On legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan (LRU-692-son)

04.06.2021

Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Adopted by the Legislative Chamber on March 3, 2021 Approved by the Senate on April 23, 2021

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Article 1. Purpose and Scope of this Law

The purpose of this Law is to regulate relations in the field of the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This Law shall apply to foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states, entering or temporarily staying in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This Law shall not affect the privileges and immunities of foreign citizens and stateless persons, established by the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 2. Legislation on Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan

The legislation on the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall consist of this Law and other legislative acts.

If an international treaty of the Republic of Uzbekistan stipulates other rules than those provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan, the rules of the international treaty shall prevail.

Article 3. Basic Concepts

The following basic concepts shall be used in this Law:

stateless person — a person who is not a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan and does not have proof of his/her belonging to the citizenship of a foreign state;

foreign citizen — a person who does not have the citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who has citizenship and proof of his/her belonging to the citizenship (allegiance) of another state;

identification ID-card of a foreign citizen and a stateless person (hereinafter — an identification card) — a document certifying identity and citizenship, as well as permanent registration of the owner of the identification card in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, containing an electronic media (chip) with the personal biographical and biometric data of its owner;

travel documents — national passports, as well as other documents used in lieu thereof, on the basis of which foreign citizens and stateless persons have the right to enter (exit) and stay in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 4. Foreign Citizens Who Have Citizenship of Two or More States

Foreign citizens who have citizenship of two or more states shall be considered in the Republic of Uzbekistan to be citizens of the state on whose citizenship (allegiance) documents they have entered the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 5. Fundamentals of Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan

Foreign citizens and stateless persons staying in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be guaranteed the rights and freedoms in accordance with the rules of international law. They shall bear the obligations established by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, laws and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be equal before the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regardless of gender, race, nationality, language, religion, belief, social origin, or social status.

Article 6. Procedure for Temporary Stay in the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily staying in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who permanently reside in the territory of other states, may temporarily reside on their valid travel documents in means of accommodation or other dwelling space of their choice, as well as in health care facilities.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily staying in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who permanently reside in the territory of other states, shall be registered at the place of their temporary stay.

The procedure for registering foreign citizens and stateless persons, who permanently reside in the territory of other states, at the place of their temporary stay in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 7. Procedure for Permanent Residence in the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Foreign citizens and stateless persons may permanently reside in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be registered at the place of their permanent residence in accordance with the procedure determined by the legislation.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently registered at the place of their permanent residence in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be issued an identification card of a foreign citizen and a stateless person permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The procedure for processing and issuing identification cards to foreign citizens and stateless persons shall be determined by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 8. Granting of Political Asylum

Political asylum in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be granted to foreign citizens and stateless persons taking into account the national interests of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the basis of generally recognized principles and rules of international law, in accordance with this Law and other normative legal acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Political asylum shall be granted to foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states, as well as to their family members, who seek asylum or protection from persecution or from the real threat that they might be the victims of persecution in the country of their citizenship or permanent residence for social and political activities, religious beliefs, racial or ethnic origin, as well as from other cases of human rights violations that are provided for by the rules of international law.

The procedure and conditions for granting political asylum in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be determined by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Chapter 2. Identification Card Issuance, Cancellation, and Validity Period

Article 9. Identification Card Issuance

An identification card shall be issued to:

foreign citizens or stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan — upon reaching the age of sixteen or at the discretion of their parents, guardians (trustees) — from the moment of the birth of the child until the child reaches the age of sixteen;

persons who have received a permanent residence permit in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including persons who have entered the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, whose citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been terminated in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan";

persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, but who have not acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan or whose citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been terminated in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan";

foreign citizens who have acquired real estate in the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation;

foreign citizens or stateless persons, including founders (participants) of enterprises with foreign investments, who have made investments in the organization in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan of enterprises for the production of goods and the provision of services, as well as members of their families under the terms and conditions provided for by the decisions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

foreign citizens or stateless persons who have been granted political asylum in the Republic of Uzbekistan — on the basis of a certificate of granting political asylum in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 10. Identification Card Validity Period

An identification card shall be issued for the following validity periods:

to newborns under the age of one year — for two years;

to persons aged from one to sixteen years — for five years;

to persons aged from sixteen to sixty years — for five years;

to persons aged over sixty years — for ten years.

Citizens of foreign states who are permanently registered in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be issued an identification card for a period not exceeding the validity period of their national passports.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as their family members, provided for in paragraph six of Article 9 of this Law, shall be issued an identification card for a period of ten years, but not exceeding the validity period of their travel documents.

Article 11. Identification Card Cancellation

An identification card shall be canceled in the following cases:

exit of a foreign citizen or a stateless person abroad for permanent residence in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation;

temporary exit of foreign citizens from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, if they have not returned to their place of permanent residence in Uzbekistan without valid reasons after three years;

failure by a stateless person, who has temporarily exited the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to return to his/her place of permanent residence in Uzbekistan without valid reasons before the expiration of the validity of the travel document, failure to exchange the travel document abroad or refusal to exchange it without valid reasons. Valid reasons shall include illness, absence of consular office in the host country and other reasons beyond the control of the citizen;

personal application of a foreign citizen or a stateless person or application of another person by a notarized power of attorney or at the request of the relevant authorities abroad for the cancellation of the identification card;

when a foreign citizen or stateless person is administratively expelled from the Republic of Uzbekistan or is deported in the manner established by Article 351 of this Law;

declaration of absence of a foreign citizen or a stateless person on the basis of a court decision;

death of a foreign citizen or a stateless person — on the basis of the civil registry office's certificate of the death of the person;

acquisition of the citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan by a foreign citizen and a stateless person permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

failure by a foreign citizen to exchange his/her national passport within six months after the expiration of its validity or failure to submit a certificate of withdrawal of citizenship of his/her country;

receipt of a permanent residence permit by foreign citizens and stateless persons on the basis of application upon the application of state administration bodies, business associations, and other republican-level state organizations — on the basis of notification of such bodies and organizations;

submission by a person of false information about himself/herself or his/her relatives, as well as falsified and forged documents when receiving an identification card.

Chapter 3. Fundamental Rights, Freedoms and Obligations of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan

Article 12. Right to Liberty and Security of Person

Foreign citizens and stateless persons staying in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to protection against encroachments on their honor and dignity, interference in their private life, and the inviolability of their home. No one may enter a home, carry out a search or inspection, or violate the privacy of correspondence and telephone conversations, except in the cases and in accordance with the procedure provided for by the law of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Measures of procedural compulsion and administrative penalty may be applied against foreign citizens and stateless persons staying in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan only on the basis of the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons detained or taken into custody in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be informed about their rights and the circumstances that caused their detention or custody.

Article 13. Right to Free Movement throughout the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Foreign citizens and stateless persons shall have the right to free movement throughout the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the procedure established by this Law and other legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The movement of foreign citizens and stateless persons across the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be restricted in border zones and border regions where movement is carried out on the basis of permits issued by the authorized state bodies of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Special aspects of the movement of foreign citizens who have entered the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the basis of a document defined by an international treaty of the Republic of Uzbekistan regulating the procedure for mutual trips of residents of border territories shall be established by international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 14. Property and Personal Non-Property Rights

Foreign citizens and stateless persons shall enjoy the right of ownership in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan on par with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, unless otherwise provided for by the laws or international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to inherit or bequeath property belonging to them by right of ownership, as well as to enjoy other property and personal non-property rights in accordance with the procedure established by the laws and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 15. Right to Carry Out Labor Activities

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who carry out labor activities in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall enjoy the rights and bear the obligations in accordance with the labor legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The procedure for carrying out labor activities by foreign citizens and stateless persons in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be regulated by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan on employment of the population.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons may not be appointed or elected to certain positions or carry out a certain labor activity if, in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, appointing to such positions or carrying out such activity are associated with belonging to the citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 16. Right to Social Security

Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to a pension on par with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The procedure for ensuring social security of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan who do not have the length of work necessary for the appointment of a pension shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 17. Right to Health Protection

Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states, who stay in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall be guaranteed the right to health protection in accordance with the international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall enjoy the right to health protection on par with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 18. Right to Education

Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states shall have the right to receive education in the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the international treaties and the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have equal rights with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan to receive education.

Article 19. Right to Marriage (Divorce) Registration and Family Relations

Foreign citizens and stateless persons in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to register a marriage.

Marriages of foreign citizens or stateless persons with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan and marriages between foreign citizens or stateless persons, as well as between foreign citizens and/or stateless persons shall be registered on a regular basis.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall enjoy the rights and bear the obligations in family relations on par with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan in its territory.

Marriages between citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan and foreign citizens or stateless persons, registered outside the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan in compliance with the legislation of the state in whose territory they are registered, shall be considered valid in the Republic of Uzbekistan if there are no circumstances preventing the registration of marriage provided for by the family legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Divorces between citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan and foreign citizens or stateless persons, as well as divorces between foreign citizens in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall be carried out in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 20. Participation in Cultural Activities

Foreign citizens and stateless persons in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall enjoy the rights and bear the obligations in the field of cultural activities on par with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons shall have the right to use their native language, as well as to develop national culture and traditions.

Article 21. Participation in Activities of Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations

Foreign citizens and stateless persons on par with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be founders, participants (members) of a non-governmental non-commercial organization, except for the cases established by the laws and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 22. Right to Appeal

Foreign citizens and stateless persons shall have the right to submit applications, proposals and complaints to state bodies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, organizations and their officials in accordance with the procedure established by the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Appeals of Individuals and Legal Entities".

State bodies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, organizations and their officials, when considering appeals, shall provide foreign citizens and stateless persons with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with documents, decisions and other materials affecting their rights, freedoms and legitimate interests, if they do not contain information constituting state secrets or other secrets protected by law, as well as if familiarization with them does not prejudice the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of individuals and legal entities, the interests of society and the state.

Article 23. Right to Access to Public Services

Foreign citizens and stateless persons shall have the right to access to public services in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 24. Restriction on Participation of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in Elections and Referendums of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Foreign citizens and stateless persons may not participate in elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to representative bodies of state power as voters, may not be elected (appointed) to bodies of state power, shall not have the right to participate in a referendum of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as in elections to citizens' self-government bodies.

Article 25. Obligations of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons

Foreign citizens and stateless persons residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be obliged to:

observe the Constitution, laws and other normative legal acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

respect the rights, freedoms, honor and dignity of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as foreign citizens and stateless persons residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

protect the historical, spiritual and cultural heritage of the people of Uzbekistan;

protect the environment.

Article 26. Relationship of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons to Universal Military Obligation

Universal military obligation shall not apply to foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently or temporarily residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 27. Taxation of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons

Foreign citizens and stateless persons shall pay the taxes established by the Tax Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the fees provided for thereby in accordance with the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons may enjoy tax benefits provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Chapter 4. Entry into, Exit from and Transit through the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan by Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons

Article 28. Entry into the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Foreign citizens may enter the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan on valid travel documents, and for countries with which the Republic of Uzbekistan has established a visa regime — with valid entry visas (including electronic ones) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, unless otherwise provided for by the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states may enter the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan on valid travel documents with valid entry visas of the Republic of Uzbekistan, except for the case provided for in part three of this Article.

The procedure for the entry of stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states to whom an identification card was issued in accordance with paragraph six of Article 9 of this Law shall be determined by the legislation.

To foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states, visas for entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan or transit through its territory, except for electronic visas, shall be processed and issued by:

consular offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as consular departments of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter — consular offices), and in case of their absence — consular offices of other states with which there are bilateral agreements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

subdivisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the airports of the Republic of Uzbekistan that have the status of international ones.

To all categories of foreign citizens, visas for entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be issued by consular offices and subdivisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the airports of the Republic of Uzbekistan that have the status of international ones.

Heads of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad, in exceptional cases (in emergency situations, within the framework of state or official visits, major political, economic, social, cultural, educational, humanitarian and sports events, as well as the implementation of investment projects), shall have the right to make independent decisions on issuing visas to foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states for entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with subsequent notification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan about the decision within one day.

Foreign citizens included in the List of Countries Whose Citizens Can Get Electronic Entry Visas may, without applying to the consular offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, apply for and get an electronic visa of the Republic of Uzbekistan through the respective electronic system.

The extension of the validity period of visas of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states shall be carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with the legislation.

Relations not regulated by this Law in terms of the procedure for entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the terms of issuance and validity of visas of foreign citizens may be determined by the international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan concluded with other states on a parity basis, as well as individual decisions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan or the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 29. Grounds for Refusal of Entry into the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

A foreign citizen and a stateless person permanently residing in the territory of another state may be refused entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

in the interests of national security or public order;

if the person is involved in the activities of international and foreign terrorist, extremist and other criminal organizations;

if the person has knowingly provided false information about himself or herself, submitted forged documents, or has not submitted the necessary documents, or is refusing to submit biometric data;

if the person was convicted of a crime and was punished by a court sentence during his/her previous stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan;

if the person's right of entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan is restricted for a certain period and this period has not yet expired;

if the person is ill or has health disorders that pose a threat to the safety and health of citizens, and the corresponding disease is mentioned in the list approved by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

If the person is included in the list of foreign citizens and stateless persons whose presence in the Republic of Uzbekistan is found to be undesirable.

The authorities that have made decisions to refuse to issue a visa for entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to refuse entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan or to cancel a visa for entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall not be obliged to inform foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states, their relatives and representatives about the grounds for such decisions.

Article 291. List of foreign citizens and stateless persons whose presence in the Republic of Uzbekistan is Considered Undesirable

Public statements or actions of a foreign citizen or a stateless person that are contrary to the state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as those provoking interstate, social, national, racial, or religious hatred, and insulting the honor, dignity, and history of the people of Uzbekistan, shall serve as a ground for their inclusion in the List of foreign citizens and stateless persons whose presence in the Republic of Uzbekistan is considered undesirable (hereinafter referred to as the list).

the inclusion of a foreign citizen or a stateless person in the list shall be carried out on the basis of a submission from the council of the legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Council of the Senate, or the specially authorized state bodies.

The List shall be maintained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall not be permitted for a foreign citizen or stateless person included in the List, and they shall also be prohibited from opening bank accounts in Uzbekistan, acquiring immovable property on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, participating in the privatization of state property, and engaging in financial and contractual relations, except for the alienation of property located on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan which belongs to them based on the right of ownership.

The period of stay in the List for a foreign citizen or a stateless person shall be five years, and in the event that the relevant grounds for their inclusion in the List are not eliminated within this period, the period of stay in the List shall be extended for five years. After the grounds for the inclusion of a foreign citizen or a stateless person in the List are eliminated, the person may be prematurely removed from the List based on their appeal for removal from the List or on the petition of the relevant state body that submitted the proposal for their inclusion in the List.

The inclusion in the List of a foreign citizen temporarily staying or permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan or a stateless person temporarily staying in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall result in the cancellation of their right to legally reside and stay on the country's territory.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall notify the foreign citizen or stateless person (or their legal representative) directly or through diplomatic channels of their inclusion in the List within three working days in the manner established.

The procedure for the inclusion and maintenance of the List of foreign citizens and stateless persons whose presence in the Republic of Uzbekistan is considered undesirable shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 30. Exit from the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Foreign citizens and stateless persons shall exit the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan on valid travel documents with valid exit visas of the Republic of Uzbekistan, unless otherwise provided for by the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A foreign citizen or a stateless person shall be allowed to exit the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan with an expired national passport, without a visa and without registration at the place of temporary stay in cases where:

the foreign citizen or the stateless person is deported on the basis of an order of administrative deportation of foreign citizens and stateless persons from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan or is brought to criminal responsibility (on the basis of a deportation mark in the national passport);

the foreign citizen or the stateless person and his/her accompanying persons had arrived in the Republic of Uzbekistan for a certain period without a visa, with an electronic, tourist, driver and transit visa, during which they were placed in a health care facility as a result of an accident (injury or other serious illness) and could not exit the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan (on the basis of the conclusion of the health care facility);

the foreign citizen or the stateless person whose temporary stay in the quarantine territory has expired due to an epidemic (pandemic) exits the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan within thirty days after the expiration of the quarantine period;

the foreign citizen or the stateless person, who is a driver, had entered the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan on a motor vehicle and was unable to exit the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan within the established period due to a traffic accident or damage to the vehicle (on the basis of documents confirming such situation);

the foreign citizen or the stateless person has suffered as a result of a natural and man-made emergency, including a domestic disaster (fire, collapse of residential or non-residential premises, vehicle fire) in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan through no fault of such persons (on the basis of a document confirming such circumstance).

Foreign citizens permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall exit the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan on travel documents with the internal affairs bodies' mark of registration at the place of permanent residence.

Article 31. Grounds for Temporary Restriction on Exit of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons from the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

A foreign citizen and a stateless person shall not be allowed to exit the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cases where:

the person's exit is contrary to the interests of national security — until the termination of the circumstances preventing the exit;

the person is subject to contractual obligations preventing his/her exit abroad for permanent residence — until the termination of such obligations;

a criminal case has been initiated against the person — until the adoption of a procedural decision on this criminal case after completion of the proceedings;

the person has been convicted of a crime — until the sentence has been served or the person has been released from punishment;

the person evades the fulfillment of the obligations imposed on him/her by the court — until the obligations have been fulfilled;

the person has provided knowingly false information about himself/herself when receiving exit documents — until the circumstances have been clarified;

a civil suit has been filed against the person — until the adoption and enforcement of a court decision.

The authorities that have made decisions to refuse exit from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall inform foreign citizens and stateless persons and their relatives about the grounds for such decisions.

Article 32. Transit through the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan by Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons

Entry into and exit from the Republic of Uzbekistan by foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states, who transit through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall be allowed on valid travel documents with transit visas.

Transit through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan without a transit visa may be carried out in the cases provided for by the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Transit of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan by air, rail, road and water transport shall be allowed on documents valid for entry into the destination country and on relevant travel documents confirming the date of exit from the transfer point in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who have a transit visa of the Republic of Uzbekistan and are transiting through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who permanently reside in the territories of other states, must move along the designated route and stop on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan within the period indicated on the transit visa, in compliance with the rules of transit passage through the State border crossing point of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The procedure for the transit of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 33. Control over Stay and Transit of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons, Who Permanently Reside in the Territory of Other States, in the Republic of Uzbekistan

Control over stay and transit of foreign citizens and stateless persons, who permanently reside in the territory of other states, in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be carried out by the internal affairs bodies and other authorized bodies in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Chapter 5. Responsibility of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons

Article 34. Responsibility for Offenses

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who have committed crimes or administrative offenses in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be responsible on par with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, except for the cases established by the international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily or permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan may be brought to administrative responsibility for violation of the rules of stay and other offenses provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Also, administrative deportation may be applied against them, a ban on their entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be imposed, as well as their stay may be reduced in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A foreign citizen and a stateless person under the age of eighteen years shall not be subject to administrative responsibility for violation of the rules of stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 35. Administrative Deportation from the Republic of Uzbekistan

Foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily staying or permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan may be deported from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan for violation of the rules of stay, that is, residence on invalid documents, non-compliance with the established procedure for registration at the place of permanent residence or temporary stay, movement or choice of place of residence, evasion of exit after the expiration of the period of stay, non-compliance with the rules of transit through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as for other offenses provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily staying or permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be deported from the Republic of Uzbekistan after the execution or serving of a sentence imposed by a court for a crime committed in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan or release from criminal liability or punishment in the cases provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with subsequent restriction on the right to enter the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The term and procedure for restricting the entry into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan of foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily staying or permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be determined by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The period of restriction on the right of foreign citizens and stateless persons to enter the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall start from the date of their deportation (crossing the state border of the Republic of Uzbekistan) from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who have violated the rules of stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan may be allowed to cross the state border of the Republic of Uzbekistan on expired travel documents or visas in case of their forcible deportation from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan under escort of officers of authorized bodies.

Expenses for the deportation from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states, who arrived on official, private, commercial or public business, for study, advanced training, work or as tourists, shall be borne by individuals and legal entities who had invited and hosted them. Expenses for the deportation of other foreign citizens and stateless persons shall be borne by the internal affairs bodies.

A visa issued to a foreign citizen and a stateless person permanently residing in the territory of other states shall be canceled upon their deportation from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A foreign citizen or a stateless person under the age of eighteen years may not be deported from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan if one of his/her parents or a guardian (trustee) has the right to legally reside in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the cases of:

violation of the rules of stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan, that is, residence without documents for the right of residence in Uzbekistan or on invalid documents, non-compliance with the established procedure for registration at the place of temporary stay or permanent residence, movement or choice of place of residence, evasion of exit after the expiration of the period of stay, as well as non-compliance with the rules of transit through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

execution or serving of a sentence imposed by a court for a crime committed in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan or release from criminal liability or punishment in the cases provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A decision on deportation may be appealed to the court.

Article 351. Deportation

A foreign citizen or a stateless person temporarily staying or permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan, or a stateless person temporarily staying in the Republic of Uzbekistan, who has received notification of inclusion in the List must voluntarily depart from the Republic of Uzbekistan within ten days from the date of receipt of the notification, except for the case provided for in the fifth part of this Article.

If a foreign citizen or a stateless person included in the List, who is temporarily staying or permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan, or a stateless person temporarily staying in the Republic of Uzbekistan, does not voluntarily depart from the Republic of Uzbekistan within the period specified in the first part of this Article, the said person shall be deported.

Deportation is understood as the forced removal from the country of a foreign citizen or a stateless person who has been included in the List and whose right to reside and stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan on legal grounds has been cancelled.

This person shall not be deported if one of the parents or the guardian or trustee of the foreign citizen or stateless person under the age of eighteen has the right to legally reside on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

If the actions of a foreign citizen or a stateless person temporarily staying or permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan, which served as a ground for their inclusion in the List, contain elements of a crime or an administrative offense, they shall be expelled from the Republic of Uzbekistan in the manner established by Article 35 of this Law, after serving or completing the sentence imposed by the court for the crime or administrative offense committed on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, or after being released from liability or punishment in the cases provided for by the legislation.

The deportation of a foreign citizen or a stateless person included in the List, who is temporarily staying or permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan, or a stateless person temporarily staying in the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall be carried out by the internal affairs bodies and other authorized bodies.

The costs of deporting foreign citizens and stateless persons who permanently reside in the territories of other states, who arrived for official, personal, commercial, or public matters, for study, advanced training, employment, or as a tourist, shall be borne by the natural and legal persons who invited and received them. The costs of deporting other foreign citizens and stateless persons shall be borne by the internal affairs bodies.

The visa issued to a foreign citizen and stateless person permanently residing in the territories of other states shall be cancelled in the event of their deportation.

Article 36. Reduction of Period of Stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan

The period of stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states, who violate the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including the rules of stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan, may be reduced in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The period of stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of other states may also be reduced upon termination of contractual relations with legal entities or educational organizations on the basis of their applications and at the request of individuals or legal entities who had invited them.

Chapter 6. Final Provisions

Article 37. Responsibility for Violation of Legislation on Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan

Persons guilty of violating the legislation on the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be held responsible in accordance with the established procedure.

Article 38. Retorsion

The Republic of Uzbekistan may impose retaliatory restrictions (retorsion) on the rights of citizens of those states in which there are special restrictions on the rights of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 39. Ensuring Execution, Communication, Explanation of Essence and Meaning of this Law

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other concerned organizations shall ensure the execution of this Law, its communication to the executors, and explanation of its essence and meaning among the population.

Article 40. Bringing the Legislation in Line with this Law

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall:

bring government decisions in line with this Law;

ensure that state administration bodies review and abolish their normative legal acts that are contrary to this Law.

Article 41. Entry into Force of this Law

This Law shall become effective on the date of its official publication.

A residence permit issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan prior to the entry into force of this Law shall be considered valid until its cancellation or replacement with an identification card in accordance with the procedure provided for by the legislation.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. MIRZIYOYEV

Tashkent,

June 4, 2021,

No. LRU-692