With a personal watercraft in Uzbekistan everything works the other way round compared with land vehicles. The customs part is simple: zero duty and no recycling fee. The operating rules, however, became noticeably stricter in 2025: only craft with a speed limiter and GPS equipment connected to the national monitoring system are allowed on the water. That is why a Sea-Doo for Uzbekistan should be chosen not by peak power but by how it can legally be used on a specific body of water.
Customs: what is payable on import
A personal watercraft falls under heading 8903, “yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports” — this is how US Customs classified the Sea-Doo in ruling NY 806763. We confirm the six-digit subheading under the current HS 2022 edition in the estimate, but it does not affect the rate: under Annex 1 to PP-3818 as amended by PP-58 of 11 February 2026, duty across the whole of heading 8903 is 0%. There is no recycling fee on vessels: heading 8903 is not on the list in CM Resolution No. 347. There is no excise either.
What remains is 12% VAT and the customs clearance fee. The general logic of Uzbek import charges is covered in detail in our article on importing a car from Canada.
| Payment | 2026 rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HS / national tariff code | 8903 — vessels for pleasure or sports; HS 2022 subheading confirmed in the estimate | CBP NY 806763 |
| Customs duty | 0% | PP-3818 as amended by PP-58 |
| Non-MFN surcharge | 5% where the rate is up to 10%; applicability checked by country of origin | ZRU-1097, Art. 300¹ Customs Code |
| VAT | 12% | Tax Code, Art. 258 |
| Excise | not levied | Tax Code, Art. 289³ |
| Recycling fee | not levied on 8903 | CM Resolution No. 347 |
| Customs clearance fee | 1–25 BCA on a customs-value scale | CM Resolution No. 55 |
| Environmental compensation (annual, after import) | 10 BCA per year; electric craft exempt | CM Resolution No. 540 |
On the surcharge: since 28 February 2026, Article 300¹ of the Customs Code has imposed a surcharge on goods from countries without most-favoured-nation (MFN) treatment; where the rate is up to 10% it is 5%. Neither Canada nor Mexico is on the list of MFN countries on norma.uz, but the list is dated 2015 and we have not confirmed that it is current in 2026. We check the country of origin of the specific craft from the manufacturer's documents and settle the surcharge question in the estimate before purchase.
Rules since 1 May 2025: three conditions for going on the water
Cabinet Resolution No. 540 of 4 September 2024 (as amended on 4 July 2026) changed the rules for all natural and artificial bodies of water. Since 1 May 2025 they are open only to motorised and electric craft that simultaneously:
- are fitted with an automatic speed-reduction device;
- have GPS equipment installed;
- are connected to the national GPS monitoring system.
The only exemption from the speed-limiter requirement is for motorboats with a maximum speed of up to 40 km/h.
The key takeaway for a buyer: the watercraft has to be prepared for Uzbek requirements before shipping. Whether a given model's standard electronics meet the requirement for an automatic speed-reduction device, and which GPS equipment the national monitoring system accepts, is something we confirm with the Small Vessels Inspectorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations before purchase. It is the same inspectorate that registers personal watercraft.
Speed limits and choosing a model
Resolution No. 540 sets speed limits on the water: 40 km/h in general, 20 km/h near moorings and settlements, and 5 km/h near beaches and public recreation areas. Under these limits the power of the racing versions cannot be used on Uzbek water, so it makes more sense to spend on what you will actually use at the permitted speed:
- Stability and comfort for two or three people — the touring line: the Sea-Doo GTX on the ST3 hull with a Rotax 1630 ACE engine.
- Fishing and family outings — the FishPro Scout with a 13.5-gallon cooler and rod holders.
- An easy entry point — the Spark and Spark Trixx with a Rotax 900 ACE engine.
The differences between the lines are covered in our Sea-Doo buying guide, and every model is in the personal watercraft catalogue.
Charvak: allowed, but only with the equipment
From 10 July 2020, motor vessels were completely banned on the Charvak Reservoir. A new version of paragraph 3(zh) of Cabinet Resolution No. 433 of 10 July 2020, introduced by Resolution No. 540, now applies. On the Chorvoq reservoir all motorised watercraft are banned except three groups:
- non-motorised craft;
- craft of government agencies performing special tasks;
- motorised craft with an automatic speed limiter, GPS equipment and a connection to the unified national GPS monitoring system.
For a private owner this means a personal watercraft is allowed on Charvak only when fully equipped. A craft without a limiter or without a connection to the system will not go out on the reservoir, however expensive or powerful it is.
Environmental compensation, inspection and registration
Since 1 January 2025, owners of motorboats and personal watercraft pay an annual environmental compensation of 10 BCA; electric craft are exempt. The annual technical inspection of a motor vessel is carried out only after this payment is confirmed, so it belongs in the ownership budget from day one.
A personal watercraft — a “water motorcycle” — is classed as a small vessel. Registration is handled by the regional departments of the Ministry of Emergency Situations: the owner receives a small-vessel ticket and a hull number, and the craft may only be operated by a holder of a small-vessel operator's certificate. These rules were set by Ministry orders from 2018; we check their current 2026 version when preparing the documents. The responsible body is the Small Vessels Inspectorate of the Ministry (“Kichik hajmli kemalar inspeksiyasi”), which is also named in Resolution No. 540.
Resolution No. 540 explicitly states its aim as the accelerated development of tourism services on bodies of water, and under its plan the Small Vessels Inspectorate itself is purchasing personal watercraft. The rules are strict, but they are designed to keep the water open for recreation.
How we prepare a delivery
We source personal watercraft only from the Canadian market — new or clean used, no US auctions. For Uzbekistan one step is added to the usual process: before purchase we confirm the requirements for the speed limiter and GPS equipment, so that after clearance the craft can be registered and put on the water. Price on request; we prepare the estimate with VAT, the clearance fee and the surcharge, if it applies, in advance. Send a request with the model or a description of where and how you plan to ride.
Rates and rules are given as of October 2026, based on Annex 1 to PP-3818 as amended by PP-58 of 11.02.2026, CM Resolution No. 540 as amended on 04.07.2026 and CM Resolution No. 433. Rates, the MFN country list, the BCA and equipment requirements may change; the final calculation is made on the clearance date.