Acquisition of Uzbekistani Citizenship

The institution of citizenship is a fundamental category of constitutional law that defines a stable political and legal bond between the state and the individual. In the Republic of Uzbekistan, issues of acquisition, termination, and restoration of citizenship are regulated by the Law “On Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan” No. ZRU-610 dated March 13, 2020 (with amendments of 2021–2024).

This article examines the legal grounds and procedures for acquiring citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as analyzes their socio-legal implications.

Citizenship is not only a formal affiliation with the state but also a set of mutual rights, obligations, and responsibilities between the individual and the state. The acquisition of citizenship is a key element in shaping a person’s legal status and integrating the individual into socio-state structures.

Grounds for Acquisition of Citizenship

According to Article 13 of the Law, citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be acquired on the following grounds:

• By birth – if both parents or one of the parents are citizens of Uzbekistan;
• Through adoption – foreign children and stateless persons adopted by citizens of Uzbekistan;
• By naturalization – through general, simplified, or exceptional procedure;
• On other grounds – provided by international treaties and national legislation.

Citizenship by Birth

A child is recognized as a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regardless of the place of birth, if:

• both parents (or a single parent) are citizens of Uzbekistan;
• one parent is a citizen of Uzbekistan and the other is a stateless person or a foreign citizen (subject to a petition).

Additionally, children of stateless persons born on the territory of Uzbekistan, as well as children of unknown parents, are automatically recognized as citizens of Uzbekistan.

Citizenship through Adoption

The law provides that a child who is a foreign citizen or a stateless person acquires the citizenship of Uzbekistan when adopted by citizens of Uzbekistan. A special procedure applies in mixed marriages: if one of the adoptive parents is a foreign citizen, mutual consent of the spouses is required.

Naturalization

The legislation provides for three procedures for naturalization:

• General procedure (Art. 19) – requires 5 years of permanent residence, legal source of livelihood, knowledge of the state language, and renunciation of previous citizenship.
• Simplified procedure (Art. 20) – applies to compatriots and their families with relatives who are citizens of Uzbekistan.
• Exceptional procedure (Art. 21) – by decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, based on national interests, without compliance with general requirements.

Restoration of Citizenship

A person who previously held citizenship of Uzbekistan may apply for restoration if they did not lose it on grounds related to violation of state interests. Restoration is allowed only once (Art. 22).

Role of the President and State Bodies

The final decision on admission, restoration, and termination of citizenship is made by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Applications are reviewed by the Commission on Citizenship Issues under the President, as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

Socio-Legal Significance

The acquisition of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan is significant both for the individual and for the state:

• For the individual – it provides the possibility to exercise constitutional rights and receive social and legal protection.
• For the state – it is a tool for regulating migration processes, preserving national identity, and ensuring state security.

The institution of acquiring citizenship in Uzbekistan represents a multi-level system that combines the principles of jus sanguinis (right of blood) and jus soli (right of soil). The legislation harmonizes the internal interests of the state with international standards, which contributes to the legal certainty of an individual’s status and strengthens the rule of law.

Roadmap for Acquiring Citizenship of Uzbekistan

Ground	Conditions	Procedure	Competent Authority	Final Document
By birth	Parents (or one parent) are citizens of Uzbekistan; child born in Uzbekistan to stateless persons; parents unknown	Automatic acquisition	Civil Registry Office (ZAGS) (upon birth registration)	Birth certificate + citizenship mark
By adoption	Child is a foreigner or stateless person adopted by citizens of Uzbekistan	Court decision on adoption → submission to MIA/ZAGS	Guardianship authorities, court, MIA	Passport/ID card of a citizen of Uzbekistan
Naturalization (general procedure)	5 years of permanent residence; renunciation of foreign citizenship; legal income; knowledge of state language	Application to MIA/consulate → document verification → referral to the Commission	MIA, Commission under the President	Presidential Decree on Admission to Citizenship
Naturalization (simplified procedure)	Compatriots; relatives – citizens of Uzbekistan; legal income; language knowledge	Application submission → review by the Commission under the President → guarantee letter	MIA, MFA, Commission under the President	Presidential Decree
Naturalization (exceptional procedure)	National interests of the state; President’s decision without compliance with Art. 19–20	Petition or President’s initiative	President of Uzbekistan	Presidential Decree
Restoration of citizenship	Previously a citizen of Uzbekistan; citizenship lost not on prohibited grounds; allowed only once	Application → document verification → Commission under the President	MIA, MFA, Commission under the President	Presidential Decree on Restoration

 

Comparative Table of Naturalization Procedures

Parameter	General Procedure (Art. 19)	Simplified Procedure (Art. 20)	Exceptional Procedure (Art. 21)
Target Group	Foreigners and stateless persons	Compatriots and their families; persons with achievements (science, culture, sports, professions)	Any foreigners and stateless persons
Residence in Uzbekistan	≥ 5 years continuous residence (with residence permit) Exception: 3 years for spouses of Uzbek citizens and stateless persons born in Uzbekistan	Requirement not fixed; sufficient to confirm kinship or compatriot status	May be granted even without residence
Renunciation of foreign citizenship	Mandatory	Mandatory (confirmed after receiving guarantee letter)	Not required
Legal source of livelihood	Mandatory (work, business, benefits, etc.)	Mandatory	May be disregarded
Knowledge of state language	Required, confirmed in the manner approved by the Cabinet of Ministers	Required	Not required
Procedure Features	Full set of documents, review by MIA/MFA, submission to Commission	Guarantee letter issued (valid for 1 year, may be extended); after renunciation of foreign citizenship – Presidential Decree	Decision made personally by the President based on national interests
Review Process	MIA → Commission under the President → Presidential Decree	MIA/MFA → Commission under the President → Guarantee letter → Presidential Decree	Directly by the President
Timeframe	Up to 1 year (general processing time)	Up to 1 year (including validity of guarantee letter)	No fixed terms (expedited decision)
Documents	Application form, passport/ID, residence permit, certificates, income statements, state duty	+ documents of kinship or petition of state bodies; certificate of criminal record	Minimum set: passport/ID or residence permit
Result	Presidential Decree on Admission to Citizenship	Presidential Decree on Admission to Citizenship after renunciation of foreign citizenship	Presidential Decree on Granting Citizenship