Work permits in Uzbekistan
Information prepared by consultants of WPK
What is a work permit?
The legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan distinguishes between two main documents: permit and confirmation.
Permit is a document that gives the employer the right to attract foreign labor force (FLM) to the Republic of Uzbekistan. Permits are issued by the Agency for External Labor Migration.
Confirmation is a document that gives a foreign citizen the right to carry out labor activities in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Important to note.
It is prohibited for foreigners to work without confirmation, just as it is prohibited to employ foreign workers without permission. However, the legislation also provides categories of persons for whose employment permission is not required.
Permit is a document that gives the employer the right to attract foreign labor force (FLM) to the Republic of Uzbekistan. Permits are issued by the Agency for External Labor Migration.
Confirmation is a document that gives a foreign citizen the right to carry out labor activities in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Important to note.
It is prohibited for foreigners to work without confirmation, just as it is prohibited to employ foreign workers without permission. However, the legislation also provides categories of persons for whose employment permission is not required.
Who needs to obtain permit and confirmation?
- -1-Confirmation is required for all foreign citizens who:
- plan to work in Uzbekistan on the basis of an employment contract;
- are hired by companies or institutions registered in the country;
- are attracted as specialists in highly qualified or in-demand industries.
- -2-An Employer who attracts foreign labor may be:
- a legal entity operating in the Republic of Uzbekistan
- an individual
- an individual entrepreneur
- a foreign individual permanently residing in Uzbekistan, including in the person of a legal representative
Categories of workers
Depending on the qualification level of the foreign worker, the following categories are distinguished:
- Highly qualified specialistA foreign citizen who graduated from a university included in the ranking of 1 000 internationally recognized universities, has at least 5 years of work experience in the declared specialty or specialty according to the diploma, and who is offered a job with a salary (remuneration) of at least 60 thousand US dollars per year.
Permission is not required.
Confirmation is issued for the term of the employment contract, but not more than 3 years. Extension - unlimited number of times for up to 1 year.1 - Qualified specialistA foreign citizen with a higher education, at least 5 years of work experience in the stated specialty or specialty according to the diploma, who is offered a job with a salary (remuneration) of at least 30 000 US dollars per year.
Permission is not required.
Confirmation is issued for the term of the employment contract, but not more than 3 years. Extension - unlimited number of times for up to 1 year.2 - SpecialistsOther workers.
The permit is issued for a period of up to 1 year. Extension – unlimited number of times for a period of up to 1 year.3
When does the document cease to be valid?
The permit becomes invalid in the event of:
- application by the employer to terminate the permit;
- liquidation of the employer
- termination of the certificate of state registration of the business entity of an individual - employer;
- death, restriction of legal capacity in the established manner, recognition of an individual - employer as incapacitated;
- failure to correct the identified violations within the timeframes specified in the orders issued to employers by the labor authorities;
- failure by the employer to correct the circumstances that led to the suspension of the permit within the timeframe established by the court;
- establishment of the illegality of the Agency's decision to issue the permit;
- expiration of the permit.
The confirmation becomes invalid in the event of:
- voluntary revocation
- early termination of the employment contract
- liquidation of the employer
- termination of the certificate of state registration of the business entity of an individual - employer;
- death, restriction of legal capacity in the established manner, recognition of an individual - employer as incapacitated;
- failure to eliminate the identified violations within the timeframes specified in the orders issued to foreign citizens by labor authorities;
- failure by foreign citizens to eliminate the circumstances that led to the suspension of the confirmation within the timeframe established by the court;
- establishment of the illegality of the Agency's decision to issue the confirmation;
- expiration of the confirmation
When to apply for an extension?
The employer must submit it 20 working days before the expiry of the confirmation/permit, respectively.
What are the exceptions?
The current procedure for issuing permits and confirmations does not apply to the following persons:
- holders of a residence permit in Uzbekistan;
- those who have invested at least 8,500 BRV (at the time of making the investment) by purchasing shares or stakes in business entities, or by creating a foreign enterprise.
- employees of permanent missions of foreign states, international intergovernmental or foreign governmental organizations accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or other persons with diplomatic status;
- specialists recruited to work in the tourism sector at the request of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage - for a period of up to 3 months;
- founders or top managers of foreign or joint ventures operating or being created in Uzbekistan - from the date of concluding an employment contract with them for this position - for a period of up to 3 months;
- scientists and cultural figures working in Uzbekistan in organizations created in accordance with interstate treaties;
- students undergoing industrial practice during vacations as part of a university program (for universities in Uzbekistan);
- representatives of the press accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- employees of NGOs, representative offices and branches of international and foreign non-governmental (non-profit) organizations accredited by the Ministry of Justice;
- teachers or specialists recruited to work in Presidential schools and universities in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and Tashkent;
- persons for whom international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan define a different employment procedure.
Work books
According to Article 81 of the Labor Code, the employer is obliged to keep work books for all employees who have worked at the enterprise for more than 5 days, with the exception of part-time workers. The employer's right to demand a work book from an employee is stated in Article 80 of the Labor Code.
What if no work books were applicable in the homecountry?
If work books are not used in the country from which the foreign citizen arrived, the employer must issue one on the spot, similar to the issue for an employee hired for the first time. If the employee already has a work book, the employer is obliged to make all necessary entries in it, including information on hiring, transfers and termination of the employment contract.
What if no work books were applicable in the homecountry?
If work books are not used in the country from which the foreign citizen arrived, the employer must issue one on the spot, similar to the issue for an employee hired for the first time. If the employee already has a work book, the employer is obliged to make all necessary entries in it, including information on hiring, transfers and termination of the employment contract.
Responsibility
Administrative penalties may be applied to employers who commit violations when hiring foreign citizens. For officials, the fine is from 10 to 25 minimum wages for the first violation and from 25 to 50 minimum wages for a repeated violation committed within a year after the penalty.
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About us
WPK Consulting Company (formerly Work Permits Kazakhstan) is a 100% Kazakhstan company, founded in 2002, with offices in Astana, Almaty and Atyrau.
We have been specializing in migration legislation and outsourcing of business tasks for more than 20 years.
Our consultants accompany small, medium and large foreign companies in Kazakhstan, provide services and represent the interests of HR managers, specialists, as well as foreign managers and employees of organizations.
We have been specializing in migration legislation and outsourcing of business tasks for more than 20 years.
Our consultants accompany small, medium and large foreign companies in Kazakhstan, provide services and represent the interests of HR managers, specialists, as well as foreign managers and employees of organizations.
About us
WPK Consulting Company (formerly Work Permits Kazakhstan) is a 100% Kazakhstan company, founded in 2002, with offices in Astana, Almaty and Atyrau.
We have been specializing in migration legislation and outsourcing of business tasks for more than 20 years.
Our consultants accompany small, medium and large foreign companies in Kazakhstan, provide services and represent the interests of HR managers, specialists, as well as foreign managers and employees of organizations.
We have been specializing in migration legislation and outsourcing of business tasks for more than 20 years.
Our consultants accompany small, medium and large foreign companies in Kazakhstan, provide services and represent the interests of HR managers, specialists, as well as foreign managers and employees of organizations.
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