November 18, 2025
Starting business in 15 minutes
On 14 November 2025, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 214 (the “Presidential Decree“) was adopted. The Presidential Decree envisages the reforms in the spheres of business registration and licensing.
Starting from 1 January 2026, a new simplified business registration procedure under the principle of “Starting business in 15 minutes” will be implemented. With the implementation of the new procedure, entrepreneurs at their own discretion can now immediately receive the following government services at the moment of registration of their business:
- getting the electronic digital signature (EDS) key;
- submitting an application for opening bank accounts and activating them;
- submitting an application to obtain a license or a permit to send a notification for certain types of activities;
- registration of an immovable property lease agreement;
- obtaining a VAT payer’s certificate (for taxpayers who are automatically issued a certificate without specifying the level of tax risk);
- purchasing online cash registers online and registering them with tax authorities;
- appointment of the head (CEO) of the legal entity and its registration in the “Unified National Labor System”.
Payment for selected services will be made using a single QR code.
Moreover, starting from 1 January 2026, individual entrepreneurs (a form of business not having the status of a legal entity) may now have their own trade (firm) name. In case of changes in the primary data of business entities (name, surname, patronymic, trade name, address, organizational and legal form, etc.), such changes are made to the individual entrepreneur’s certificate, license, permit, and notification automatically, free of charge through interdepartmental electronic interaction.
Reforms in the sphere of licensing will be implemented starting from 1 March 2026 and include the following:
- officials of legal entities will now not be charged with administrative liability when legal entities are fined for offenses in the field of licensing, permitting, and notification procedures;
- voluntary preliminary assessment service will be introduced in the “License” information system when obtaining licenses and permits.
As part of the preliminary assessment, it is examined whether the applicant’s resources (buildings, structures, material and technical resources, equipment, hired personnel, etc.) are sufficient for compliance with licensing and permitting requirements, and a corresponding conclusion report will be issued. The preliminary assessment service will be provided within a period not exceeding 20 days, and the fee charged for this service will not exceed the fee paid for the consideration of an application for the issuance of the relevant license or permit.