Uzbekistan
UZBUzbekistan is a landlocked Central Asian republic of roughly 37 million people, bordering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. Tashkent, the capital, is the region's largest city. The country liberalised sharply after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power in 2016: visas were relaxed, currency controls lifted, and foreign investment opened.
The som is convertible and the flat personal income tax rate stands at 12 percent. Uzbekistan does not permit dual citizenship, making naturalisation a consequential step. The passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 58 destinations. Cost of living is very low by international standards, and Tashkent offers a growing expat and digital-nomad scene.
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Uzbekistani Som (UZS)
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Tashkent
- Region
- asia
- Population
- 36,944,000
- Cost-of-living
- 28 /100
Passport Rank
#87
Visa-Free
58
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Uzbekistan passport has visa-free access to 58 destinations. See the full Uzbekistan passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Uzbekistan without a prior visa (92)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Uzbekistan
Current IRCC processing times for Uzbekistan nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 14 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 6 weeks |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Tashkent
- Currency
- Uzbekistani Som (UZS)
- Languages
- Uzbek, Russian
- Population
- 36,944,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Continental semi-arid; hot dry summers, cold winters
- English Proficiency Rank
- #97
- GDP per capita
- $3,968
- Life expectancy
- 72.53 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.88%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
28
Safety
72
Healthcare
49
Quality of Life
112
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tashkent | — | — | — | — | — |
| Samarkand | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bukhara | — | — | — | — | — |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Tashkent
Rainfall range: 2–60 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 15h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist eVisa
- Business
- Work
- Student
- Family
- Investor
- Tashkent IT-Park
- Authority
- Agency for External Migration
- Official Portal
- www.migration.gov.uz
- Phone
- +998-71-239-40-04
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 5
- Language Test
- Yes (Uzbek (Russian widely used))
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $50
- Processing
- ~12 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#87
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Currency exchange fraud with unofficial money changers offering above-market rates
- ⚠Taxi overcharging of tourists, particularly around Registan Square in Samarkand
- ⚠Counterfeit goods sold as authentic Uzbek handicrafts at bazaars
Examples of areas to avoid: Chilanzar district outskirts at night (Tashkent), Poorly lit areas around the old town market after dark (Bukhara)
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Uzbekistan, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Ministry of Justice (Uzbekistan)
MoJOversees the legal profession and the Chamber of Advocates in Uzbekistan. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Uzbekistan, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Residence Permit (long-term, vid na zhitelstvo)
ResidenceFor you if you want to live in Uzbekistan long term: the residence permit (vid na zhitelstvo) gives you a settled legal basis with rights close to those of a citizen, short of voting.
Residence through Qualifying Property Purchase
ResidenceFor you if you are buying qualifying property in Uzbekistan: this route ties a residence permit to a property purchase at or above a set value, which varies by region.
Work (sponsored)
Work Visa (E) with work-permit confirmation
Work (sponsored)For you if an Uzbekistani employer has offered you a job: the work visa is the standard employment route, used together with a work-permit confirmation that authorises you to work.
Family
Family Visa and Residence (reunification)
FamilyFor you if a close family member lives in Uzbekistan: this route lets you join them on the basis of family reunification and build towards longer-term residence.
Study
Student Visa and Residence
StudyFor you if you have a place to study in Uzbekistan: the student route lets you live there for your course, issued at the request of your educational institution.
Investor
Golden Visa (5-year residence for investment)
InvestorFor you if you want longer-term residence in Uzbekistan through a significant investment or contribution: the Golden Visa is a newer route offering a five-year residence permit under a simplified procedure.
Skilled migration
IT Visa (IT Park founders and specialists)
Skilled migrationFor you if you are an IT founder or specialist: Uzbekistan's IT Visa, linked to IT Park, lets you live and work in the country without needing a separate work permit - a real simplification over the standard work route.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified