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Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Company formation
- Uzbekistan
- Work permits and IT visas
Work permits and IT visas
Work permits and IT visas in Uzbekistan
A foreigner employed in Uzbekistan needs a work permit unless an exemption applies, and the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment decides within 15 working days. IT Park residents hire foreign staff without one, and their founders and staff can qualify for IT visas of up to three years. Sovera files for each person for USD 300; state fees are extra.
At a glance
Uzbekistan work permit and IT visa
A foreign national may work for an Uzbek employer only with a work permit, formally a confirmation of the right to work, unless an exemption applies. The employer files online and the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment decides within 15 working days; if it does not, the employer may notify it and proceed as if the permit were granted. State fees depend on the category: UZS 880,000 for a highly qualified specialist, UZS 1,320,000 for a qualified one and UZS 13,640,000 for most other workers. Foreign staff of IT Park residents need no permit, and those who meet IT Park’s USD 30,000 test can get an IT visa of up to three years.
- 15working days for the Ministry to decide on a permit
- 3 yearsthe longest permit, for qualified and highly qualified specialists, renewable
- 14exemptions from the permit rule, including foreign staff of IT Park residents
- 3working days to register a foreigner at the place of stay after arrival
- State fees and fines are set in base calculation amounts (BRV) of UZS 440,000 each from 1 September 2026 (Decree UP-115). US dollar figures use the Central Bank rate of UZS 11,963.16 on 15 October 2026 and are approximate.
- Sources: the Labour Code (articles 522 to 526), the Law on Employment of the Population (articles 107 to 110), Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 86 of 22 February 2022 (annex 20), the Law on registration (article 7) and the Code on Administrative Responsibility (articles 49-4 and 225). Checked on 15 October 2026.
Who needs one
Who needs a work permit in Uzbekistan?
Any foreigner employed by an Uzbek company or branch, including a foreign director, unless an exemption applies. A visa, or visa-free entry, does not replace the permit.
| Who qualifies | Permit term | State fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly qualified specialist | A degree from a university in the world top 1,000, five years’ experience in the speciality and a salary of at least USD 60,000 a year | Up to 3 years, renewable without limit | UZS 880,000, about USD 74 |
| Qualified specialist | Higher education, five years’ experience in the speciality and a salary of at least USD 30,000 a year | Up to 3 years, renewable without limit | UZS 1,320,000, about USD 110 |
| Doctor or jewellery worker | A medical specialist, or a worker in the jewellery industry | Up to 1 year, renewable | UZS 2,640,000, about USD 221 |
| Most other foreign workers | Workers outside the categories above and the special groups in the note below | Up to 1 year, renewable | UZS 13,640,000, about USD 1,140 |
- State fees are a review fee of 1 BRV plus an issuance fee of 1, 2, 5 or 30 BRV. Teachers hired by educational organisations, specialists placed by Small Business Support Centres and compatriots pay an issuance fee of 1 or 2 BRV; specialists of prestigious international brands pay no fees. Since 1 July 2026 foreign teachers need at least two years’ teaching experience.
- Categories: Law on Employment, article 109. Terms and fees: Resolution No. 86, annex 20, items 6, 7 and 11; Labour Code, article 526.
Does a foreign director need a work permit? Yes. The foreign director of an ordinary LLC needs one from the first day. Founders of foreign and joint enterprises, including their first heads, are exempt for their first three months, counted from the employment contract; after that they need a permit too, unless another exemption applies, such as an investment of 8,500 BRV, a residence permit or IT Park residency.
Exemptions
Who does not need a work permit in Uzbekistan?
The permit rules list 14 exemptions. These five matter most to foreign-owned businesses. Exempt workers still need a visa or visa-free entry, and registration.
- 01
Investors of 8,500 BRV
A foreigner who has invested at least 8,500 BRV in an Uzbek company, UZS 3.74 billion or about USD 312,600 today, may work in any position in that company. The amount is measured at the BRV on the day of the investment.
- 02
Staff of IT Park residents
An IT Park resident may hire foreign specialists without a permit. Its founders, directors and specialists who meet IT Park’s USD 30,000 test can get an IT visa, described below.
- 03
Founders and heads, for 3 months
Founders of foreign and joint enterprises, including their first heads, need no permit for their first three months, counted from the employment contract.
- 04
Residence-permit holders
A foreigner with an Uzbek residence permit needs no work permit. Highly qualified specialists and their families can obtain a residence permit for the term of the contract.
- 05
Remote staff and Vatandosh card holders
Employees who work for an Uzbek company from outside Uzbekistan need no permit. Since August 2025 nor do holders of the Vatandosh card for compatriots.
- We found no general exemption for citizens of CIS countries and no percentage quota on foreign staff. Instead each application faces a check that the employer’s need is real and that no local worker is available (Resolution No. 86, annex 20, items 9, 10 and 12).
- The Law on Employment (article 110) also exempts staff of accredited representative offices of foreign companies and people appointed by the President or the Cabinet of Ministers, which the permit rules do not list. Confirm before relying on it. Investors: Presidential Resolution PP-4008, paragraph 5.
Step by step
How to get a work permit in Uzbekistan
Six steps from the decision to hire to a registered employee. The employer files and pays; the Ministry decides within 15 working days.
- Step 1
Online application
Through the Litsenziya system or my.gov.uz, with an Uzbek e-signature.
- Step 2
Labour-market check
Within 5 working days, by the Ministry’s regional department.
- Step 3
15 working days
For a decision, or the employer may proceed as if granted.
- Step 4
Visa and registration
An E work visa for the permit term, then registration within 3 working days.
The six steps
- 1
Check the category
Decide whether the person needs a permit at all and, if so, in which category. The category sets the fee and the term, and the salary must genuinely meet the test: labour bodies and the Tax Committee check the tax paid on it every quarter.
- 2
Check the person’s status
A foreigner already in Uzbekistan must hold a valid visa and be registered. The employer may not apply for anyone whose visa has expired or who has gone more than three days without registration.
- 3
File and pay the review fee
The employer files online through the Litsenziya system or my.gov.uz, signed with an Uzbek electronic signature, and pays the review fee of 1 BRV, UZS 440,000.
- 4
The Ministry decides
Its regional department checks within 5 working days whether local workers are available, and it may ask other state bodies for opinions within 10 working days. It decides within 15 working days; if it does not, the employer notifies it and proceeds as if the permit were granted.
- 5
Pay the issuance fee
Within 30 days of the invoice, or the decision is cancelled. The permit is then issued electronically, with a QR code, in the employer’s online account.
- 6
Visa, registration and contract
The worker comes on an E work visa issued for the term of the permit, is registered within 3 working days of arrival and signs an employment contract no longer than the permit, recorded in the Single National Labour System.
Documents for a work permit
- A copy of the passport
- A draft employment contract stating the salary
- A photograph, 3 x 4 cm
- Documents confirming qualifications and experience
- For nationals who need a visa, a copy of the entry visa: E, A-2, B-1, B-2 or S-3
- The employer’s details, the position and the salary, entered in the online form
The rules list no medical or criminal-record certificate, and the Ministry may not ask for documents they do not list. They do not say whether foreign diplomas need an apostille or a translation.
What a work permit costs
- Our feeCategory check, documents, filing and follow-up with the Ministry, per personUSD 300
- Review feePaid to the state when the application is filedUZS 440,000
- Issuance fee1 BRV for a highly qualified specialist, 2 BRV for a qualified one, 30 BRV for most other workersUZS 440,000 to 13,200,000
- ExtensionApplied for before the permit expiresHalf the state fees
Our fee is fixed in writing before we start. State fees are paid to the state and are extra. The Ministry decides on every application.
- Missing documents get up to 30 working days to fix, and after a refusal the employer may file again without paying the review fee a second time. Procedure: Resolution No. 86, paragraphs 14 to 37 and annex 20, items 4 to 10.
IT visa
The IT visa for IT Park founders and staff
IT Park residents hire foreign staff without a work permit. Their founders, directors and specialists can get an IT visa if they meet IT Park’s thresholds: multiple-entry, for up to three years and extendable without leaving Uzbekistan.
| Applicant | What IT Park requires since March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Foreign IT investor | Finances an Uzbek IT company with at least USD 30,000, or holds a stake worth at least USD 30,000 |
| IT specialist | Has earned at least USD 30,000 in the last 12 months |
| Founder of an IT Park resident | Holds a stake worth at least USD 30,000 |
| Director or deputy of an IT Park resident | Has earned at least USD 30,000 in the last 12 months |
| Start-up founder or IT professor | Takes part in the Digital Startups programme, or holds a PhD or DSc in IT |
- 01
Apply at it-visa.uz
The applicant files online with the passports of the applicant and family, a photograph, a CV and the documents for the category, such as the employer’s letter, the contract and a diploma in Uzbek, Russian or English.
- 02
IT Park recommends
IT Park checks the file within 1 working day and its expert group decides within 20 days, 30 calendar days at most, sometimes after an interview. The recommendation is free and valid for up to three years.
- 03
The visa is issued
From abroad, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a consulate or airport; in Uzbekistan, through the migration authority, within 3 days. For visa-free nationals the recommendation itself serves as the IT visa.
- 04
Family and registration
The spouse, parents and children receive guest visas for the same term, and the recommendation entitles the holder and family to registration for as long as it is valid.
- The recommendation must be collected within three months. It is cancelled if the investment is withdrawn or the job ends; after a contract ends the holder has 30 days to sign with a new employer and must tell IT Park within 10 days.
- The work-permit exemption covers only staff of IT Park residents: an IT visa holder employed by any other company still needs a work permit. Sources: the IT recommendation regulation (Order No. 233-mh of 12 September 2022, as amended by Order No. 286-mh, registered on 6 March 2026) and Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 408, annex 1.
Not yet an IT Park resident? Residency comes first, and it is open only to companies registered in Uzbekistan.
IT Park residency in UzbekistanAfter arrival
Registration, extensions and leaving
Five duties run for as long as the foreign employee stays, and the employer answers for most of them.
- 01
Register within 3 working days
A hotel registers its guests through E-mehmon. For a flat, the host registers the foreigner at the migration unit, with the owner’s consent and, for a worker, the employer’s request. Citizens of visa-free CIS states are registered for up to six months at a time.
- 02
Report changes within a week
The employer tells the Ministry within one week of any change in the details filed, of the worker’s dismissal or of the company’s liquidation.
- 03
Extend in good time
Apply to extend a visa at least 10 days before it expires; the decision takes 15 working days. A permit is extended before it expires for half the fees, and the work goes on meanwhile.
- 04
Pay the salary you filed
Labour bodies and the Tax Committee check every quarter the tax paid on qualified and highly qualified specialists’ pay. A salary below the USD 30,000 or 60,000 test puts the permit at risk.
- 05
When the job ends
The employment contract ends on the day the permit expires or is cancelled. If a qualified or highly qualified specialist’s contract ends early, he or she has 30 working days to find a new employer while the permit and visa stay valid; the new employer applies for its own permit.
What goes wrong
Five ways a work permit goes wrong in Uzbekistan
Most problems come from treating visa-free entry as a right to work, or the founder’s exemption as permanent.
- 01
Working on a visit
Visa-free entry and the e-visa allow a visit, not a job. Anyone employed in Uzbekistan needs a permit or an exemption, whatever their passport.
- 02
Relying on the founder’s three months
The exemption for founders and first heads of foreign and joint enterprises ends three months after the employment contract. File for the permit before then.
- 03
Filing a salary you will not pay
The qualified and highly qualified categories rest on salaries of USD 30,000 and 60,000 a year, and the tax paid on them is checked every quarter.
- 04
Letting registration lapse
A foreigner unregistered for more than three days cannot be put forward for a permit, and the fines start at 5 BRV.
- 05
Arriving on an e-visa for an IT visa
The IT visa is issued inside Uzbekistan only to someone who entered on a non-electronic business, guest or compatriot visa. From an e-visa it has to be issued through a consulate abroad.
| Breach | Fine | In US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| A foreigner who is not registered or overstays | 5 BRV, UZS 2,200,000 | About USD 184 |
| The same breach lasting more than 10 days | 15 BRV, UZS 6,600,000 | About USD 552 |
| The same breach lasting more than 30 days | 25 BRV, UZS 11,000,000 | About USD 919 |
| An official who breaks the rules on hiring foreign workers | 10 to 25 BRV, or 25 to 50 BRV for a repeat within a year | About USD 368 to 1,839 |
- A foreigner who does not pay the fine is expelled with a one-year entry ban, and one who repeats the breach within a year with a three-year ban. Sources: Code on Administrative Responsibility, articles 29-1, 49-4 and 225, with the article 225 fines as amended from 12 October 2025; Law on registration, article 19.
Uzbekistan
More on hiring in Uzbekistan
Staff need an employer. If you have not registered yet, start with company registration in Uzbekistan.
Company registrationAn LLC for foreign founders, from USD 2,400.Learn more 
IT Park residencyNo profit tax, VAT or social tax until 2028.Learn more 
Company bank accountDocuments, currency rules and remote opening.Learn more 
Payroll taxes 2026Minimum wage, income tax and social tax.Learn more
Questions
Questions about work permits and IT visas
Short answers to what employers ask us before they hire from abroad.
Ask us something elseDo foreigners need a work permit in Uzbekistan?
Yes, as a rule. A foreigner may work for an Uzbek employer only with a work permit, formally a confirmation of the right to work, issued by the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment. Exemptions include investors of at least 8,500 BRV in the employer, residence-permit holders, foreign staff of IT Park residents, Vatandosh card holders and people working remotely from abroad.
How long does it take to get a work permit in Uzbekistan?
The Ministry decides within 15 working days of the application, and its regional department checks the labour market within 5 working days. If it misses the deadline, the employer may notify it and proceed as if the permit were granted once the issuance fee is paid. The work visa follows, issued for the term of the permit.
How much does a work permit cost in Uzbekistan?
State fees are a review fee of 1 BRV plus an issuance fee that depends on the category: UZS 880,000 in total for a highly qualified specialist, UZS 1,320,000 for a qualified specialist and UZS 13,640,000 for other workers, about USD 74, 110 and 1,140. Our fee for preparing and filing the application is USD 300 per person.
How do I get a work visa for Uzbekistan?
The employer first obtains the work permit; the Ministry decides within 15 working days. The worker then comes on an E work visa for the term of the permit and is registered within 3 working days of arrival. Visa-free nationals need no visa but, unless exempt, still need the permit. A visit or an e-visa does not allow work.
Who counts as a qualified or highly qualified specialist in Uzbekistan?
A qualified specialist has higher education, at least five years’ experience in the speciality and a salary of at least USD 30,000 a year. A highly qualified specialist has a degree from a university in the world top 1,000, at least five years’ experience and a salary of at least USD 60,000 a year. All three conditions must be met.
Does a foreign director need a work permit in Uzbekistan?
Yes. The foreign director of an ordinary LLC needs a permit from the first day. Founders of foreign and joint enterprises, including their first heads, need none for their first three months, counted from the employment contract; after that they need one too, unless another exemption applies, such as an investment of 8,500 BRV, a residence permit or IT Park residency.
Is there a quota on foreign workers in Uzbekistan?
No percentage quota appears in the Labour Code, the Law on Employment or the permit rules. Instead the Ministry checks, for each application, whether local workers are available and whether the number of foreigners matches the employer’s real needs.
What is the IT visa in Uzbekistan?
A multiple-entry visa of up to three years, extendable without leaving Uzbekistan, for foreign IT investors and specialists, founders, directors and deputies of IT Park residents, Digital Startups participants and IT professors with a PhD or DSc. It is issued on IT Park’s free recommendation, which since March 2026 requires an investment, a stake or 12 months’ income of at least USD 30,000.
Can citizens of CIS countries work in Uzbekistan without a permit?
Not as a rule. Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan and six other former Soviet states may enter without a visa, but visa-free entry does not remove the need for a work permit, and the permit rules contain no general exemption for CIS citizens.
How soon must a foreigner be registered in Uzbekistan?
Within 3 working days of arrival. Hotels register guests through E-mehmon; for private housing the host registers the foreigner at the migration unit. A breach costs the foreigner 5 BRV, rising to 15 and 25 BRV after 10 and 30 days, and not paying the fine leads to expulsion with an entry ban.
Can a foreigner work in Uzbekistan on an e-visa?
No. The e-visa allows a stay of up to 30 days, costs USD 20 to 50 and cannot be extended. It is not among the visas accepted with a work permit application, and an IT visa cannot be issued inside Uzbekistan to someone who entered on one.
Contact
Get a quote for your work permits
Tell us who is coming, for how long and to do what. We reply with the route for each person and one price, in writing, within 24 hours.
- 3 Eski Otchopar Lane, Oq-uy mahalla, Mirobod district, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- WhatsApp +44 7393 087523
- contact@soveraglobal.com