longer local-SIM stay.

Roafly avoids local physical-SIM registration and SIM swapping, while the suitability of any eSIM still depends on the traveler's phone and trip requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a passport to buy a tourist SIM in Uzbekistan?

Yes for the tourist-oriented offers covered here. UZTELECOM restricts Travel tariffs to foreign tourists, Ucell references foreign-passport connection, and Beeline limits Hello according to foreign-citizen status.

Keep the original passport available when using an operator store or when completing an identity-verification process.

Is Ucell Tourist SIM still available?

No. Ucell's former Tourist tariff line is archived and unavailable for new connection.

Current Ucell plans that explicitly support foreign-passport registration are more relevant in 2026.

Is Mobiuz Tourist SIM still available?

New subscriptions and upgrades to Mobiuz Tourist SIM stopped on February 19, 2026. Pages or travel guides showing the old tariff should not be treated as proof that it can still be activated.

Do tourists need to register their phone's IMEI?

UZIMEI rules give individuals a 30-calendar-day registration window after the relevant first network event. Failure to register after the deadline can stop access to local GSM services until registration is completed.

Short visits that end within the window differ from longer stays, so check the current UZIMEI rules if your trip approaches or exceeds 30 days.

Can I use an Uzbekistan tourist SIM in another country?

Do not assume so. UZTELECOM explicitly excludes international roaming from its Travel tariff, and Beeline says Hello is valid within Uzbekistan and is not available in international roaming.

Regional travel needs should therefore be checked separately rather than inferred from a domestic allowance.

Final recommendation

UZTELECOM Travel 5 is the clearest conventional tourist SIM when you want an operator tariff designed specifically for foreign visitors. Ucell Foydali 45 is compelling when 10 GB plus domestic calls and SMS fit the trip, especially now that foreign citizens can self-register eligible Ucell SIMs.

Beeline Hello remains a genuine tourist-focused option, but its current base tariff price needs confirming before purchase because the accessible official page does not publish enough information to calculate a reliable all-in first payment.

Roafly fits a different priority: getting data arranged before arrival without swapping a physical SIM or depending on local store availability. Local service remains the stronger choice when a local number, included voice/SMS or very large data allowance matters more.

Roafly publishes this guide and offers the travel-eSIM alternative discussed above.