Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan has reminded Uzbek citizens residing in the United States that old-format passports are no longer valid.

According to the statement from the ministry, the use of non-biometric passports was discontinued in January 2020.

Citizens planning to return to Uzbekistan must contact the country’s diplomatic missions in the U.S. — either the Embassy or the Consulate General — in advance to obtain a return certificate. Without this document, entry into Uzbekistan is not possible.