How a Chinese Company Enters Uzbekistan: From Registration to a Running Business
According to Uzbekistan’s State Committee on Statistics, as of 1 September 2026 there were 6,436 companies with Chinese capital in Uzbekistan, making China the largest source of foreign-invested companies in the country. More and more Chinese companies and individuals are coming to Tashkent to open companies, build factories and trade.
This article lists every step, in the order it actually happens, from zero to a running business. Follow the links for the details of each step.
Step 1: Choose the company type
Most foreign investors use a limited liability company (LLC): it can be 100% foreign-owned and can sign contracts, issue invoices, hire staff and operate. If you already have a parent company in China, a branch or a representative office is also an option. The differences are explained in LLC, branch or representative office: which to choose.
Step 2: Prepare documents in China
- The shareholder is a Chinese company: the business licence and other corporate documents must be apostilled in China. China has applied the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents since November 2023, so consular legalisation is no longer needed.
- The shareholder is an individual: a valid passport.
- Director: a valid passport, plus documents confirming qualifications for the work permit. To apply as a “qualified” or “highly qualified” specialist, you need proof of higher education and at least 5 years of relevant experience.
Once in Uzbekistan, the documents must be translated into Uzbek or Russian and notarised.
Send scans to your consultant first. Get the format and content confirmed before you apostille anything, to avoid redoing the work and sending documents back and forth.
Step 3: Register the company
Prepare the company name, legal address, charter and the director’s appointment documents, file for registration through a Public Services Centre or online, and receive the registration certificate and taxpayer number (TIN). With complete documents, registration itself usually takes 1–2 working days.
Step 4: Open a bank account
After registration, open a sum account and a foreign-currency account, and get an electronic digital signature for the director. See Opening a corporate bank account.
Step 5: Get a work permit and work visa
Visa-free entry does not allow you to work. The director and foreign employees first need a work permit, then a work visa based on it. See Work permits and work visas.
Step 6: Residence registration
Foreigners must register temporarily at their actual address: a hotel does this for its guests; in rented housing, the landlord does it. See Residence registration.
Step 7: Annual renewals and day-to-day compliance
Work permits, work visas and residence registration all expire. Keep a table of expiry dates and plan renewals in advance. Tax filing is handled by your accountant; if the company’s address or director changes, register the change promptly.
How long does it take overall
With all documents ready, it usually takes 6–8 weeks from starting registration to the director receiving a work visa. Time for apostilling documents in China comes on top.
Common mistakes
- Thinking visa-free entry lets you start work first: visa-free entry does not cover work; working without a permit can mean fines or even deportation.
- Documents prepared in China in the wrong format: they cannot be used in Uzbekistan and have to be apostilled again.
- Forgetting to re-register after moving: you must register again every time you change address.
- Starting renewals at the last minute: renewals take time, and overstaying means fines.
