Last Change:
06/12/2025
Law on legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan
Year: 2021
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Asylum, Freedom of movement, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
Description
The Law on legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan defines the rights, freedoms, and obligations of foreign nationals and stateless persons residing or staying in Uzbekistan. It establishes their legal status, including entry, stay, transit, and exit procedures, as well as the conditions for employment, social protection, and access to legal remedies. The law ensures that they are equal before the law, subject to Uzbekistan’s legislation and international agreements. It also regulates state control over their movement and residence while outlining procedures for compliance and enforcement by relevant authorities.
Selected provisions
Foreign citizens and stateless persons who permanently reside in other countries but are present in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan are guaranteed the right to health protection in accordance with Uzbekistan's international treaties.
Stateless persons who permanently reside in Uzbekistan enjoy the right to health protection on an equal basis with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in other countries have the right to receive education in Uzbekistan in accordance with international treaties and the legislation of Uzbekistan.
Stateless persons permanently residing in Uzbekistan have equal rights with Uzbek citizens to receive education.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons have the right to submit applications, proposals, and complaints to the state authorities, organizations, and officials of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Appeals of Individuals and Legal Entities.”
State authorities, organizations, and their officials must ensure that foreign citizens and stateless persons can access documents, decisions, and other materials affecting their rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests—provided these materials do not contain state secrets or other legally protected confidential information and that access does not harm the rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of individuals and legal entities or the interests of society and the state.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons are required to pay the taxes and fees established by the Tax Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with national legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons may benefit from tax incentives provided by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Foreign citizens may enter the Republic of Uzbekistan with valid travel documents. For countries with which Uzbekistan has a visa regime, entry requires a valid Uzbek visa (including electronic visas), unless otherwise provided by Uzbek legislation or international agreements.
Stateless persons permanently residing in other countries may enter Uzbekistan with valid travel documents and a valid Uzbek entry visa, except in cases specified in the third part of this article. The entry procedure for stateless persons holding an identification card issued under paragraph six of Article 9 of this law is determined by legislation.
Visas for foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in other countries (except for electronic visas) are issued and granted by:
Consular offices of Uzbekistan and consular sections of Uzbek diplomatic missions (hereinafter referred to as "consular offices"). In the absence of these, visas may be issued by consular offices of other states with which Uzbekistan has bilateral agreements.
Departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan at international airports in Uzbekistan.
For all categories of foreign citizens, visas for entry into Uzbekistan are issued by consular offices and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs departments at Uzbek international airports.
Heads of Uzbek diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad may, in exceptional cases (such as emergencies, state or official visits, major political, economic, social, cultural, humanitarian, and sports events, or investment projects), independently decide on visa issuance for foreign citizens and stateless persons residing in other countries. They must notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan within 24 hours of such decisions.
Foreign citizens from countries eligible for electronic visas may obtain an Uzbek e-visa through the relevant electronic system without applying to consular offices or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Visa extensions for foreign citizens and stateless persons residing in other countries are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan in accordance with legislation.
Matters not covered by this law, including entry procedures, visa issuance timeframes, and validity, may be regulated by international agreements between Uzbekistan and other states on a reciprocal basis or by separate decisions of the President or the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons may leave the Republic of Uzbekistan using valid travel documents, provided they have valid exit visas from Uzbekistan unless otherwise stipulated by the legislation and international treaties of Uzbekistan.
A foreign citizen or stateless person may be allowed to leave Uzbekistan with an expired national passport, without a visa, and without registration at their place of temporary stay in the following cases:
The individual is being deported based on an administrative deportation order or has been subjected to criminal prosecution (with a deportation mark in their national passport).
The individual and their accompanying persons entered Uzbekistan for a specific period without a visa, with an electronic, tourist, driver, or transit visa, but were hospitalized due to an accident (injury or serious illness) and were unable to leave the country within the allowed timeframe (based on a medical institution’s certificate).
The individual, as a driver, entered Uzbekistan in a vehicle but was unable to leave within the designated period due to a road accident or vehicle damage (with supporting documents confirming the situation).
The individual suffered from a natural or man-made emergency, including household disasters (such as fire, collapse of residential or non-residential buildings, or vehicle fire) in Uzbekistan through no fault of their own (with a document confirming the circumstance).
Foreign citizens who are permanent residents of Uzbekistan may leave the country using their travel documents, provided they have a registration mark from the internal affairs authorities indicating their place of permanent residence.
The departure of a foreign citizen or stateless person from the Republic of Uzbekistan is not permitted if:
Their departure contradicts the interests of national security—until the circumstances preventing departure cease to exist;
They are bound by contractual or other obligations that prevent their departure for permanent residence abroad—until these obligations are fulfilled or terminated;
They are subject to an ongoing criminal investigation—until a procedural decision is made upon the completion of the case;
They have been convicted of a crime—until they have served their sentence or have been released from punishment;
They are evading obligations imposed by a court—until these obligations are fulfilled;
They have knowingly provided false information when obtaining travel documents—until the circumstances are clarified;
A civil lawsuit has been filed against them in court—until a court decision is rendered and enforced.
Authorities that issue decisions restricting departure from the Republic of Uzbekistan must inform foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as their relatives, of the grounds for such decisions.
The control of the stay and transit movement of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in other states in the Republic of Uzbekistan is carried out by the internal affairs authorities and other authorized bodies in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and other relevant organizations shall ensure the implementation, communication to executors, and explanation of the essence and significance of this Law to the population.