Uzbekistan is rapidly becoming one of Central Asia’s most business-friendly destinations — offering total foreign ownership, fast online registration, and tax incentives through programs like IT Park’s Zero Risk. In this guide Tawney Kruger walks through the entire process, from legal structures to work permits, making it easier than ever to launch and scale in the Uzbek market.
Tawney Kruger, city— Tashkent, media professional and tech entrepreneur, linkedin
I’m a media professional, currently with Financial IT and tech entrepreneur based in Tashkent. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be sharing insights on doing business in Uzbekistan—drawing from my own experience building ventures like PraaktisGO, Zaytra.ai, and working with kpi.com . I’ll dive into how we work with local partners, including IT Park. From navigating registrations and legal frameworks to tapping into talent and scaling regionally, these articles aim to offer practical guidance for founders, investors, and operators looking to engage with one of Central Asia’s most dynamic ecosystems.
Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s most populous country, is fast becoming one of the region’s most business-friendly destinations. With over 155 000 legal entities now registered online, a streamlined digital process, and major reforms in taxation and investment law, foreign entrepreneurs are entering the market at a record pace. I have personally set up three new businesses in the last seven months, and two of them were established through IT Park Uzbekistan.
So, how do you go about setting up your business? And what should you know before launching in this fast-evolving economy?
Let’s walk through everything — from registration steps to legal structures, work permits, and tax incentives — so you can make a confident entry into Uzbekistan’s dynamic market.
One of the most appealing aspects of Uzbekistan’s business environment is that it allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. There’s no requirement to have a local partner, and you can own and manage your company entirely from abroad or on the ground.
You also don’t need to go through lengthy bureaucratic hurdles. Through portals like my.gov.uz and fo.birdarcha.uz, or the One Stop Shop it’s now possible to register your business completely online — and in many cases, in just two working days.
For international founders, the Limited Liability Company remains the most common and straightforward route to enter the Uzbek market.
1. No minimum charter capital required.
2. Quick registration: within one-two business days after document submission.
3. Can be owned and managed by foreign citizens.
4. Legal entities or individuals can be shareholders.
5. Up to 50 participants are permitted.
All you need is a company name, a registered local address, IT Park can help with this, and your founding documents.
You’ll also need an Electronic Digital Signature, which acts as your secure login to file forms and sign documents online. After that, submit your application through the portal, pay a small state duty which is approximately 270 000 UZS, or around $22 USD, and wait for approval.
Once approved, you’ll be assigned a Taxpayer Identification Number TIN/PINFL, and you can open a corporate bank account and order your company seal.
I’m a numbers person and recent statistics from Uzbekistan’s Unified Portal for State Services show some interesting trends:
As you can see, digital registration is the go-to option for foreign companies and startups wanting to set up shop in Uzbekistan. So you can register from anywhere at any time.
Don’t need a full company just yet?You have a few other options.
Representative Offices can be established to explore the market or coordinate operations without conducting commercial activity. They’re accredited by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and are valid for one to three years. The process is straightforward, and foreign directors don’t require a work permit.
Permanent Establishment status applies to foreign companies carrying out operations in Uzbekistan without a legal entity. According to Article 20 of the Tax Code, a PE is triggered if you’re doing business for over 183 days, or involved in on-ground projects like construction, warehousing, or sales. It doesn’t require full registration, but you’ll be taxed accordingly.
If you’re a startup in software, digital services, AI, or e-commerce, IT Park Uzbekistan might be your golden ticket, with a much less risky environment than Wonka’s chocolate factory. Zero risk? Yes, please!
Another added benefit to opening operations in Uzbekistan is IT Park’s Zero Risk Program. The program provides 12 months of free office space, access to technical equipment, recruitment and training reimbursements, and up to 15% payroll compensation for local hires.
To qualify, companies must commit to employing at least 50 people in their first year and hold an export contract of $500 000, or be part of a parent company with an annual turnover of $50 million.
Established in 2019 ,IT Park offers a range of investor benefits, including:
Your company can apply for IT Park residency during or after your LLC registration process. Applications are reviewed quickly, and support is provided in English and Russian, and other languages are available too.
You’re allowed to hire both local and foreign staff, and you can appoint a foreign national as your director. There’s no requirement to employ a minimum number of people — so yes, single-founder startups are totally fine.
As a foreign employee and founder, I received my IT Visa and IT Card through the online portal in 2 weeks and IT Park’s team helped me every step of the way.
If you plan to hire foreign employees, beyond IT Park exemptions, you’ll need a work permit from the Agency for External Labor Migration. The process is formal but manageable, and timelines are improving.
Representative offices are generally exempt from this requirement, as their foreign directors are covered under accreditation protocols.
Whether you’re setting up a fin-tech app, managing international sales, or testing a new product in the region, the tools and support are already in place.
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