Citizenship of Uzbekistan can be acquired:

• upon birth; or

• as a result of being granted citizenship under certain conditions provided for by the Uzbek Laws on Citizenship and its international agreements.

A person holding Uzbek citizenship will not be recognized by Uzbekistan as a citizen of any other country.

A child is considered to be an Uzbek citizen if:

• both parents at the time of the child’s birth were citizens of Uzbekistan regardless of the fact where the child may been born in the world.
• if one of the parents is an Uzbek citizen and the child is born in Uzbekistan.
• if one of the parents is an Uzbek citizen and the child is born outside of Uzbekistan, but either or both of the parents had a permanent place of residence in  Uzbekistan at the time of the child’s birth.
• if only one of the parents is an Uzbek citizen and if at the time of the child’s birth both parents had a permanent place of residence beyond the boundaries of  Uzbekistan, the child’s citizenship shall be defined by the consent of the parents expressed in writing.
• a child, one of whose parents at the moment of the child’s birth was a citizen of Uzbekistan, and the other one was a person without citizenship, or was unknown, regardless of the birthplace.

Renunciation of Uzbek citizenship is possible upon submission of a personal petition.  The petition may be denied if the person has unfulfilled legal or specific material obligations to the Uzbek Government, or has a personal connection with vital interests of the State and/or public organizations. Renunciation requests may not be granted if criminal proceedings have been instituted against the person, if a criminal sentence has been imposed against the petitioner, or if it is not in the security interests of Uzbekistan.

According to Uzbek law, these petitions may be filed at an Uzbek diplomatic or consular office outside of Uzbekistan.  There is no legal requirement for a dual national to travel back to Uzbekistan to file the petition.  Petitioners should expect a delay of up to one year or more before any decision is rendered by the Uzbek Government.

United States law does not mention dual nationality or require persons with more than one nationality to choose one over another.  Section 349(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act provides that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they obtain naturalization in a foreign state voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship.  However, the Department of State has a uniform administrative standard of evidence based on the premise that U.S. citizens intend to retain United States citizenship when they obtain naturalization in a foreign state.  Persons who wish to relinquish U.S nationality by naturalizing in Uzbekistan should contact the U.S. Embassy.

An American dual national must enter and leave the United States on a valid U.S. passport.  Such a person is free, however, to use any other passport to which he is entitled to enter and leave any other country.

The United States will not issue visas to its citizens.  This includes persons born abroad who are entitled to U.S. citizenship.  Such persons are U.S. citizens at birth even before they are documented as U.S. citizens.

Uzbekistan does not recognize dual nationality.  It considers any dual national to be solely an Uzbek citizen. Thus, the ability of the U.S. Embassy to provide assistance to an American-Uzbek dual national in Uzbekistan may be limited.

Some issues that a dual national may face in Uzbekistan are obligatory tax payments and, for male citizens, military service. Please note, having dual nationality is not a crime in Uzbekistan.

Requirement for a Biometric Passport for Foreign Travel: In January 2019, Uzbekistan introduced a new type of passport for travel abroad. The permit to travel abroad, also known as an exit permit sticker, has been abolished.

Obtaining a foreign-travel passport takes at least 15 business days and possibly longer for those who have been away from Uzbekistan for extended periods of time. Travelers should plan their travels accordingly if they have to obtain this new type of passport before being able to depart Uzbekistan. Please see the website of the Uzbek Embassy in Washington, D.C. for more information. Please note that the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan cannot assist dual nationals with obtaining their Uzbek travel passports.

Travel Allowed on a Biometric Passport for Foreign Travel:

• Uzbek citizens, including dual nationals, departing the Republic of Uzbekistan must exit using a valid biometric passport for foreign travel (red passport), regardless of age.
• To depart for the United States, dual nationals should be prepared to present a valid U.S. passport in addition to an Uzbek foreign travel passport.

Restrictions on Travel of a Minor of Uzbek Citizen Parent: Uzbek diplomatic missions will refuse to issue a visa to a U.S. citizen minor if at least one of the minor’s parents is an Uzbek citizen who has registered a permanent residence (“propiska”) in Uzbekistan. In these cases, the Uzbek Embassy in Washington, D.C., or the Consulate General in New York will either issue an Uzbek birth certificate or issue a certificate of return to Uzbekistan.