Salam! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, scenic journeys in Central Asia.
The Embassy of Japan in Kyrgyzstan has announced a major change to visa-free stays.
Kyrgyzstan’s visa-free system, which until now allowed stays of “up to 60 days in total within any 120-day period,” will be shortened from 2026 to “up to 30 days in total within any 60-day period.”
This won’t cause much trouble for ordinary sightseeing trips, but if you’re planning a longer stay, a nomad-style stay or a multi-country trip, you’ll need to adjust how you plan a little.
*Note: This article is based on an email the embassy sent to Japanese residents of Kyrgyzstan on January 12, 2026. Rules may change, so always check the latest official information from the government and embassy.
What’s Changing in Kyrgyzstan’s Visa-Free Stay Rules?
First, let’s sort out just the points that are changing.
Source: Email from the Embassy of Japan in Kyrgyzstan / Details: PDF
Old system (until the end of 2025)
- Visa-free stays of up to 60 days in total within a 120-day period
- Japan was included as one of the eligible countries
New system (from January 1, 2026)
- Visa-free stays of up to 30 days in total within a 60-day period
- 55 countries, including Japan, are eligible
In numbers, it has gone from “up to 60 days within a 120-day window” to “up to 30 days within a 60-day window,” so there is much less leeway in how long you can stay.
How the rules apply (from the embassy email)
- If you entered by December 31, 2025 and are still in the country
→ The old system applies: you may stay up to 60 days in total within a 120-day period (including days from last year) - If you entered before the change, left once, and re-entered in 2026 or later
→ The new system applies: you may stay up to 30 days in total within a 60-day period (days from last year are not counted) - If you entered on or after January 1, 2026
→ The new system applies: you may stay up to 30 days in total within a 60-day period
Who Will Be Affected, and How Much?
The impact varies a lot depending on your travel style.
Short-term travelers (sightseeing trips of up to about 30 days)
- Those who usually take 1–2 week trips to Kyrgyzstan
- Guests joining tours during Golden Week or summer vacation
For this group, there is practically no impact.
As long as your trip is within 30 days, you can stay visa-free just as before.
Central Asia multi-country trips (Kyrgyzstan + neighboring countries)
- Those combining Kyrgyzstan with Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan
- Those who want to cross several countries over 2–3 weeks
The multi-country trip itself can easily be planned within 30 days.
However, it’s a good idea to keep closer track than before of things like:
- Your entry and exit dates
- How many days you stay in which country
Keeping an eye on these numbers will give you peace of mind.
Study abroad, digital nomads and mid- to long-term stays
- Those who want to stay for several months for language study
- Those who want to set up a longer-term base as a nomad worker
- Those who want to come back for repeat stays in different seasons
For this group, the impact of this change will be significant.
It will be harder to rely on visa-free stays alone, and the following will become essential:
- Considering a visa that suits your purpose
- Planning the timing of your entries and exits
Plan with these in mind from the start.
Business travelers
- Those who travel back and forth frequently on business
- Those staying mid- to long-term on a project basis
Depending on how often you travel and how long you stay, there will be more cases that visa-free stays can’t fully cover.
It’s safer to plan your schedule on the assumption that you’ll get a visa.
What If You Want to Stay More Than 30 Days?
You’ll need to apply for an electronic visa (e-Visa).
Official website:
On the website, you
- choose the purpose of your stay (tourism, business, study, etc.)
- choose the period you want
and complete the procedure online.
If you want to stay a little longer for sightseeing or live there for several months to study, consider the type and length of visa and apply for the one you need.
Why Are the Rules Being Reviewed Now?
The email from the Embassy of Japan in Kyrgyzstan does not explain the reason for this change.
However, in recent years many countries have been reviewing systems such as:
- Tourist visas
- Work visas
- Student visas
- Visa-free stay systems
This trend has been continuing around the world.
As part of this trend, Kyrgyzstan appears to be reorganizing its system to:
- Clarifying how long visitors can stay without a visa
- Asking long-term and business visitors to use a visa that matches their purpose
That seems a reasonable way to understand it.
Rather than debating the politics or whether it’s good or bad, I think the realistic approach is: “The rules have changed, so let’s adjust how we plan our trips accordingly.”
Advice for Anyone Planning to Travel to Kyrgyzstan
Hearing about a rule change may make some people uneasy.
However, for regular sightseeing trips, almost nothing changes.
- 10-day to 2-week horse riding tours
- Trips of about a week combining lakes, highlands and homestays
- Two-country trips combined with Uzbekistan
Trips like these can be planned just as before.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Have a rough idea of whether your stay will be within 30 days
- If it will be longer than 30 days, think about a visa early
- For multi-country trips, work out how many nights you’ll spend in each country
Just doing this will greatly reduce the risk of panicking once you’re there.
Always Check the Latest Official Government and Embassy Information
The information on this page is based on what was known at the time of writing.
Travel requirements, visas, entry restrictions, quarantine rules and so on can change without notice at the discretion of each government.
Therefore, for the latest and most accurate information, please be sure to check the official government websites and the official pages of embassies/consulates yourself.
We cannot take responsibility for this information, so we strongly recommend checking thoroughly before you travel.
[Contact]
Embassy of Japan in the Kyrgyz Republic (Consular Section)
Address: 35/1 Tashkent Street, Bishkek
35/1, Tashkent Str., Bishkek (city), 720014, Kyrgyz Republicc
TEL: (0312) 375 515 / 516
FAX: (0312) 375 518
With ASHU TRAVEL, you can plan your trip together with us based on the latest local situation
ASHU TRAVEL is a local travel company run by Kyrgyz people.
We work with government offices, guides and drivers every day and run our tours in line with the latest conditions in Central Asia.
- Japanese- or English-speaking guide accompanies you (less worry about language)
- Meals, accommodation and transfers included, for an easy itinerary even on your first trip to Kyrgyzstan
- Focus on cultural experiences such as nomad homestays and horse riding, not just tourist sights
- We suggest comfortable schedules that adapt to changes in rules and conditions
If you’re unsure what kind of trip suits you, please feel free to contact us!
Related Articles 
