Getting a SIM card on arrival in Uzbekistan

Yes. Visitors can buy a physical prepaid tourist SIM in Uzbekistan separately from an eSIM — official operator stores and airport counters sell them, typically with passport registration and on-the-spot activation. At Tashkent International Airport (TAS), operator/tourist-service counters are reported after passport control, in or near the baggage-claim/arrivals area, with Beeline, Ucell and Mobiuz historically represented there. Official city stores in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and other cities are the fallback if an airport counter is closed or more package options are wanted — avoid informal vendors, since a SIM that isn't properly passport-registered can later be disconnected. Beeline is a reliable option specifically for a physical tourist SIM; recent airport reporting describes Beeline's tourist offer at TAS as physical-SIM only. Ucell also has airport availability but may steer travellers toward an eSIM depending on the current kiosk offering. Mobiuz/Uzmobile is available through official shops and worth comparing for less urban routes. Bring the physical passport used for entry; stays under 30 days generally don't trigger IMEI-registration requirements, though longer stays can. On a dual-SIM phone, an existing eSIM can stay active alongside the Uzbek physical SIM for a local +998 number, data, calls and local OTPs.

Yes. Uzbekistan requires identity registration for a local physical SIM — as a visitor, present your original passport at an official Beeline, Ucell, Mobiuz or Uzmobile outlet/counter; staff normally copy or scan the identity page, register the SIM to you, and activate it immediately. Bring the original valid passport used for entry, your unlocked phone so staff can insert and test the SIM, and a payment method for the SIM and data bundle. For a normal tourist prepaid SIM you generally don't need local residence proof, a local bank account, or a local sponsor. SIM registration is a separate issue from IMEI registration: visitors on short trips can usually use their phone without further IMEI registration, but longer stays can trigger IMEI rules — keep the purchase/registration receipt regardless, and verify data, calls and inbound SMS before leaving the counter.

Yes. At Tashkent International Airport (TAS), mobile-operator booths sit in the landside arrivals hall after Customs — recent arrivals guidance places them on the right-hand side of the hall. The carriers consistently reported there are Beeline Uzbekistan and Ucell, both able to sell and activate a physical prepaid tourist SIM against a passport. Mobiuz is a major Uzbek operator and may be represented or sold through tourist/mobile vendors, but shouldn't be assumed to have a dedicated airport counter unless an actual branded booth is visible on arrival. Bring a passport and ask specifically for a physical prepaid tourist SIM; have staff complete registration, insert and test the SIM, and confirm data plus inbound SMS before leaving the booth.

No published, current operating hours could be confirmed for the Beeline/Ucell SIM counters at Tashkent International Airport — don't rely on them for a late-night or red-eye arrival. The arrivals hall does have SIM vendors, but the available evidence doesn't establish that their retail counters run 24/7, and a recent Uzbekistan SIM guide specifically warns that airport SIM desks may be closed at night. For a red-eye arrival, the safer plan is to keep an existing eSIM active for arrival, rideshare, hotel contact and maps; if a physical Uzbek line is needed immediately, arrange an airport meet-and-greet or ask a hotel/driver in advance whether they can provide a registered SIM (ensuring it's ultimately registered to your own passport), or simply buy from an official Beeline or Ucell city store the next morning, which avoids relying on uncertain airport-counter staffing and generally offers better plan support. In short: airport vendors are present, but late-arrival coverage is unclear rather than reliably 24/7.