UZBEKISTAN · BUSINESS FORMATION
Work Permit & Visa for Foreign Investors in Uzbekistan
Bond Stone manages work permits and visa support for foreign directors, executives, and investors operating in Uzbekistan — including Director work permits for LLC and JSC formations, investor visas, and business visa support for market entry.
Unlike Kazakhstan — where the Director of a 100% foreign-owned LLP may work without a separate work permit — Uzbekistan requires a foreign Director of an Uzbek LLC or JSC to obtain a work permit before assuming the role. Plan it alongside company formation.
Governed by: Law on Employment No. ZRU-642 of 20 October 2020, Chapter 17; Labour Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Law No. ZRU-798), Chapter 30; Law No. ZRU-692 of 4 June 2021 on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons; Law No. ZRU-598 dated 25 December 2019 "On Investments and Investment Activity." Authority: lex.uz
Uzbekistan — Market Context 2025
7.7%
Real GDP growth in 2025
USD 43B
Investment implemented in 2025, of which USD 38.2B FDI — up 24% year on year
22,000+
Foreign-invested enterprises operating in Uzbekistan at 1 October 2026
Director Work Permit — LLC & JSC
Work permit before appointment
A foreign national must obtain a work permit from the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers before being appointed as Director (executive body) of an Uzbek company. The law calls this permit a confirmation of the right to work, and the company may sign the Director's employment contract only once it is in place (Law on Employment, Art. 107; Labour Code, Art. 523). Appointment without a valid work permit is an administrative violation — the Director cannot legally execute documents, open bank accounts, or represent the company before state authorities until the permit is in hand. The Law on LLCs sets no residency requirement for a director (Article 42 of Law No. ZRU-1137): the permit is a separate requirement. Residence permit holders are outside the procedure, as are founders of foreign and joint enterprises arriving for up to three months (Law on Employment, Art. 110). Supervisory board members (non-executive) and participants (shareholders) do not require a work permit for their roles as such.
Work Permit — Document Package
✓ Employment contract between the company and the foreign Director
✓ Copy of the foreign Director's passport (apostilled)
✓ Education or professional qualification documents (apostilled)
✓ Company registration certificate (Tax Identification Number)
✓ State duty payment receipt
Key Parameters
Processing time: state review up to 15 working days from the application, then 5 working days to pay the fee (Law on Employment, Art. 111); allow extra time for document preparation
Validity: Term of the employment contract, up to 1 year; up to 3 years for qualified and highly qualified specialists; renewable without limit (Art. 113)
Renewal: Employer applies 20 working days before expiry (Art. 112)
Other foreign staff: No statutory annual quota; each application is tested against the domestic workforce and the employer's actual need (Art. 111)
Business & Investor Visas
| Visa Type | Purpose | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| B-3 Business Visa | For business meetings, market research, and commercial negotiations. Does not authorise employment or business registration. | Up to 30 days per entry; multiple-entry available |
| Investment Visa | For foreign nationals investing in Uzbekistan. Issued on the basis of confirmed investment activity. Holders may work in Uzbekistan (Law No. ZRU-598, Art. 47). | Up to 1 year; renewable |
| Work Visa (Labour Migration) | Issued after work permit is obtained. Required for foreign Directors and other employed foreign nationals working in Uzbekistan. Applied for at the Uzbek embassy/consulate in the home country or converted in-country from certain visa categories. | Coterminous with the work permit (up to 1 year) |
| e-Visa | Uzbekistan's electronic visa allows citizens of 90+ countries to obtain a tourist or business entry visa online without visiting an embassy. Processing: 3 business days. | Up to 30 days |
Bond Stone — Work Permit & Formation on One Mandate
Bond Stone manages the Director work permit application in parallel with company formation — so the Director can act as early as the timetable allows. For investors who require a business visa for initial market entry before the company is registered, Bond Stone also arranges visa invitation letter support from our Tashkent office.
Investing in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan — Investment Framework
- 100% foreign ownership permitted in most sectors — no mandatory local partner requirement
- Enterprise with Foreign Investment (EFI) status — Law on Investments and Investment Activity No. ZRU-598 dated 25 December 2019
- 34 Special Economic Zones, 400 Small Industrial Zones (1 July 2026) — tax and customs duty exemptions for qualifying residents
- Active privatisation programme — 29 SOEs being privatised in 2025–2026
- Bilateral investment treaties — treaty arbitration access
Uzbekistan — International Financial Centre (Not Yet Operating)
Tashkent International Financial Centre (TIFC)
Created by Presidential Decree No. UP-48 of 30 March 2026 and Constitutional Law No. ZRU-1158 of 13 July 2026 (in force 25 July 2026), but not yet operating: activation requires TIFC Acts and presidential confirmation. The regime provides for TIFC Acts backed by the common law of England and Wales, an independent TFSA regulator, the Tashkent International Commercial Court, and tax exemptions for qualifying participants, most of them until 1 January 2076. Bond Stone is monitoring the TIFC Acts and will advise on TIFC entry once the Centre is activated.
Tashkent International Financial Centre — full guide →Why Bond Stone
- Work permit and company formation on one mandate
- Business visa invitation letter support from Bond Stone Legal Group LLC, Tashkent
- Annual renewal tracking — work permit renewal initiated before expiry as part of compliance retainer
- Ranked Legal 500 EMEA and IFLR1000 — Tashkent office led by Assadullah Muradov, Managing Director
Primary legal authority: lex.uz · Bond Stone Uzbekistan office: Tashkent
Start your work permit process in Uzbekistan
Contact Bond Stone's Tashkent team for a confidential discussion about work permits, visas, and director appointments in Uzbekistan.
info@bondstonelaw.com
+998 95 172 9678
Request a Confidential Consultation Company Formation in Uzbekistan → ← Business Formation Uzbekistan