Loss of Citizenship of Uzbekistan

Citizenship is a stable legal bond between an individual and the state, expressed through mutual rights, obligations, and responsibility. In the constitutional and legal sense, citizenship has not only formal legal significance but also political and legal significance, since it determines the extent of a person’s participation in public and state life, as well as the regime of his or her legal protection. The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan provides that the grounds and procedure for acquiring and losing citizenship are established by law, and that the Republic of Uzbekistan guarantees legal protection and patronage to its citizens both within the territory of the country and abroad.

The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan” distinguishes two forms of termination of citizenship: renunciation of citizenship and loss of citizenship. Renunciation is carried out upon the application of a citizen, whereas loss occurs upon the existence of special legal grounds specified by law. This structure demonstrates that loss of citizenship is not an ordinary administrative procedure, but a special public-law mechanism affecting the constitutional status of an individual.

Loss of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the termination of citizenship provided for by law, not upon the citizen’s own application for renunciation, but as a result of circumstances which the legislator recognizes as incompatible with the preservation of the civil-law bond with the Republic of Uzbekistan. In this sense, loss of citizenship differs from renunciation of citizenship in terms of the subject initiating the process, the legal basis, and the procedural order.

If renunciation of citizenship reflects the voluntary expression of the person’s will, loss of citizenship is connected with the assessment of objective facts: entering service in a foreign state, failure to register for permanent consular records for a long period, acquisition of foreign citizenship, provision of false information when acquiring citizenship, or commission of acts causing substantial harm to the interests of society and the state. These grounds are established both in the Law “On Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan” and in the Regulation approved by Presidential Decree No. UP-6185 dated March 10, 2021.

Grounds for Loss of Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Article 25 of the Law “On Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan” provides six grounds for loss of citizenship. Similar grounds are reproduced in paragraph 32 of the Regulation on the procedure for consideration of citizenship matters.

The first ground is the entry of a person into military service, service in security bodies, law enforcement bodies, or bodies of state authority and administration of a foreign state. This ground is connected with the fact that service in public bodies of a foreign state may objectively conflict with the citizen’s obligation to maintain a political and legal bond with the Republic of Uzbekistan. At the same time, this refers specifically to service in state structures of a foreign state, and not to any employment activity abroad.

The second ground is the failure of a person permanently residing abroad to register for permanent consular records without valid reasons for seven years. The Law and the Regulation provide that consular institutions identify such persons, review applications, requests from foreign states, information by consular districts, and check the lists of permanent consular registration. At the same time, the existence of valid reasons, for example illness, absence of a consular institution in the country of residence, or other circumstances beyond the citizen’s control, may prevent the initiation of the procedure for loss of citizenship.

The third ground is the acquisition of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a result of knowingly providing false information or forged documents. In this case, loss of citizenship performs the function of restoring legality, since the initial acquisition of citizenship turns out to be legally defective. An important guarantee is that the fact of admission to citizenship on the basis of false information or forged documents is established by a court decision that has entered into legal force. After this, the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prepares a conclusion and sends the materials to the Citizenship Commission under the President.

The fourth ground is causing substantial harm to the interests of society and the state through activities in favor of a foreign state or through the commission of crimes against peace and security. In this case, a higher standard of proof also applies: the relevant fact is established by a court judgment that has entered into legal force. This means that loss of citizenship on this ground cannot be based solely on the assumptions of an administrative body.

The fifth ground is the voluntary acquisition of citizenship of a foreign state. To identify such cases, authorized bodies verify information from interested ministries and departments, applications from individuals and legal entities, as well as requests from foreign states. Upon identification of the fact of voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship, the person is informed of the requirements of Article 25 of the Law and warned about the loss of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The sixth ground concerns persons who acquired foreign citizenship by birth or through the citizenship of a parent who is a foreign citizen while they were minors and who did not formalize renunciation of foreign citizenship upon reaching the age of 21. In respect of such persons, before they reach the age of 21, documents of a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan are issued after explaining the requirements of the law and obtaining a signed acknowledgment of warning. If, after reaching the age of 21, the person does not provide information on termination of foreign citizenship, the information systems automatically notify about the loss of citizenship and initiate the preparation of the relevant material.

Procedural Order for Formalizing Loss of Citizenship

The procedure for formalizing loss of citizenship has an interagency nature. Depending on the ground and the location of the person, materials may be prepared by consular institutions, internal affairs bodies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The general logic of the procedure includes several stages. First, the authorized body identifies a legal fact that may serve as a ground for loss of citizenship. Then the information is entered into the Consular Information System or the interagency database “E-Fuqaro”. Thereafter, a request for verification in respect of the person is formed and sent to interested ministries and departments. These bodies, within one month, review the presence or absence of materials preventing the loss of citizenship and express their position through the “E-Fuqaro” interagency database. After that, the responsible official prints the verification sheet, prepares a conclusion approved by the minister or his deputy, and sends the materials to the Citizenship Commission under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The content of the conclusion is of particular importance. It must reflect information about the person, the grounds for loss of citizenship, the results of the verification, the existence of unfulfilled obligations to the state, whether the person has been charged as an accused, whether the person is wanted, the existence of a court judgment that has entered into force and is subject to enforcement, whether the person is held in places of deprivation of liberty outside the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as an assessment of whether the loss of citizenship is consistent with the interests of state security. If there are several grounds for loss of citizenship, all of them must be indicated in the conclusion.

This procedure shows that loss of citizenship is not a simple registration procedure. It involves verification of factual circumstances, interagency coordination, and subsequent consideration of the materials by the Commission. In this way, the legislator seeks to ensure a balance between the public interests of the state and the rights of the person in respect of whom the issue of termination of citizenship is being considered.

The Role of Consular Registration in Loss of Citizenship

One of the most practically significant grounds for loss of citizenship is failure to register for permanent consular records for seven years without valid reasons. This ground has a preventive and registration-related nature. The state, while maintaining ties with its citizens abroad, must be able to account for their legal status, provide consular protection, and interact with them on citizenship matters.

However, long-term residence abroad in itself is not a ground for loss of citizenship. Two elements are of key importance: permanent residence abroad and absence of registration for permanent consular records without valid reasons for seven years. The law expressly allows a citizen to apply to a consular institution for registration even after the expiration of the specified period. The consular institution is obliged to establish the identity of the applicant, check the lists of persons who have lost citizenship, and examine the reasons for failure to register.

Accordingly, this ground must not be applied mechanically, but rather taking into account the circumstances of the specific case. Illness, absence of a consular institution in the country of residence, and other reasons beyond the citizen’s control may be recognized as valid. This is of fundamental importance for protecting the rights of citizens residing outside the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Loss of Citizenship and Foreign Citizenship

Loss of citizenship in connection with the acquisition of foreign citizenship occupies a special place. The law distinguishes two situations: voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship by an adult and acquisition of foreign citizenship as a minor by birth or through the citizenship of a parent.

Voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship is considered an independent ground for loss of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The procedure begins after the relevant fact is identified. On the basis of a passport of a citizen of a foreign state, the authorized body prepares material on loss of citizenship, enters the information into the information system, and sends the materials through the departmental channel for further verification and consideration.

The second situation has a more flexible legal structure. If a person acquired foreign citizenship as a minor by birth or through the citizenship of a parent, the legislator gives him or her time until reaching the age of 21 to regulate the status. Only if information on termination of foreign citizenship is not provided after reaching that age is the preparation of material on loss of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan initiated.

This approach demonstrates the legislator’s attempt to take into account the specifics of minors who may have acquired foreign citizenship not by their own will, but by virtue of the legislation of another state or the status of their parents.

Legal Consequences of Loss of Citizenship

Loss of citizenship entails termination of the status of a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan. After a decision is adopted, the information is entered into the “E-Fuqaro” interagency database, and the person whose citizenship has been terminated is issued a certificate of termination of citizenship. The decision is executed by the relevant authorized body, and the applicant or interested person is notified in the established manner.

An important consequence is the withdrawal of the passport, identification card and/or biometric passport of a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan for travel abroad issued to the person whose citizenship has been terminated. If the person permanently resides in the Republic of Uzbekistan, he or she is issued an identification card of a stateless person or an identification card of a citizen of a foreign state.

At the same time, loss of citizenship by one person does not automatically entail a change in the citizenship of his or her spouse or children. This provision is of significant importance, since it excludes the collective nature of the consequences and confirms an individual approach to the citizenship of each family member.

Procedure for Formalizing Loss of Citizenship of Uzbekistan

No.	Stage	Action	Responsible body	Timeframe / Result
1	Identification of the ground for loss of citizenship	The existence of one of the grounds for loss of citizenship is established: service in bodies of a foreign state, absence of permanent consular registration for 7 years, voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship, judicially established provision of false information, etc.	Internal affairs bodies, consular institutions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, interested bodies	Initial material on loss of citizenship is formed
2	Verification of the source of information	Information from interested ministries and departments, applications from individuals and legal entities, requests from foreign states, documents on foreign citizenship, and other materials are verified. For persons abroad, consular institutions play the main role.	Consular institution / internal affairs body	The fact constituting the ground for loss of citizenship is confirmed or not confirmed
3	Explanation of legal requirements to the citizen	Upon identification of the fact of voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship or absence of permanent consular registration, the citizen is informed of the provisions of Article 25 of the Law “On Citizenship” and the consequences of loss of citizenship. In case of failure to register for consular records, the citizen has the right to apply for registration, and the consulate must examine the reasons for missing the deadline.	Consular institution / internal affairs body	The citizen is warned about loss of citizenship; if valid reasons exist, he or she may be accepted for consular registration
4	Assessment of valid reasons, if the ground is failure to register for consular records	If a person has not been registered for permanent consular records for 7 years, it is verified whether valid reasons existed. Such reasons include illness, absence of a consular institution in the country of residence, and other circumstances beyond the citizen’s control.	Consular institution, Ministry of Foreign Affairs	If valid reasons exist, the loss of citizenship procedure may not be initiated
5	Preparation of material on loss of citizenship	On the basis of confirmed information, material on loss of citizenship is prepared. If the ground is voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship, the material is prepared on the basis of the passport of the foreign state.	Internal affairs body or consular institution	The material is prepared for subsequent interagency verification
6	Entry of information into the information system	Information is entered into the “E-Fuqaro” interagency database or the Consular Information System. According to the Regulation, materials on loss of citizenship are maintained in two copies: one is kept by the body that accepted the material, and the second is sent to the Citizenship Commission under the President.	Internal affairs body / consular institution	Usually within 3 business days from the date of preparation of the relevant material
7	Transfer of material through departmental channels	If the material is prepared by an internal affairs body, it is sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Main Department of Internal Affairs of Tashkent city and Tashkent region, or the regional Department of Internal Affairs, and then to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If the material is prepared by a consulate, it is sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.	Internal affairs body / consular institution	The material is transferred to the competent ministry
8	Formation of a verification request	The responsible employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs forms a verification request in the “E-Fuqaro” interagency database in respect of the person and sends it to interested ministries and departments. For certain grounds, this stage is carried out within 10 business days.	Ministry of Internal Affairs / Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Interagency verification is initiated
9	Interagency verification	Interested ministries and departments verify the presence or absence of materials preventing loss of citizenship: unfulfilled obligations to the state, property obligations, criminal prosecution, search status, state security issues, etc.	Interested ministries and departments	Within 1 month from the date of receipt of the verification request
10	Formation of the verification sheet	After completion of the verification, the responsible employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prints the verification sheet from the “E-Fuqaro” interagency database.	Ministry of Internal Affairs / Ministry of Foreign Affairs	The verification sheet is attached to the material
11	Preparation of the conclusion	On the basis of the material and the verification sheet, a conclusion on loss of citizenship is prepared. The conclusion is approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or by one of their deputies.	Ministry of Internal Affairs / Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Within 1 month
12	Content of the conclusion	The conclusion indicates information about the person, the ground for loss of citizenship, verification results, the existence of obligations to the state, whether the person has been charged as an accused, whether the person is wanted, the existence of a court judgment, whether the person is held in places of deprivation of liberty abroad, and whether loss of citizenship is consistent with the interests of state security. If there are several grounds, all grounds are indicated.	Ministry of Internal Affairs / Ministry of Foreign Affairs	A final reasoned conclusion is prepared
13	Submission of material to the Commission	The verification sheet, conclusion, and summarized information note are sent to the Citizenship Commission under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Commission reviews the materials and submits proposals to the President on citizenship matters.	Ministry of Internal Affairs / Ministry of Foreign Affairs → Commission	The material is submitted for consideration by the Commission
14	Adoption of a decision on the citizenship matter	Following consideration, the matter is resolved in the established manner through the mechanism of the Commission and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Presidential decrees on admission to citizenship, restoration of citizenship, renunciation of citizenship, and loss of citizenship are stored in the “E-Fuqaro” interagency database.	President of the Republic of Uzbekistan / Commission	A final decision is adopted
15	Execution of the decision	Execution of decisions on citizenship matters in respect of persons permanently residing in Uzbekistan is assigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its subdivisions, and in respect of persons abroad — to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consular institutions.	Ministry of Internal Affairs / Ministry of Foreign Affairs / consular institution	The decision is executed by the authorized body
16	Entry of the decision into the “E-Fuqaro” interagency database	The decision on citizenship matters is entered into the “E-Fuqaro” interagency database.	Authorized body	Termination of citizenship is recorded in the information database
17	Issuance of a certificate of termination of citizenship	A person whose citizenship has been terminated is issued a certificate of termination of citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The certificate is issued on an official letterhead, signed by the head of the body, and certified with the official seal.	Internal affairs body / consular institution	The person receives a document confirming termination of citizenship
18	Withdrawal of documents of a citizen of Uzbekistan	The passport, ID card and/or biometric passport of a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan for travel abroad are withdrawn and sent for destruction.	Authorized body	The citizen’s documents cease to be valid
19	Formalization of a new status if the person is located in Uzbekistan	If a person permanently resides in the Republic of Uzbekistan and his or her citizenship has been terminated, he or she is issued an ID card of a stateless person or an ID card of a citizen of a foreign state.	Internal affairs bodies	A document confirming the new legal status is issued