The following information, which was found on the Tashkent.uz Website, is indicated as coming from the source Appendix N 2 to Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan N UP-2240 of 26 February 1999 (Tashkent.uz 3 Mar. 2003a; ibid. 3 Mar. 2003b; ibid. 3 Mar. 2003c).

Foreigners can apply for one of two types of residence registration (Tashkent 3 Mar. 2003b). The first is a "constant [i.e. permanent] registration" for persons who will live in the same place on a permanent basis; the other is a "temporary registration," for persons who will live in a residence for a "period of three days to six months" (ibid.).

The following people can apply for permanent registration:

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citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

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foreign citizens, including citizens of CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States];

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persons without citizenship, [in possession] of [a] residence permit [as provided to them] by [organs of internal affairs] of the Republic of Uzbekistan [according to] established [practices] (ibid).

Those who are entitled to apply for temporary registration are the following:

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citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan [in transit] from one place to another on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

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citizens of CIS;

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persons who have arrived from CIS, with passports of former USSR in which there are no [notes] about citizenship;

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foreign citizens and persons without citizenship [who have] arrived in Uzbekistan under entry visas (ibid).

Concurrently, the Tashkent.uz Website indicates that in the case of an adult whose parents live in Uzbekistan, the adult child who does not have a family or who has minor children but is not married can apply to be registered at his or her parents' place of residence (3 Mar. 2003c).

To apply for a residence permit, "foreign citizens and persons without citizenship" must submit

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application of [prescribed] form;

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national passport or certificate of person without citizenship;

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entry visa [for] Republic of Uzbekistan;

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receipt [for] payment of state tax;

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[for permanent registration, a written application, supplied by the inviting party, must be presented] (ibid. 3 Mar. 2003a).

The above information could not be corroborated by the Research Directorate within time constraints.

However, additional information on the system of residence permits in Uzbekistan may be useful. According to one source,

[r]ural Uzbeks who come to Tashkent in search of work often pay a significant portion of their earnings in bribes to the police and various government officials to be allowed to live in the capital. Temporary residence permits can be purchased for $40-$70 [while a] permanent prospika for Tashkent requires greater resources, anywhere from $300 to $1,000, or roughly 25 to 75 percent of an Uzbek's average annual income (Eurasianet 27 Oct. 2004).

According to another source, residence permits are required of every inhabitant of Uzbekistan (WWRN 30 July 2004). A note of their residence permits is made on their internal passports (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Eurasianet. 27 October 2004. Esmer Islamov and Kamal Kholmuradov. "Tashkent Mayor: 'Non-Official' Residents Threat to Security." http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav102704.shtml [Accessed 10 Dec. 2004]

Tashkent.uz. 3 March 2003a. "Documents Given for Residence Permit Registration." http://www.tashkent.uz/content.htm?short_name=/articles/society/migration/documents_for_residence_permit_registration [Accessed 7 Dec. 2004]

_____. 3 March 2003b. "Registration and Extract of Citizens in Territory of Uzbekistan." http://www.tashkent.uz/content.htm?short_name=/articles/society/migration/registration_and_extract [Accessed 7 Dec. 2004]

_____. 3 March 2003c. "Who Has the Right to Registration?" http://www.tashkent.uz/content.htm?short_name=/articles/society/migration/right_to_registration [Accessed 7 Dec. 2004]

WorldWide Religious News (WWRN). 30 July 2004. Igor Rotar."Uzbekistan: Baptist Denied Permission to Live in Own Home." http://www.wwrn.org/sparse.php?idd=9718&c=105 [Accessed 10 Dec. 2004]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Citizenship Laws of the World, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003, Tashkent.uz, United States Department of State (DOS) Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder Report on Uzbekistan.

Publication: Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan of 28 July 1992.

Oral source: Uzbekistan Consulate General in New York.