Uzbekistan’s authorities are preparing a bill to increase the threshold for freely taking foreign cash out of the country to $10,000. The measure is part of a new customs strategy and aims to reduce the administrative burden on citizens and small businesses crossing the border.
Currently, travelers and entrepreneurs can take out an amount equivalent to 100 million soums without filling out a customs declaration. According to the FinTechRetail channel, the new limit will be fixed in dollars at $10,000. The document’s preparation is scheduled for the period up to the end of 2027 under the “Customs of New Uzbekistan — 2030” strategy.
The planned change is part of a broader reform package. The document covers not only capital movement but also physical property. Specifically, citizens will be allowed to temporarily import foreign-registered cars for personal use, provided they secure the payment of customs duties.
Historically, Uzbekistan maintained strict currency control rules. Until 2020, the undeclared cash export limit was $2,000, uzbekfintech notes. The subsequent threshold increase to 100 million soums was a notable step toward liberalization, but pegging it to the national currency created inconveniences due to exchange rate fluctuations. Fixing the limit in hard currency makes the rules more predictable.
The transition to the new limit cements the trend toward open currency operations and simplifies liquidity management for small businesses. Although the initiative concerns cash, it directly affects the financial ecosystem. Lowering barriers to cross-border fund movements typically stimulates business activity and shows the regulator’s willingness to trust market participants. For the fintech sector, this is an indirect signal: the state is gradually abandoning strict capital micromanagement, which could eventually simplify the launch of new products for international transfers and settlements.