Foreigners to be allowed to open IT companies in Uzbekistan online

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has reviewed a series of development proposals aimed at expanding the state digital management platform, accelerating the startup ecosystem, and establishing a highly competitive environment for the IT sector.

Among the standout initiatives is the launch of the "Talent Hub" program, which will allow foreign IT specialists and investors to remotely incorporate IT businesses, open local bank accounts, and secure international bank cards without being physically present in the country.

According to the presidential press service, Uzbekistan aims to aggressively grow its digital economy by 2030, targeting US$5 billion in annual IT service exports, fostering 5,000 active startups, and attracting at least US$2 billion in technology investments. The Talent Hub program is designed as a primary mechanism to hit these benchmarks by dramatically lowering bureaucratic barriers for foreign tech entrepreneurs seeking market entry.

During the presentation, officials also proposed extending tax preferences for employees of IT Park resident companies until 2040. Discussions also focused on expanding the specialized IT Visa program and scaling up the "Zero Risk" initiative, which has now been restructured and rebranded as the "Incentives" program.

To further stimulate the growth of export-oriented IT firms, the government plans to offer partial financial reimbursements. Covered expenses will include employee payroll, international certification costs, and relocation expenditures incurred while bringing foreign clients and specialized personnel into Uzbekistan. Additionally, more than 20 startup acceleration programs are slated to launch in the Bukhara and Fergana regions to help local digital enterprises scale into global markets. The meeting also addressed long-term digital infrastructure objectives, including the deployment of a new national navigation system.

Under the updated regulatory framework revised by the Ministry of Digital Technologies in March 2026, the eligibility criteria for securing an IT Visa have been expanded. The multi-entry visa is currently available to foreign investors, highly qualified IT professionals, founders and executive directors of IT Park resident companies, participants of the "Digital Startups" initiative, and foreign university professors holding advanced degrees in computer science.

To qualify under the investor and founder tracks, foreign individuals must hold a registered equity stake worth at least US$30,000 in a certified IT Park resident company, or alternatively, provide a direct capital investment of an equivalent amount into the local digital enterprise.