OVIR

OVIR is an abbreviation, which stands for the Visa and Registration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Don’t be surprised if You find that there is some confusion about the situation concerning registering with OVIR. The situation constantly changes.

Kyrgyz law currently states that foreign visitors, including tourists, must register with OVIR within three working days of their arrival in the country. (One regulation says you must register within five days … but we cannot any reference find anywhere that the old requirement has been repealed.) There are a few, very few, exceptions. For example, if you are a Head of State, then you don't need to worry about OVIR.

However, the government issued an order (No. 213, dated 15/04/03) which decrees that citizens of 28 countries in the country for upto one month no longer needed to register. These countries are :

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Korea, Leichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA

Citizens of other countries — (including CIS countries) are still required to register. We can arrange registration, where necessary, for our clients here in Bishkek, or in Naryn.

Visitors are supposed to register in the town where they enter the country. (For example, if they fly into Manas airport in Bishkek, then they should register in Bishkek.) If, however, they cannot do so for some reason then they can register in another town, but they should do so within the three working days. (For example, if they cross the Torugart pass coming from China on a Friday, stay overnight at Tash Rabat arriving in Naryn only late on Saturday, then they cannot register in OVIR — it will be closed. If they then travel onto Karakol by Issyk Kul, on Sunday, they can register in Karakol on Monday).

If you do need to register with OVIR then you can do so yourself — it is not very expensive, just time consuming and it can be confusing, especially if you don’t speak the language or complications arise. If you are lucky the process can take just about half an hour — but it could take all day, and even then you may encounter complications, which mean that you haven’t succeeded. We offer a service whereby we can help you to register for a small fee.

If you are late registering with OVIR, then you will have to pay a fine — which, in our experience can be 500 soms, 1000 soms or 1500 soms or can be waived altogether. The person or organisation inviting you can also be fined.

If you don’t register then you could have trouble if a policeman stops you and asks for your papers — it is one of the things he will check. Also, you may have trouble leaving the country. For example, the border authorities may fine you and you will not be allowed into Kazakhstan without a valid registration. If by any chance you do get in, you will be fined later (for example, at the airport).

If it looks like you are going to overstay your visa then it is sometimes possible to extend it at the Central OVIR, (near the main post office).