Uzbekistan Floats Tax Residency Perks to Attract Foreign Talent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan is moving to lure foreign nationals with a dedicated tax residency regime — one that accepts cryptocurrency wallets as a qualifying financial instrument alongside traditional banking.

Deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis passed the bill in its first reading, greenlighting a package that would allow foreign citizens to obtain Uzbek tax residency status by paying a fixed special levy and opening either a bank account at an authorized institution or a crypto wallet on a registered exchange. The dual-track financial onboarding option is notable, placing Uzbekistan among a small group of jurisdictions formally integrating digital assets into their tax residency frameworks.

The bill goes further, extending its benefits to family members: adult close relatives of qualifying foreign nationals would be exempt from taxation on income earned outside Uzbekistan — a provision designed to make relocation a more compelling proposition for high-value individuals.

A separate set of amendments targets workforce development through Uzbekistan's dual education system, under which students combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training. Employers taking on such trainees would see the social tax levied on those workers' wages cut by half — a direct financial incentive to expand vocational and technical training pipelines.

Deputies argued the legislation would tangibly improve Uzbekistan's investment climate by making the country more attractive to foreign professionals and entrepreneurs. The workforce provisions, meanwhile, are expected to accelerate the production of practically skilled specialists across priority economic sectors.

The bill now proceeds to further legislative scrutiny ahead of a second reading.