50 Questions on Citizenship of Uzbekistan
1. What is meant by citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan from the legal point of view?
Answer: Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan is a stable political and legal bond between an individual and the state, expressed through mutual rights, obligations, and responsibility. It is based on the recognition and respect for human dignity, fundamental rights, and freedoms. This definition emphasizes not only the legal but also the constitutional and value-based nature of citizenship.
2. Is a single citizenship established in Uzbekistan?
Answer: Yes. The Republic of Uzbekistan has a single citizenship for the entire territory of the state. A citizen of the Republic of Karakalpakstan is simultaneously a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which excludes the existence of multiple “intra-state” citizenships.
3. Is discrimination among citizens based on the grounds of acquisition of citizenship allowed?
Answer: No. Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan is equal for all regardless of the grounds on which it was acquired (by birth, naturalization, restoration, etc.). All citizens are equal before the law irrespective of sex, race, nationality, language, religion, and other characteristics.
4. Can a person be deprived of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan?
Answer: Deprivation of citizenship as an arbitrary measure is not permitted. Termination of citizenship is possible only in cases directly provided for by law (renunciation or loss), and only by decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
5. How do the norms of national legislation correlate with international treaties?
Answer: If an international treaty of the Republic of Uzbekistan establishes rules different from those provided by the law on citizenship, the rules of the international treaty shall apply. This reflects the priority of the state’s international obligations.
6. Who is recognized as an applicant in citizenship matters?
Answer: An applicant may be an adult citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a foreign state, or a stateless person who applies to the authorized body on citizenship matters.
7. How does the law define a “stateless person”?
Answer: A stateless person is a person permanently residing in the Republic of Uzbekistan who is not a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan and has no evidence of belonging to the citizenship of any foreign state.
8. What does the principle of non-recognition of dual citizenship mean?
Answer: The Republic of Uzbekistan does not recognize the possession by its citizens of the citizenship of a foreign state. Until a decision on renunciation or loss of citizenship is adopted, the person is regarded exclusively as a citizen of Uzbekistan with all corresponding obligations.
9. Does marriage entail a change of citizenship?
Answer: No. Marriage to or divorce from a foreign citizen or a stateless person does not entail a change in the citizenship of the spouses, nor does it affect the citizenship of the child.
10. Does a citizen of Uzbekistan lose citizenship by residing abroad?
Answer: No. The mere fact of residence outside the Republic of Uzbekistan is not grounds for termination of citizenship.
11. What are the main methods of acquiring citizenship provided by law?
Answer: Citizenship is acquired:
- by birth;
- by adoption;
- through admission (general, simplified, or exceptional procedure);
- through restoration of citizenship.
12. Under what conditions does a child acquire citizenship by birth?
Answer: A child acquires citizenship if at least one parent is a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan (subject to the applicable special conditions), or if the child is born in Uzbekistan to stateless parents or to unknown parents.
13. Can a child of foreign parents born in Uzbekistan automatically become a citizen?
Answer: No. If both parents are foreign citizens (or one is a foreign citizen and the other is a stateless person), the child does not automatically acquire citizenship of Uzbekistan by birth.
14. How does adoption affect a child’s citizenship?
Answer: A foreign child or a stateless child adopted by citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan acquires citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In mixed marriages, the consent of the adoptive parents is required.
15. Does a child retain citizenship when adopted by foreigners?
Answer: Yes. If the child is a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, he or she retains citizenship, except where renunciation is permitted upon the petition of the adoptive parents.
16. What is the general procedure for admission to citizenship?
Answer: The general procedure stipulates:
- renunciation of foreign citizenship;
- 5 years of continuous residence with a residence permit;
- a lawful source of income;
- knowledge of the state language;
- an undertaking to comply with the Constitution.
17. Who is entitled to the simplified procedure for admission?
Answer: Compatriots who have relatives who are citizens of Uzbekistan in the direct ascending line, as well as persons with outstanding achievements or in-demand qualifications.
18. What is a letter of guarantee for granting citizenship?
Answer: This is a document issued to the applicant prior to renunciation of foreign citizenship, confirming the intention to grant citizenship of Uzbekistan once the established condition is fulfilled.
19. What is the validity period of the letter of guarantee?
Answer: One year, with the possibility of extension for another year by decision of the Commission under the President.
20. What is the exceptional procedure for admission?
Answer: The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan may grant citizenship without compliance with the standard requirements, based on national interests.
21. Who may have citizenship restored?
Answer: A person who previously held citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan, provided that such citizenship was not lost on particularly serious grounds (for example, service to a foreign state).
22. Is repeated restoration of citizenship allowed?
Answer: No. Restoration is permitted only once.
23. Which bodies make decisions on citizenship matters?
Answer: Exclusively the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the form of a presidential decree.
24. When does a decision on admission to citizenship enter into force?
Answer: On the date the relevant presidential decree is signed.
25. Which documents confirm citizenship?
Answer: A passport of a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, an ID card, or another official document indicating citizenship.
26. In what forms may citizenship be terminated?
Answer:
- renunciation of citizenship;
- loss of citizenship.
27. What is meant by renunciation of citizenship?
Answer: Voluntary termination of citizenship on the basis of the citizen’s personal application.
28. In what cases does loss of citizenship occur?
Answer: In cases directly provided for by law, including voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship, service to a foreign state, causing damage to state security, and others.
29. Is acquisition of foreign citizenship a ground for loss of citizenship?
Answer: Yes, if such citizenship was acquired voluntarily.
30. Does loss of citizenship affect family members?
Answer: No. The citizenship of the spouse and children does not change automatically.
31. What role do consular institutions abroad play?
Answer: They identify cases of possible loss of citizenship, maintain records of citizens, and protect their rights.
32. What are the consequences of failure to register for consular records?
Answer: If a citizen permanently resides abroad and fails, without valid reasons, to register with the consulate for more than 7 years, this may entail loss of citizenship.
33. Can consular registration be restored after the missed period?
Answer: Yes, if there are valid reasons (illness, absence of a consulate, etc.).
34. What happens if forged documents are discovered?
Answer: The materials are forwarded to the prosecutor’s office, and the fact is established by the court. Subsequently, termination of citizenship may occur.
35. Can a court consider disputes on citizenship matters?
Answer: Yes. Disputes in the field of citizenship are resolved through judicial procedure.
36. What is the general time limit for consideration of citizenship cases?
Answer: Not more than one year from the date of registration of the application.
37. In which cases is consideration of the materials terminated?
Answer: In the presence of debts, wanted status, criminal record, threat to state security, death of the applicant, and other such circumstances.
38. Is the state duty refunded when consideration is terminated?
Answer: No. The state duty and consular fee are not refunded.
39. Is repeated submission of documents possible?
Answer: Yes, as a rule, after one year, or earlier if new circumstances arise.
40. How does a child’s citizenship change when the citizenship of the parents changes?
Answer: Subject to compliance with the requirements of the law and the prevention of the child becoming stateless.
41. Is the child’s consent required when changing his or her citizenship?
Answer: Yes. From 14 to 18 years of age, the child’s written consent is required.
42. What is the status of a child under guardianship?
Answer: The child may retain citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan upon the relevant application.
43. What is the Interdepartmental Database on Citizenship Matters?
Answer: It is a unified information system for registration and monitoring of citizenship cases.
44. Who implements the President’s decisions on citizenship?
Answer: The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (through consulates).
45. Which documents are issued upon admission to citizenship?
Answer: An ID card or a biometric passport of a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
46. Which documents are issued upon renunciation of citizenship?
Answer: A certificate confirming termination of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
47. What is the role of the Commission on Citizenship Matters?
Answer: The Commission reviews the materials and submits proposals to the President, but does not make decisions itself.
48. Is the Commission a state authority?
Answer: No. It is an advisory and auxiliary body under the President.
49. How often does the Commission meet?
Answer: As necessary, but at least twice a month.
50. What is the practical significance of the Law on Citizenship?
Answer: The law forms a comprehensive, humanistic, and legally balanced system for regulating citizenship, ensuring a balance between the interests of the individual, society, and the state, as well as compliance with international standards.
