Money and Currency in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan's national currency is the Uzbek soum, ISO code UZS. For travelers, the practical rule is simple: cards work increasingly well in major cities, but cash in soums remains essential for bazaars, taxis, small cafes, tips, craft workshops, roadside stops and many regional services.
The money system has changed significantly since independence. Uzbekistan moved from the Soviet and Russian ruble period to temporary soum-coupons in 1993, then introduced the modern national soum on 1 July 1994. In the 2010s and 2020s, the currency system became more traveler-friendly: larger banknotes were issued, foreign exchange policy was liberalized, official exchange became easier to access, and banks expanded card and ATM services.
History, Development and Outlook of the Uzbek Soum
The soum is part of Uzbekistan's post-independence monetary history. Temporary soum-coupons were introduced in November 1993 while the country was moving away from the ruble zone. The modern soum replaced the coupon system in July 1994 at a conversion of 1 new soum to 1,000 soum-coupons.
In the first decades, inflation and exchange-rate restrictions made cash handling inconvenient. Smaller notes lost practical value, and travelers often saw large stacks of banknotes for ordinary payments. The Central Bank gradually introduced larger denominations: 5,000 soum in 2013, 10,000 and 50,000 soum in 2017, 100,000 soum in 2019, 2,000 and 20,000 soum in 2021, and 200,000 soum in 2022.
A major turning point was the 2017 foreign-exchange liberalization. Since then, official exchange has become more accessible, bank rates became closer to market reality, and the gap between official and informal exchange narrowed sharply. The outlook is for more digital payments, wider ATM coverage, stronger fraud controls, and continuing replacement of low-value notes by coins or larger denominations.
Current Banknotes and Coins
The Central Bank lists current and historical banknotes and coins. For travelers, the practical circulating denominations are:
- banknotes: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 200,000 soum;
- coins: 50, 100, 200 and 500 soum.
The smallest coins and old low-value notes are rarely useful in travel spending. The most convenient everyday notes are usually 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 soum. A 200,000 soum note is useful for hotels, drivers, longer transfers and larger restaurant bills, but smaller sellers may not always have change.
Currency Exchange at Airports, Hotels and Banks
The easiest foreign currency to exchange is usually the US dollar. Euros are also commonly exchangeable in banks and larger exchange offices. Some other currencies may be harder or impossible to exchange, and travelers should not assume that Canadian dollars, smaller regional currencies or damaged notes will be accepted.
You can exchange money:
- at international airports on arrival or departure;
- at commercial banks and official exchange offices;
- at some major hotels, usually through a bank-linked or licensed desk;
- through selected ATMs that support currency conversion or cash withdrawal in soums.
Airport exchange is useful for first cash after arrival. Bank exchange is usually better for larger amounts and receipts. Hotel exchange is convenient but may have limited hours, limits or less favorable conditions. Always check the buy and sell rate, commission, receipt and whether the desk accepts the exact banknotes you carry.
ATMs and Exchange Through ATMs
ATMs are common in Tashkent and major tourist cities, but service is less predictable in smaller towns and rural routes. Many machines dispense Uzbek soums; some may support foreign currency withdrawal, usually US dollars, or card-based conversion into soums. Availability depends on the bank, machine, card network, cash stock and temporary technical status.
Practical ATM rules:
- use ATMs inside banks, hotels, malls or guarded public buildings;
- cover the keypad and check the card slot for unusual attachments;
- keep bank SMS or app notifications enabled;
- withdraw before leaving major cities;
- carry backup cash in case a machine rejects your card;
- keep the receipt until the transaction is visible in your banking app.
International Card Payments
International Visa and Mastercard cards are increasingly accepted in Uzbekistan, especially in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, large hotels, better restaurants, supermarkets, airline offices, railway services and modern shops. Acceptance is still uneven outside the main cities and in small businesses.
Do not rely on a card alone. A card terminal may be offline, the bank may block an unusual foreign transaction, or a smaller merchant may accept only cash. For a smooth trip, use a mixed setup: one main card, one backup card, some US dollars or euros for exchange, and enough soums for daily spending.
Before paying in a restaurant, shop or hotel, ask whether international cards are accepted and whether the price is charged in soums. Avoid dynamic currency conversion if the terminal offers an unfavorable rate in your home currency.
Exchange Rules and Legal Requirements
Currency exchange should be done only through official channels: banks, licensed exchange offices, airport desks, authorized hotel desks or bank-operated ATMs. Exchanging money on the black market is illegal and risky.
Important rules for travelers:
- keep exchange receipts when changing larger amounts;
- bring clean, undamaged US dollar or euro notes;
- avoid torn, marked, stained or very old foreign banknotes;
- compare buy/sell rates before exchange;
- declare foreign currency on entry when required by customs rules;
- do not carry more cash out of the country than legally allowed or properly declared;
- use soums for ordinary local payments unless a formal hotel or tour contract specifies otherwise.
Uzbekistan's Central Bank publishes official exchange-rate information and maintains lists of bank branches, ATMs and exchange offices. Commercial banks may set their own customer buy/sell rates around market conditions. The posted Central Bank rate is a reference, not a guarantee that every exchange office will sell or buy at exactly that rate.
Reverse Exchange at the End of a Tour
Travelers often finish a tour with unused soums. The best approach is to plan the final cash balance during the last two days: use smaller notes for tips, cafes, bazaars and airport snacks, then exchange the remaining amount officially.
If you travel with a receiving tour company, ask in advance whether they can help arrange reverse exchange of local currency at the end of the tour. This should be handled through an official bank or licensed exchange channel, not as an informal street transaction. The tour company can help with timing, location, language and documents, especially before a late flight or early transfer.
Practical Money Checklist
- Bring clean US dollars or euros in moderate denominations.
- Exchange enough on arrival for taxi, snacks and first-day expenses.
- Keep small soum notes for bazaars, tips and short rides.
- Use cards in hotels and larger restaurants, but confirm first.
- Withdraw cash in major cities before regional travel.
- Keep receipts for larger exchanges and ATM withdrawals.
- Ask your tour operator about reverse exchange before the final day.