Moving to Uzbekistan and Doing Business for Citizens of Arab Countries: Visa-Exempt Entry, Investor Residence Permit, Work Permit and Bank Account (2026)

As of October 2026, citizens of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan can enter Uzbekistan without a visa for up to 30 days, while citizens of Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon can obtain a 30-day electronic visa. To live and run a business for longer, you need an investor visa or a multiple-entry founder visa of up to 3 years, or a residence permit: either a payment of $250,000 (+$150,000 per family member) for 5 years, or a real estate purchase — and the second route is open only to citizens of the UAE, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon. In every case a foreigner must register at the place of stay within 3 working days of entry, and may work in their own company without a permit only under one of the exemptions.

Key points

• 30 days without a visa — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, plus foreigners holding a UAE residence visa with at least 90 days of validity left.
• 30-day e-visa — Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon; processing takes 2 working days.
• Entry without a visa does not allow you to work: after 30 days you must leave or switch to a visa.
• Residence permit through real estate — only for the 111 countries in Annex 6 to Decree UP-5611; Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan are not on the list.
• The $250,000 residence permit under clause 26 of Decree UP-67 is open to citizens of any country.
• A founder-director may work without a permit for 3 months; an investor of at least 8,500 BCV (3.74 billion UZS) may work in their own company with no time limit.
• Tax residency starts after 183 days in 12 months and does not depend on a residence permit.

Entry: no visa, e-visa or consular visa

Visa-exempt countries are listed in Annex 5 to Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 408; Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan were added by Resolution No. 662 of 21.10.2025. E-visa countries are listed in Annex 4 to Decree UP-5611 as amended on 05.06.2023.

Conditions of the visa exemption (note 3): a passport of any category valid for at least 6 months; the 30 days run from the border crossing, after which you must leave; a longer stay requires one of the entry visas. Stateless persons living in these countries do not benefit from the visa exemption.

The e-visa is issued at e-visa.gov.uz for single, double or multiple entry for 30 days; processing takes two working days, not counting the day of application (clause 12 of Resolution No. 408). The fee is paid on the portal when applying. An Egyptian or Moroccan with a UAE residence visa that has at least 90 days of validity left enters under the rules for UAE citizens by showing the original visa at the border.

Visas for a long stay

Non-electronic visa categories are listed in Annex 4 to Resolution No. 408. Five matter for a business owner.

An enterprise with foreign investment is a company in which foreign investment makes up at least 15% of the charter capital (Law on Investments). Clause 6(d) sets no amount for the founder visa, but it does not let you work without a permit — the investor visa with a contribution of 8,500 BCV or more does.

Under clause 6² of Resolution No. 408, the investor and IT visas are issued to those who arrived on a business, guest or compatriot visa in non-electronic form. Citizens of visa-exempt countries receive an IT Park directorate recommendation instead of the IT visa, and it counts as one (same clause). Whether clause 6² applies to those who entered without a visa should be clarified with the migration authority before the trip. Another route is to obtain the investor visa before entry: the enterprise files a petition with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the visa is issued at a consulate or on arrival at an international airport (clause 13¹). The investor visa requires a petition from the enterprise and a certificate of the investment — for stakes from the Ministry of Justice or its regional offices, for shares from the Central Securities Depository.

Residence permit: which routes are open to citizens of Arab countries

Residence permits are issued by the migration and citizenship units of the internal affairs bodies on a personal application (Art. 17 of Law ZRU-1074).

Real estate thresholds (clause 5 of UP-5611 as amended by UP-101 of 08.04.2022): Tashkent city and Tashkent region — from $300,000; Samarkand, Bukhara, Namangan, Andijan, Fergana and Khorezm regions — from $200,000; Karakalpakstan and other regions — from $100,000.

Clause 26 of UP-67 has applied since 1 June 2025, but by our check as of October 2026 no procedure for the payment has been published — who receives it, what documents are filed, how long review takes. Ask the migration authority for the procedure in writing on the date of filing and do not pay intermediaries. All routes are covered in our article on residence permits for investors.

The bottom line for citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan: a residence permit through an apartment is not available; what remains is the UP-67 payment, HQS status and, without a residence permit, the investor visa or founder visa.

Registration at the place of stay

A foreigner must register no later than three working days after entry, unless an international treaty or legislation sets another period (Art. 7 of ZRU-1074). A hotel registers its guest itself through E-mehmon. For a rented apartment, registration is done at the migration unit with the owner's participation; the social housing norm applies: the local khokimiyat sets it, but not below 16 sq m of total area per person (Art. 20). Children under 16 are listed in the parent's application (Art. 19).

• Moving from a hotel to an apartment requires a new registration: you must live at the registered address.
• A visa extension means extending the registration within 3 working days (clause 31 of the Regulation, Resolution No. 593).
• Investors carrying out an investment project, the foreign specialists they hire and their families (spouses and minor children) are registered for the term of the visa with the mark "INVESTOR" and may live in other regions without a separate registration (clause 22 of the Regulation).
• A residence permit holder who changes address registers within 10 working days (Art. 7 of ZRU-1074).

The fine for a foreigner under Art. 225 of the Code of Administrative Offences: 5 BCV (2,200,000 UZS) up to 10 days, 15 BCV (6,600,000 UZS) up to 30 days, 25 BCV (11,000,000 UZS) over 30 days; non-payment leads to expulsion with a one-year entry ban. More in our article on registering foreigners.

Working in your own company: confirmation and exemptions

A foreigner works on the basis of a confirmation of the right to work issued by the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction (Annex 20 to Resolution No. 86); the standard review time is 15 working days. Fees under the version in force since 1 July 2026: 1 BCV to review the application plus an issuance fee of 1 BCV for a highly qualified specialist, 2 BCV for a qualified specialist and 30 BCV for others. With the BCV at 440,000 UZS, the totals are 880,000, 1,320,000 and 13,640,000 UZS. Working without a confirmation is prohibited (Art. 523 of the Labour Code), and the employer's official faces 10–25 BCV (Art. 49⁴ of the Code of Administrative Offences).

No confirmation is needed for:

• residence permit holders;
• foreign specialists of IT Park residents;
• an investor who put at least 8,500 BCV into shares, stakes or the creation of a foreign enterprise — in any position in that organisation (PP-4008, clause 5(a));
• founders of foreign and joint enterprises, including chief executives — for 3 months from the date of the employment contract;
• those working online from abroad.

By the literal wording of Annex 20, the founders' exemption does not cover a hired director who is not a founder — file at once. A founder-director should file in the second month of the exemption. The route for each employee is on the page work permit for foreigners; categories and fees are covered in our article on hiring a foreign employee.

Company: an LLC with 100% foreign ownership

An LLC may be 100% owned by a foreigner and have a single participant (Art. 8 of Law ZRU-1137, in force since 22 July 2026); the sole participant cannot be another single-member company unless it is a joint-stock company with one shareholder. Once the full package reaches the state system, registration takes no more than 30 minutes (Regulation on State Registration). The time goes on the corporate founder's documents: translation plus an apostille or consular legalisation, depending on the issuing country.

A foreign stake of 15% or more makes the company an enterprise with foreign investment and opens the founder visa, while a contribution of 8,500 BCV or more to the capital (not a loan) opens the investor visa and work without a confirmation. More on the pages company registration and foreign investment.

Bank account: personal and corporate

The procedure is set by Central Bank Instruction reg. No. 3420 as amended on 11.11.2025.

Personal account of a non-resident (clause 17):

• An application, a passport (original or electronic form) and a document confirming your stay in Uzbekistan — in practice, the registration certificate.
• The bank may request proof of registration for at least 3 months and documents on work, study or sources of income.
• Deposit accounts are opened on the basis of a personal identification number (PINFL); if you do not have one, ask the bank how to obtain it.
• A participant of the special tax regime also submits the decision granting the regime.
• If you already have an account at the bank, further accounts there can be opened remotely.
• The deadline for a non-resident is no later than 15 days after all documents are submitted (clause 6).

Company account. An LLC registered in Uzbekistan is a resident: the account is opened no later than the next working day after the documents are submitted (clause 6). Remote opening at registration is available to companies with resident founders and to IT Park residents with a non-resident founder (clause 8); otherwise specimen signatures are given in the presence of a bank employee (clause 30), so the director should plan a visit.

The bank must identify the owners and controlling persons of a corporate client and refuse to open the account if due diligence cannot be carried out (Law No. 660-II, Arts. 7 and 15). Prepare the ownership chain up to individuals and proof of the source of funds — especially for a large capital contribution.

Buying an apartment and land

• New build without a residence permit. Since 1 May 2022, foreign citizens may buy new properties and properties under construction (without land) from a Cabinet list without a residence permit: in Tashkent, Tashkent region and Samarkand — from $150,000 during construction and from $180,000 for a completed property; in other regions — from $70,000 and $85,000 (clause 3 of Decree UP-101). Such a purchase is not a basis for registration at the place of residence or a residence permit (as amended by UP-109 of 09.06.2026).
• Buying for a residence permit works only for citizens of the Annex 6 countries and at the clause 5 UP-5611 thresholds.
• Holders of an IT Park recommendation (the basis for the IT visa) and their families buy housing without the minimum price set for foreigners and without a residence permit (Regulation reg. No. 3387).
• Land is available to foreigners only on lease (Land Code).
• Ownership arises upon state registration (ZRU-803), not upon payment.

We check other scenarios, such as a resale apartment without a residence permit, for the specific property before any deposit — see real estate and land in Uzbekistan.

Family

• Payment-based residence permit: $150,000 each for a spouse, child and each parent; a family of four pays $250,000 + 3 × $150,000 = $700,000.
• Investor visa: the spouse, parents and children receive a guest visa for the same term, extendable without leaving (Annex 5 to UP-5611).
• The founder visa of up to 3 years is also issued to family members (clause 6(d) of Resolution No. 408).
• HQS: a residence permit for them and their family, on request, for the term of the employment contract.
• A spouse who wants to work needs their own legal basis: the head of family's exemptions do not transfer.

Tax residency: the 183-day rule

Under Art. 30 of the Tax Code, a resident is an individual who was physically present in Uzbekistan for more than 183 calendar days in total in any 12 consecutive months beginning or ending in the tax period. A person is also a resident if they stayed fewer than 183 days but longer than in any other country; on application, residency can be recognised early by presenting a long-term employment contract. Trips abroad for treatment or study of less than 6 months do not interrupt the period, and days are counted by border stamps.

A residence permit does not create tax residency. A non-resident pays personal income tax only on Uzbek-source income; a resident pays on worldwide income. Uzbekistan's double tax treaties include those with the UAE and Qatar (since 12.02.2024), which resolve dual residency; dividends to a non-resident LLC participant are taxed at 10% or the treaty rate if lower (Arts. 353 and 382 of the Tax Code; details). The special regime under Decree UP-180 of 04.10.2025 exempts foreign income in exchange for a $50,000 levy and gives registration at the place of stay for up to 5 years, but neither a residence permit nor a visa (details).

Document, authority, timeline

Common mistakes

• Working during the 30 days without a visa. Visa exemption does not give the right to work.
• A Gulf citizen buying an apartment for a residence permit. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan are not in Annex 6.
• A UP-101 new build bought for a residence permit. The decree expressly excludes it as a basis.
• A contribution made as a loan. The investor visa requires shares, stakes or the creation of an enterprise.
• A hired director treated as a founder. They need a confirmation from day one.
• Moving without a new registration. The foreigner is fined, and documents for their confirmation will not be accepted.
• Going to the bank without a file. Without information on the owners and the source of funds, the bank may refuse.

How Pactum helps

Pactum is a law firm in Tashkent (PACTUM-AI CA LLC). For business owners from Arab countries we:

• choose the route: entry without a visa, founder visa, investor visa or residence permit;
• register an LLC with a foreign founder — from 1,500,000 UZS;
• obtain a confirmation of the right to work — from 4,000,000 UZS, a work or business visa — from 4,000,000 UZS, a residence permit — from 4,000,000 UZS;
• prepare the file for the bank and support account opening;
• check the apartment, seller and developer before any deposit.

State fees are paid separately; the final price is set after we review the task. Start with a consultation with a lawyer: 60 minutes, 300,000 UZS, credited toward the service. Contact: +998 99 050 50 70, Telegram @pactumcrmbot, info@pactum.uz. We work in English, Russian and Uzbek.

FAQ

How long can a UAE or Saudi citizen stay in Uzbekistan without a visa?

Up to 30 days from the border crossing (Annex 5 to Resolution No. 408). A longer stay requires an entry visa; the passport must be valid for at least 6 months.

Does an Egyptian citizen need a visa?

Yes, but an electronic one: it is issued at e-visa.gov.uz for 30 days within 2 working days. An Egyptian with a UAE residence visa that has at least 90 days of validity left enters without a visa for 30 days.

Can a Qatari or Kuwaiti citizen get a residence permit by buying an apartment?

No, these countries are not in Annex 6 to UP-5611. The available options are the $250,000 residence permit under UP-67, a residence permit as an HQS, or long-stay visas — the investor visa and the founder visa.

Does the director of my own company need a work permit?

A founder-director does after 3 months from the employment contract, unless they hold a residence permit or a contribution of 8,500 BCV or more to that company. A hired director needs one at once.

Can I open a personal bank account after entering without a visa?

Yes: you need a passport and a document confirming your stay, usually the registration certificate. The bank may request registration of at least 3 months and proof of income; it has up to 15 days after a full package to open the account.

Will a residence permit make me an Uzbek tax resident?

Not automatically: the number of days decides — more than 183 in 12 months, or fewer but longer than in any other country (Art. 30 of the Tax Code).

Sources

• Cabinet Resolution No. 408: Annexes 4 and 5, clauses 6, 6², 12, 13¹
• Cabinet Resolution No. 662 of 21.10.2025
• Decree UP-5611: clause 5, Annexes 4–6
• Decree UP-67, clause 26 (in Uzbek)
• Decree UP-101, clause 3
• Law ZRU-1074, Arts. 7, 17, 19, 20
• Regulation on registration of foreigners, Resolution No. 593
• Annex 20 to Resolution No. 86
• Resolution PP-4008
• Regulation on IT Park recommendations, reg. No. 3387
• Labour Code and Code of Administrative Offences
• Decree UP-115 — BCV of 440,000 UZS
• Tax Code, Art. 30
• Central Bank Instruction reg. No. 3420 on bank accounts
• Law No. 660-II, Arts. 7 and 15
• Law ZRU-1137, Art. 8 and Regulation on State Registration
• Law on Investments and Investment Activity
• Land Code and ZRU-803
• e-visa.gov.uz portal