Starting June 1, Uzbekistan will introduce a simplified procedure for granting five-year residence permits.
The new residence permit option for foreigners has been added through Presidential Decree PF-67, signed by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on April 18, in order to boost business, improve trade and industry policies and support exports, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to the decree signed last month, from June 1, 2025, foreign nationals and stateless persons will receive a residence permit in Uzbekistan for five years in an easier way, in exchange for payments in the amount of $250,000, and $150,000 for each family member (spouse, child, and parents).
Former Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov, through a post on his LinkedIn account, said that since 2019, Uzbekistan has been providing citizens of 109 countries with a residence permit upon purchase of real estate, as reported by Astana Times.
At the time of launch, housing prices ranged from $100,000 to $400,000, with the highest prices registered in Tashkent and the Tashkent region.
In 2022, the President of Uzbekistan reduced the price of real estate in the capital, which was required for obtaining a residence permit, to $300,000. In addition, internationals were permitted to buy real estate worth $70,000 in the regions and $150,000 in the capital without requiring a residence permit.
Legislative Process
Before the program officially opens on June 1, the Cabinet of Ministers as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs are required to issue an implementing resolution specifying several details:
- Treasury and bank account number
- Final request form requirements and processing timeline
- Renewal rules after the initial five-year period
- Anti-money laundering document requirements
- Clarification on whether time under this permit counts towards the five-year residence requirement for naturalization
Golden Visa Programs, which offer residency to wealthy nationals in exchange for financial investments, provided applicants meet the needed requirements, are offered in several countries worldwide.
The main goal of the countries offering these programs is to help the further growth of the economy, in spite of the fact that these schemes are often being accused of their involvement in irregular affairs such as tax evasion, corruption and money laundering.
In spite of the fact that the new program, which will officially start on June 1, does not officially use the name Golden Visa, the new initiative is similar to the Residency-by-Investment schemes offered in several countries worldwide.