Uzbekistan Moves to Simplify Residential Registration Rules

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has passed in the first reading a bill simplifying the registration of citizens by place of residence and place of stay, according to the press service of the lower house of parliament.

The document removes several restrictions for the registration of close relatives and students, while also easing requirements for registration in housing under mortgage or arrest.

Under the bill, social housing space norms will not apply when registering spouses, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters in each other's residential premises. Insufficient apartment area relative to established norms will not serve as an obstacle to registration in such cases.

A similar exception is proposed for students living in dormitories, which the authors of the project note will resolve issues arising during the registration of higher education students.

Specific changes apply to citizens living in housing acquired through mortgages or subsidies. The authors of the bill noted that current requirements often create difficulties in enrolling children in schools and kindergartens, registering with polyclinics, and receiving pensions and social services.

The project also provides for easing requirements regarding the consent of bodies and organizations authorized to take housing as collateral, or to impose or remove bans or arrest, including banks, courts, and the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement.

Such consent will not be required when registering property owners and their close relatives in premises subject to a prohibition or arrest.

At the same time, the bill proposes introducing a mechanism for a person's preliminary written consent to registration, which can be canceled upon application by a pledgee or authorized body. The authors intend for this mechanism to balance the rights of citizens with the interests of creditors and state bodies.

The bill was supported by 116 of the 118 deputies present, with two deputies abstaining from voting.

The changes are also connected to the digitization of registration services. In July, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs published a draft regulation on the E-Rozilik online platform, designed for remote identification and consent retrieval for specific migration and personalization services.

The platform is intended to collect consents from property owners or individuals being registered for residence or stay, and when necessary, for removal from registration.

It also provides for obtaining property owners' consent for the registration of foreigners.