UZBEKISTAN · IMMIGRATION
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 МЧЖ and АО formations, investor visas, and business visa support for market entry.
Unlike Kazakhstan — where the Director of a 100% foreign-owned TOO may work without a separate work permit — Uzbekistan requires a foreign Director of a Uzbek МЧЖ or АО to obtain a work permit before assuming the role. This is one of the most frequently overlooked compliance requirements for foreign investors entering Uzbekistan, and Bond Stone manages it as a standard component of every company formation mandate.
Governed by: Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On External Labour Migration” No. ZRU-390 dated 23 February 2015 (as amended); Labour Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Law No. ZRU-598 dated 25 December 2019 “On Investments and Investment Activity.” Authority: lex.uz
Director Work Permit — МЧЖ & АО
Critical rule — work permit before appointment
A foreign national must obtain a work permit from the Agency for External Labour Migration before being appointed as Director (executive body) of a Uzbek company. 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. 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 (BIN/ИНН)
✓ State duty payment receipt
Key Parameters
Processing time: 15–30 business days
Validity: Up to 1 year (renewable)
Renewal: Initiated before expiry with updated documents
Foreign staff quota: Standard employment quota rules apply to non-director foreign staff
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 |
| Investor Visa | For foreign nationals investing in Uzbekistan. Issued on the basis of confirmed investment activity. Grants extended stay rights and facilitates work permit processing. | 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. | Co-terminus with 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 company is registered and the Director is authorised to act from the earliest possible date. 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.
Why Bond Stone
✦ Work permit + company formation on one mandate — no gap in Director authority
✦ Business visa invitation letter support from Bond Stone Legal Group МЧЖ, 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 97 415 04 80
Request a Confidential Consultation
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