Purchasing real estate by foreign citizens in Uzbekistan. Obtaining a residence permit through investment to the real estate.

According to the World Bank, “In recent years, the Government of Uzbekistan has implemented a series of progressive reforms. These include liberalizing the economy and improving the conditions for private sector development. Since 2017, with an average GDP growth of 5.3%, the country has become one of the world leaders in socio-economic reforms. This has contributed to high rates of national economic growth, outpacing growth in many lower-middle-income countries.”

With the development of the economy and changes in the business climate over the past 6-7 years, interest in buying real estate in Uzbekistan among foreign citizens has increased. Buying real estate in Uzbekistan has also become more attractive due to rising prices and an increase in foreign investment in Uzbekistan.

In Uzbekistan, real estate is divided into two categories: residential and non-residential. Residential premises are apartments and houses intended for human living. Other premises are non-residential (commercial), which are intended for other purposes (for example, office premises, warehouses, shopping centers, stores, industrial facilities, factories, factories, etc.).

As a general rule, a foreign citizen wishing to purchase real estate in Uzbekistan shall have a permanent residence permit or ID card, which confirms his permanent residence in Uzbekistan. However, the Uzbek law allows to purchase real estate without a permannent residence permit or ID card under certain circumstances.

Purchasing real estate for investment purposes and without holding a permanent residence permit in Uzbekistan

According to the Decree of Uzbekistan President dated 08.04.2022 No.UP-101 and the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan dated 13.07.2022 No.384, special conditions were established for real estate acquisition in Uzbekistan by foreigners - citizens of certain countries without obtaining a permanent residence permit as described below (with the exception of purchasing land plots):

1. The real estate shall be new construction projects (facilities), which are considered to be:

- property (buildings), the construction of which has already begun, but which have not been accepted for operation (including objects in respect of which there is a decision of the district (city) khokim (mayor) on approval of the commission act on acceptance into operation of a completed building, structure, residential building);

- property (buildings) for which ownership title arose on the basis of an issued permit for the operation of objects with completed construction and installation works;

- real estate property, from the moment of acceptance into operation of which have passed not more than three years.

2. The cost of real estate located in Tashkent region (oblast), Tashkent city and Samarkand city, shall be:

- not less than 150,000 US dollars during construction period;

- not less than 180,000 US dollars, if accepted for operation.

3. The cost of real estate located in other areas (regions) of Uzbekistan shall be:

- not less than 70,000 US dollars during construction period;

- not less than 85,000 US dollars, if accepted for operation.

4. A citizen of one of the following 108 countries only is entitled to buy the real estate:

1. Australia

2. Austria

3. Azerbaijan

4. Antigua and Barbuda

5. Argentina

6. Barbados

7. Belize

8. Venezuela

9. Vatican

10. Luxembourg

11. Hungary

12. Uruguay

13. Brunei

14. Israel

15. Grenada

16. Greece

17. Georgia

18. Sri Lanka

19. Dominican Republic

20. Ireland

21. Bahrain

22. Iceland

23. Italia

24. Canada

25. Kyrgyzstan

26. Andorra

27. Liechtenstein

28. Monaco

29. Guyana

30. Belgium

31. Bhutan

32. Denmark

33. Spain

34. Morocco

35. Netherlands

36. Norway

37. Thailand

38. Sweden

39. Latvia

40. Lithuania

41. Malaysia

42. Maldives

43. Mexico

44. Mongolia

45. New Zealand

46. United Arab Emirates

47. Portugal

48. Albania

49. Bulgaria

50. Bosnia and Herzegovina

51. Belarus

52. Guatemala

53. Honduras

54. Indonesia

55. Kazakhstan

56. Cyprus

57. South Korea

58. Costa Rica

59. Mauritius

60. Macedonia

61. Malta

62. Moldova

63. Nauru

64. Palau

65. Panama

66. Peru

67. Poland

68. San Marino

69. Seychelles

70. Serbia

71. Singapore

72. Slovenia

73. Suriname

74. Trinidad and Tobago

75. Tajikistan

76. Fiji

77. Philippines

78. Croatia

79. Chile

80. Ecuador

81. Russia

82. Romania

83. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

84. Saint Lucia

85. Slovakia

86. Bahamas

87. Dominica

88. United Kingdom

89. United States of America

90. Vietnam

91. Turkmenistan

92. Turkey

93. Ukraine

94. Brazil

95. Germany

96. Saint Kitts and Nevis

97. Finland

98. France

99. Montenegro

100. Czech Republic

101. Switzerland

102. Estonia

103. South Africa

104. Jamaica

105. Japan

106. Kuwait

107. Qatar

108. Oman

Acquisition of real estate in Uzbekistan by citizens of the above-mentioned countries is not a basis for obtaining permanent registration (propiska) and a permanent residence permit in Uzbekistan.

In case of acquisition of one real estate property by several persons on the basis of common ownership, the share of each owner (buyer) in this property shall be not less than the corresponding amount.

If citizenship of a foreigner does not belong to one of the above-mentioned countries, then he will not be able to acquire real estate in Uzbekistan without holding a permanent residence permit in Uzbekistan.

 

Purchasing real estate for IT-Park residents without holding a permanent residence permit in Uzbekistan

For holders of IT-Visa or a special recommendation from the IT Park Directorate (for countries that have a visa-free regime with Uzbekistan), there is no need to have a permanent residence permit to purchase housing in Uzbekistan, regardless of its cost (i.e. there is no minimum cost of real estate that such foreigners can purchase). It does not matter which country the foreigner is a citizen of (i.e. there is no list of countries for whose citizens IT-Visas would not be issued).

IT-Visa is a category of multiple-entry visa for foreign citizens arriving from countries with which Uzbekistan has a visa regime. This visa is issued for up to 3 (three) years with possibility of extension without leaving Uzbekistan territory.

IT-Visa is issued by regional departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan at the place of temporary residence of the applicant (foreigner) on the basis of a recommendation from IT-Park (it-park.uz). In this case, family members (spouse, parents, children) are issued a guest visa.

IT Card is a type of recommendation issued by the IT Park Directorate to foreign citizens, on the basis of which an IT-Visa is issued for citizens with a visa regime, or only an IT Card for citizens with a visa-free regime, to use benefits and preferences.

 

Purchasing real estate for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Uzbekistan

If a foreigner wishes to permanently reside in Uzbekistan and wants to obtain a permanent residence permit, he can do so by purchasing a real estate.

According to the Decree of Uzbekistan President dated 05.01.2019 No.UP-5611, citizens of the following (below) countries are allowed to obtain a permanent residence permit in Uzbekistan in case of acquisition of real estate.

At the same time, this right is granted subject to the purchase by a foreigner of real estate in the amount of at least:

- 300,000 US dollars in the Tashkent region or Tashkent city;

- 200,000 US dollars in the Samarkand, Bukhara, Namangan, Andijan, Fergana and Khorezm regions;

- 100,000 US dollars in Karakalpakstan and other regions of Uzbekistan.

1. Australia

2. Austria

3. Azerbaijan

4. Algeria

5. Antigua and Barbuda

6. Egypt

7. Argentina

8. Barbados

9. Belize

10. Venezuela

11. Vatican

12. Luxembourg

13. Hungary

14. Uruguay

15. Brunei

16. Israel

17. Grenada

18. Greece

19. Georgia

20. Sri Lanka

21. Dominican Republic

22. Ireland

23. Iran

24. Iceland

25. Italia

26. Canada

27. Kyrgyzstan

28. China, including special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau

29. Andorra

30. Liechtenstein

31. Monaco

32. Guyana

33. Belgium

34. Bhutan

35. Denmark

36. Spain

37. Morocco

38. Netherlands

39. Norway

40. Thailand

41. Sweden

42. Latvia

43. Lebanon

44. Lithuania

45. Malaysia

46. Maldives

47. Mexico

48. Mongolia

49. New Zealand

50. United Arab Emirates

51. Portugalia

52. Albania

53. Bulgaria

54. Bosnia and Herzegovina

55. Belarus

56. Guatemala

57. Honduras

58. India

59. Indonesia

60. Kazakhstan

61. Cyprus

62. Colombia

63. South Korea

64. Costa Rica

65. Mauritius

66. Macedonia

67. Malta

68. Moldova

69. Nauru

70. Palau

71. Panama

72. Peru

73. Poland

74. San Marino

75. Seychelles

76. Serbia

77. Singapore

78. Slovenia

79. Suriname

80. Trinidad and Tobago

81. Tajikistan

82. Fiji

83. Philippines

84. Croatia

85. Chile

86. Ecuador

87. Russia

88. Romania

89. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

90. Saint Lucia

91. Slovakia

92. Bahamas

93. Dominica

94. United Kingdom

95. United States of America

96. Vietnam

97. Tunisia

98. Turkey

99. Ukraine

100. Brazil

101. Germany

102. Saint Kitts and Nevis

103. Finland

104. France

105. Montenegro

106. Czech Republic

107. Switzerland

108. Estonia

109. South Africa

110. Jamaica

111. Japan