DG - dual citizenship in Uzbekistan acts on the same principle as in any other country in Europe and the world as a whole. Legislatively, it arises as a legal status if an appropriate international treaty is concluded between the two states.
The agreement establishes the conditions for the emergence of a new provision, the rights and obligations of the parties that sign the agreement, the rules for the operation of the agreement, the rights and obligations of persons with a double position, the duration of the agreement and so on.
Whether dual citizenship is allowed in Uzbekistan, we will examine further.
Difference of concepts
The presence of two passports of different states does not give the citizen of Uzbekistan the right to be considered the holder of dual citizenship, even if the person has the right to report the availability of a second passport to the authorized bodies, and there will be nothing for him.
As it was said earlier, the DG legislatively arises only if an agreement is signed and valid between the two states.
Moreover, if the specified agreement is absent, dual citizenship in Uzbekistan or in any other country cannot be. If the agreement is signed, it can easily be found on the Web on the official website of the government of the desired state.
To officially become a citizen of two states, it is enough that one of the countries does not require withdrawal from previous citizenship when registering a new status.
For example, to obtain Russian citizenship, the applicant provides a notarized copy of the refusal of the existing status to the OMVD OMV. In this case, a full exit from previous citizenship is not required, but implied. A newly minted Russian citizen will not lose his status if he does not renounce his old citizenship within two years, but will be punished with a fine. Accordingly, the occurrence of DW in this case is possible.
Dual Citizenship Act in Uzbekistan
The studied question is most often asked by natives of the Central Asian country. There is no dual citizenship between Russia and Uzbekistan. At the same time, RU forbids its residents to have such a status. In accordance with the amendments adopted to the law on citizenship, from September 2016, persons who have issued foreign citizenship are required to report this to the authorized bodies within 30 days.
The adopted amendments do not give Uzbek citizens the right to formalize foreign status. Also, they do not have the opportunity to enjoy the rights and obligations of residents of 2 states. Accordingly, the law on dual citizenship does not exist in Uzbekistan.
After a resident has announced that he has 2 passports, he is asked to choose the status of the state that he prefers to refuse. If a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan received foreign citizenship, after submitting a notice, he will have to collect a certain package of documents in order to voluntarily withdraw from citizenship of Uzbekistan.
Forced Termination of Citizenship
In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the law on citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the citizenship of an Uzbek citizen who has become a citizen of another state can be terminated after the adoption of the relevant decree of the President of Uzbekistan by force.
The consul or embassies do not have the right to deprive an Uzbek citizen of citizenship, even if they learn about his foreign status.
The presence of foreign citizenship for an Uzbek is the basis for the deprivation of Uzbek citizenship.
The decision to terminate citizenship is made by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. After filing a notice of the second status, as well as after the very entry into foreign citizenship, it may take several years before the documents of a particular citizen will be considered by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
How to find out about the presence of DG?
Traditionally, uninformed people themselves report the presence of a second passport to their friends and acquaintances, since they believe that dual citizenship in Uzbekistan was allowed back in 2016. Relatives often share or boast to their friends and acquaintances about their new position. Uzbek citizens themselves report the existence of a second status to employees of authorized bodies if they do not know about responsibility and risks.
In addition, the law obliges citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan to inform about the availability of a second citizenship by submitting a special notice within one month after entering a new status.
If a person permanently resides in Uzbekistan or often comes here, uses public services in the Republic of Uzbekistan and accordingly often turns to local self-government bodies, information about him will quickly reach the authorized bodies, even if the citizen himself did not submit a notification of the second status.
For example, when applying for a pension in the Republic of Uzbekistan, they will immediately find out if the applicant has a second passport, since they will verify his identity, seniority, length of stay in the country, etc. Employees of state institutions have the right to submit a request to the authorized bodies of a foreign state in order to find out about the status of a particular citizen.
Or if a person often travels abroad (this information is recorded in the database), customs officers will ask the citizen what documents give him the right to stay there for a long time and ask them to present. If a citizen does not have a residence permit or a temporary residence permit, his long trips will cause suspicions and information about the person will be checked. Accordingly, in order to keep the secret, you will have to really, really try and come up with a whole conspiratorial plan.
At the same time, some manage to use passports of the two states for a long time and go unnoticed.
Benefits of DG
An agreement on dual citizenship in Uzbekistan would not only determine the rights and obligations of citizens of two states, but would also allow the status itself to exist in principle. An agreement would give individuals the right not to give up their previous status, and therefore enjoy the benefits of a resident in both states.
Obtaining foreign citizenship is not a panacea for Uzbeks. In Russia, in order not to give up the previous status, it is enough to obtain a residence permit that will allow a foreigner to be officially in the country for 5 years without compulsory visits, get a job, use the services of free medicine, and engage in entrepreneurial activity. Residence permit is inferior to citizenship only in the following positions:
- for official employment, the consent of the employer and his willingness to hire a foreigner is important, since he will have to inform the OMVD department of internal affairs about this and prepare a number of necessary documents for this;
- with a residence permit, a foreigner does not have the right to run for the party and the government as a whole;
- a foreigner with a residence permit does not participate, that is, does not vote in elections.
If such nuances do not scare the Uzbek, it is better not to apply for Russian citizenship so as not to lose their existing status in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Exit from the citizenship of Uzbekistan
In order not to violate the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, after obtaining foreign citizenship, the applicant submits a special notice to the authorized bodies. Allowed circulation period is 30 days.
After that, an Uzbek citizen collects and submits documents for leaving the citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Before an appropriate decree is issued on the termination of the applicant’s citizenship, an Uzbek is recognized in the Republic of Uzbekistan only as a citizen of this country (in accordance with the Constitution), and therefore adheres to local laws and regulations.
After submitting documents on withdrawal from the Uzbek status, the applicant will be issued a certificate of acceptance of the papers. With this certificate, the applicant leaves the country, announces his intention to go to the authorized bodies, is registered at the consulates abroad.
When the relevant decree of the President of Uzbekistan on the termination of citizenship is issued, the applicant applies to the authorized bodies at the place of residence in the Republic of Uzbekistan in order to receive a new certificate of withdrawal from the status of a citizen and hand over his passport.
The term for consideration of an application for renunciation of citizenship
The permissible term for making a decision on termination of Uzbek citizenship is from 1 to 3 years after submitting the application and all necessary papers. At the same time, employees of authorized bodies have the right to contact the applicant in order to convey the necessary papers, correct the statement, and on any other organizational issues. The term for consideration begins only when the applicant’s documents are finally accepted and transferred to the authorized bodies.
However, there is no statute of limitations for those persons who did not report having a second citizenship. The decision to terminate the Uzbek status by force can be taken at any time, even years after obtaining foreign citizenship.
Dual citizenship with Russia
The presence of DG is not prohibited in Russia. Therefore, some residents of the Central Asian country after the adoption of the 2016 amendments believe that dual citizenship in Uzbekistan was allowed to "Russian" (newly made). Registration of a new status is possible without exiting the previous one. However, having received Russian status, the Uzbek man still violates the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This is important to know.
Dual citizenship in Uzbekistan with Russia is possible only after signing a special agreement. In 2019, such an agreement has not yet been signed.
Dual citizenship for Russians
Russians are entitled to dual status only with Tajikistan. The agreement with Turkmenistan was valid until 2015. Persons who have received status from the Russian Federation before the indicated date are not deprived of it. Russians cannot obtain dual citizenship in Uzbekistan. In this case, it is permissible to obtain status and abandon the Russian, so as not to violate the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In Russia, after obtaining foreign citizenship, it is sufficient to submit a notification to the OMVD OMV of the availability of foreign status within 30 days after returning to the Russian Federation or within 60 days after entering a new status.
Responsibility for dual status
Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan who have not been informed of the adoption of foreign citizenship are liable to a fine. In addition, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has the right to terminate the citizenship of an Uzbek citizen who obtains foreign status.
Russian citizens are not prohibited from obtaining resident or citizen status abroad. In this case, for violation of the deadlines for the submission of a notice, a fine of 500 to 1000 rubles is imposed. Entry into foreign citizenship is not a reason for the termination of Russian citizenship, since it contradicts the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the "Law on Citizenship of the Russian Federation."
Entrance to Uzbekistan after obtaining citizenship of the Russian Federation
Despite the presence of foreign citizenship in Uzbekistan, Uzbeks are recognized only as citizens of Uzbekistan. Therefore, after obtaining Russian status, entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan is possible only with a Uzbekistan passport.
If a citizen has already submitted documents to exit from his former status, he can, upon request, present an appropriate certificate. If the documents have not yet been submitted, but the deadlines have not been violated and the passport has permission to leave, the citizen simply reports the situation and goes on.
