PRACTICE AREA  ·  REGULATORY LICENSING  ·  UZBEKISTAN

Regulatory Licensing in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has digitalised its licensing since 2017 and introduced combined business registration from 1 January 2026. Bond Stone advises foreign investors and international companies on obtaining, maintaining, and appealing regulatory licences across all major sectors in Uzbekistan — financial services, pharmaceuticals, energy and subsoil, and construction.

Uzbekistan Legal Guide 2026 →  ·  All legal services in Uzbekistan →

2026 Licensing Reform — Key Changes

Presidential Decree No. UP-214 of 14 November 2025. From 1 January 2026: combined services on registration under the "Start a Business in 15 Minutes" principle, and automatic updates to licences when basic company data changes. From 1 March 2026: officials are no longer held administratively liable where the legal entity is fined for licensing offences, and a voluntary preliminary assessment is available in the "License" system. The Decree's stated aims are to cut administrative costs by up to UZS 90 billion and save up to 15 days.

Source: Presidential Decree No. UP-214 dated 14 November 2025 — lex.uz/docs/-7840557

Licensing by Sector

→ Financial Services — CBU Licensing  ·  Banks, payment organisations, microfinance (CBU); insurance and securities (NAPP). Islamic banking licence under Law No. ZRU-1126.
→ Pharmaceutical Licensing  ·  Product registration, GMP, pharmaceutical licences, ASL Belgisi serialisation.
→ Energy, Subsoil & PSA Licensing  ·  Subsoil use permits, production-sharing agreements (PSAs), electricity and renewable energy licences.
→ Construction Licensing  ·  Design, bridges and tunnels, high-risk facilities. ADB/World Bank, FIDIC, foreign contractor registration.

General Licensing Framework

Legal basis

Uzbekistan's licensing regime is governed by the Law on Licensing, Permitting and Notification Procedures (No. ZRU-701, 14 July 2021, as amended) and sector-specific legislation. Applications run through the "License" information system. Current requirements: lex.uz

Unified digital platform — from 1 January 2026

The "Start a Business in 15 Minutes" system integrates registration, licensing, and permit applications into a single digital window. Company data changes automatically propagate to all associated licences and permits via interagency data exchange. Payments processed via single QR code. A voluntary preliminary assessment is available before application, within 20 days.

Foreign companies — equal treatment

Foreign investments receive treatment no less favourable than domestic ones (Law No. ZRU-598, Art. 46), but sector rules differ: subsoil permits, for example, are open only to Uzbek citizens, residents and legal entities, so foreign investors usually apply through a local company. Check the sector law.

Bond Stone's licensing track record in Uzbekistan

Bond Stone has advised on regulatory licensing in Uzbekistan across pharmaceutical import and distribution, energy and construction EPC projects, and financial services matters — including multiple international pharmaceutical, EPC, and ADB/World Bank-funded infrastructure mandates. Assadullah Muradov leads the Uzbekistan practice from Tashkent, with 15+ years of experience navigating CBU, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Energy licensing processes.

Experience

Pharma · Import Licence · Ministry of Health · Ongoing

Pharmaceutical Import Licensing — Multiple International Companies

Long-term regulatory advisory for multiple international pharmaceutical companies — product registration in the State Register of Medicines, import licences, GMP compliance documentation, distribution agreement structuring under Uzbek civil law, and ASL Belgisi serialisation compliance.

Construction · EPC · Licensing · Branch Registration

Chinese EPC Contractors — Power Plant Branch & Licence

Full-cycle establishment advisory for multiple Chinese EPC contractors — Ministry of Justice branch registration, CBU currency account opening, Ministry of Construction licence application, tax registration, and expatriate work permit compliance for power generation and industrial projects.

CDM · Energy · Ministry of Ecology · Regulatory

Clean Development Mechanism — Kyoto Protocol Registration

Advising on Clean Development Mechanism project registration under the Kyoto Protocol in Uzbekistan — project methodology approval, CDM contract structuring, and mandatory filing with the designated national authority under the Ministry of Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

ADB · World Bank · FIDIC · Procurement · Multiple

ADB / World Bank — Procurement & Contract Compliance

Drafting and reviewing works and consulting contracts for multiple ADB and World Bank-funded infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan — FIDIC Red Book and Yellow Book conditions, multilateral procurement regulation compliance, environmental safeguard documentation, and local regulatory licensing requirements.

PSA · Oil & Gas · Ministry of Energy · Uzbekneftegaz

PSA Structuring — Oil & Gas Entry

Advising an international energy company on production-sharing agreement structuring for an Uzbek oil and gas block — PSA term analysis, cost recovery provisions, taxation treatment under the PSA regime, profit repatriation mechanics, and Ministry of Energy engagement alongside Uzbekneftegaz.

Regulatory Reform · Digital Platform · January 2026

November 2025 Reform — Digital Licensing Platform Advisory

Advising foreign investors on transition to Uzbekistan's unified digital licensing platform ("Start a Business in 15 Minutes") operational from 1 January 2026 — pre-licensing audit procedures, automatic licence update mechanics, and revised administrative penalty framework following the Presidential Decree of 14 November 2025.

Why Bond Stone for Uzbekistan Licensing

Discuss your Uzbekistan licensing matter

Contact Bond Stone for a confidential discussion about your Uzbekistan regulatory licensing requirements.

info@bondstonelaw.com
+7 (701) 729 76 72 — Almaty
+998 95 172 9678 — Tashkent

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