Visa and Mastercard in Uzbekistan: Why Uzcard and HUMO Dominate the Payment Landscape
While Visa and Mastercard are present in Uzbekistan, their domestic acceptance is limited. Instead, local payment systems Uzcard and HUMO power the majority of retail, salary, and pension transactions. With growing co-badging initiatives, Uzbek banks are bridging local networks with global payment systems, allowing users to transact seamlessly both at home and abroad.
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Domestic Systems: Uzcard & HUMO
Uzbekistan’s cashless payment ecosystem is built on two national payment networks:
- Uzcard, established in 2004
- HUMO, launched in 2019
These two systems handle the majority of salary, pension, and retail transactions in the country. They are interoperable, meaning:
- Uzcard cards can often be used at HUMO ATMs and POS terminals, and vice versa.
- Most merchants accept both networks.
Because of their extensive reach, Uzcard and HUMO are the default choice for local businesses and consumers.
Visa and Mastercard in Uzbekistan
International card networks Visa and Mastercard are not excluded from the Uzbek market, but their acceptance is limited compared to local systems.
- They are primarily used for international transactions, since most issued Visa and Mastercard cards are linked to foreign currency (USD or EUR).
- They are generally accepted at:
- International hotels
- Major restaurants and malls
- Airports and tourist hubs (Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara)
- Small shops, local cafés, and regional businesses typically do not accept them.
Most ATMs in major cities can dispense Uzbek sums with foreign cards, but fees are higher than for Uzcard or HUMO users.
Co-Badging and Integration
Uzbek banks have started issuing co-badged cards that combine local and international networks, for example:
- Uzcard–Mastercard
- HUMO–Visa
- Uzcard–UPI
These cards use the local network domestically, ensuring lower fees and full merchant acceptance, and switch to Visa/Mastercard abroad, enabling global access.
This hybrid approach:
- Expands international payment options for Uzbek citizens
- Strengthens local payment infrastructure
- Keeps transactions compliant with national regulations
In Short
Visa and Mastercard do work in Uzbekistan, but Uzcard and HUMO dominate the domestic payment landscape.
- For everyday transactions → locals use Uzcard or HUMO.
- For international travel → co-badged cards or Visa/Mastercard are the preferred choice.
As Uzbekistan modernizes its financial infrastructure, co-badging is becoming a key tool to bridge the local and global payment ecosystems.
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