In this chapter
- Which legal form to choose
- What to prepare before filing
- The registration itself, step by step
- What to do about a foreign director
1.1Choose the legal form
| Form | Best for | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| LLC (MChJ, OOO) | Almost every foreign founder | 100% foreign ownership. No general minimum capital; each founder pays their share within the term in the charter, at most one year after registration. Up to 50 participants. |
| LLC with foreign-investment status | Larger investments | At least 15% foreign share and charter capital of at least 400 million som. Gives access to investment guarantees and a simplified long-term residence permit for founders; no automatic tax benefits. |
| Individual entrepreneur | One person, simple activity | Foreigners can register with a passport, place-of-stay registration and a PINFL. Only activities on the official list for individual entrepreneurs are allowed. |
| Representative office | A foreign company testing the market | Accredited for 1–3 years; cannot trade. Branches of foreign companies are, in practice, not registered. |
Some sectors limit foreign ownership or need a licence: banking, insurance, media, land (foreign companies may only lease it, for up to 25 years) and licensed activities such as education and medicine.
1.2Prepare before you file
Get a PINFL for every foreign founder and for the director.
The state systems identify people by this number; without it the application cannot be filed. See chapter 2.
- You need
- Passport and place-of-stay registration
Choose and check the company name.
It must not copy or closely resemble an existing name or trademark. A name can be reserved for 60 days. Using 'Uzbekistan' in the name needs separate approval.
Secure a legal address.
A real office or coworking lease where official letters reach you. An apartment in a residential building can be used only after it is converted to non-residential status.
- You need
- A signed lease or ownership document
If the founder is a foreign company, legalise its documents at home.
Charter and extract from the register with an apostille (no apostille for countries under the Minsk Convention), then a notarised translation into Uzbek.
- You get
- A complete founder file, ready before you fly
1.3File the registration
Submit the application.
Online on my.gov.uz (signed with an EDS key), or in person at any Public Services Centre (DXM).
- You need
- Founders' and director's PINFLs, the name, the address, the charter capital and its shares
Pay the state duty.
1 base value, which is 440,000 som from 1 September 2026; filing online yourself costs 90% of that (396,000 som). The same duty applies to companies with foreign investment.
Receive the registration.
The Ministry of Justice lists it as a real-time service; with foreign documents it can take up to two working days. The company is registered with the tax and statistics bodies at the same time.
- You get
- Registration certificate and the company's taxpayer number (STIR)
Order the rest in the same visit.
Since 2026 the 'business in 15 minutes' service lets you add the company's EDS key, bank account applications and other first steps to one order paid with one QR code.
A company seal is optional by law. Pay the charter capital within the term in the charter; if it is not paid within a year, the company must reduce its capital or be liquidated.
1.4The foreign director
The director can be a foreign citizen, but a foreign director usually needs a work permit, which can only be issued after the company exists. The usual solution is a temporary local director while the permit is processed (up to 15 working days); iBookkeeper can help with this case by case. See chapter 7.
1.5If your activity needs a licence
Education, medicine, construction design and several other activities need a licence or permit after registration. For example, private education needs a licence from the State Inspectorate for the Supervision of the Quality of Education, and from 1 July 2026 every non-state education building must have video surveillance with sound recording.
Checklist
- Every foreign founder and the director has a PINFL
- The name is checked and, if needed, reserved
- The legal address is a real non-residential address with a lease
- Foreign corporate documents are apostilled and translated into Uzbek
- I know whether my activity needs a licence
- I have a plan for the director's work permit
Common questions
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Uzbekistan?
Yes. A foreign individual or company can own 100% of an Uzbek LLC, with no local partner. A few sectors such as banking and media limit foreign shares.
Is there a minimum capital for an LLC in Uzbekistan?
No general minimum. A company with foreign-investment status needs at least 400 million som and a foreign share of at least 15%; licensed activities can set their own minimums.
How much is the state fee to register a company?
1 base value (440,000 som from 1 September 2026), or 90% of that when you file online yourself.
Can I register a company in Uzbekistan without coming to the country?
A founder can act through a representative with a power of attorney, but every foreign founder and the director need a PINFL, which a foreigner gets in person. Most founders therefore come once.
Want us to do it for you?
iBookkeeper registers companies for foreign and local founders and keeps their books afterwards. We talk it through in English, Uzbek or Russian first; once we agree, we sign a paper contract.
Sources
- Law of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-1137 on Limited Liability Companies (lex.uz)
- Law No. ZRU-600 on State Duty, current edition (lex.uz)
- Ministry of Justice — list of registration services (gov.uz)
- Kun.uz — Uzbekistan overhauls LLC legislation (April 2026)
- EY — Doing Business in Uzbekistan 2026
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice for your situation. Figures are current on the date shown and change; confirm them before you act.