Photography in Uzbekistan: What You Can and Cannot Shoot

Uzbekistan is one of the most photogenic countries in Central Asia: blue domes, carved doors, and majolica ornaments practically beg to be photographed. The good news is that you can shoot almost everything and almost everywhere here. But a few rules are worth knowing in advance to avoid an awkward situation and not ruin your day over a couple of unfamiliar details.

What you can shoot freely

Monuments, streets, bazaars, city views — shoot as much as you like, no permissions required. The one point of common courtesy: if a specific person ends up in your frame, especially an elderly woman or someone in traditional dress, it is politer to ask permission first. In most cases Uzbeks are understanding about this and happy to pose — it is more of a cultural norm than a legal requirement.

Tashkent metro: allowed, but not always

The Tashkent metro is one of the city's main architectural attractions, and photography there has been permitted for some time now. But that was not always the case: until 1 June 2018, photography in the metro was officially banned — the stations were classified as a strategic facility and a nuclear-attack shelter. From June 2018 the ban was lifted, and tourists now freely photograph the mosaics and vaulted ceilings with phones or cameras.

A couple of points worth keeping in mind:

• Photographing service and technical areas of stations is still not permitted.
• If you plan to shoot with professional equipment — a tripod or stabiliser — a separate permit may be required during peak hours. At other times, handheld shooting is fine.

Photography in museums may be a paid extra

One point that is often overlooked: in many museums in Uzbekistan, photography — even on a phone — is charged separately from the entrance ticket. The amount is usually small, but the rule applies almost everywhere: from small local museums to major exhibitions in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara.

The easiest thing is to ask at the ticket desk when you buy your ticket — find out whether photography is included in the price or charged separately. It takes five seconds and saves an awkward moment if a hall attendant suddenly asks to see your photography receipt after you have already shot half the room.

What you cannot shoot

Military facilities, border zones, restricted and strategically significant industrial sites — these are simply off limits for photography, and that is a direct legal restriction, not just a question of courtesy. In practice this rarely becomes an issue for tourists — such sites do not generally look like something you would want to photograph — but it is worth bearing in mind, especially if your route passes near a border.

Drones in Uzbekistan: check before you travel

This is a topic where you genuinely need to pay attention if you plan to shoot aerial footage.

Under current regulations, importing, storing, and operating a drone in Uzbekistan without registration is prohibited — violations carry administrative and, in some cases, criminal liability. To fly legally, the drone must be officially registered with the Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Transport — with a full set of documents for the device (passport or compliance certificate, proof of ownership, etc.). This applies even to a small tourist drone weighing a few hundred grams — registration is mandatory regardless of size if the device has a camera.

The only exception is a "toy model": mass under 250 g, no autonomous flight or navigation functions, and no photo or video equipment. In other words, most familiar tourist camera drones — even very compact ones — do not qualify for this exemption: since they have a camera, they are legally classified as a full unmanned aircraft, not a toy.

A separate procedure exists for foreign film crews shooting promotional content about Uzbekistan's tourism potential: their permit is arranged through the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, which in turn applies to the Civil Aviation Agency.

The bottom line is simple: if you are bringing a drone, do not expect to sort out a permit on the spot in a single day. Look into the registration procedure in advance — before your trip — or be prepared that aerial footage may simply not be an option.

The full text of the regulation is available on the National Legislation Database portal: lex.uz/docs/6284990.

In brief

• Streets, bazaars, monuments — shoot freely; with people, ask permission out of courtesy.
• Photography is allowed in the metro, except in service areas; with professional equipment during peak hours, check separately.
• Photography in museums is often a paid extra — ask at the ticket desk.
• Military and border facilities — no photography.
• Drones — only after official registration; trying to sort it out at the border is too late.