Is it possible to marry an Uzbek girl in Uzbekistan with a visit visa?

Greetings, I am Natalia Kovalenko, and I am currently in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. At this moment, you are seeing the view of Samarkand State Medical University, and as you can see, I am wearing a very thick, fur-lined blanket and very thick fur shoes because today the temperature in Samarkand is minus 5°C. Naturally, if it’s minus 5, it’s very cold. So, one has to dress warmly to stay secure. You can see the students here; these are the students of Samarkand State Medical University, and they are all wearing heavy coats and jackets because life in minus temperatures becomes quite difficult.

So, I am writing this blog today because a brother had commented below our blog asking if we get a passport from Uzbekistan if we marry a local woman here. And if we do get a passport, how long does it take to get it?

Look, there are two aspects to your question. The first is, can a foreigner marry a local woman here? The simple answer is yes, it’s possible. Because these local people are not very wealthy or rich, I am talking about Samarkand. I live in Samarkand. The surrounding areas of Samarkand are villages and rural areas, and the province of Samarkand is the capital of Samarkand city. If a Pakistani or an Indian goes to those villages or even the city and wants to marry a local woman, it is not a difficult task at all. Marriage happens easily here.

Now, what is your legal status after marriage? Well, marriage can take place not only in the villages but also in cities. But let me tell you, it is not a huge challenge. Marrying here is easy compared to other countries. We have seen that foreign businessmen or workers who are here do get help from local women, and they assist them with the departments and organizations here. So, it’s not a big task; marriage happens easily.

The second question was, how long does it take to get a passport? Now, I want to add something here—if I ask you, "What will you do with an Uzbek passport?" I would remain silent for a moment. Why? Because an Uzbek passport is not very valuable. The value of an Uzbek passport is not much. For example, if Pakistan’s passport is ranked third, Uzbekistan’s passport is ranked somewhere around 106th. Countries like Pakistan, with a similar passport, have the same visa worth as Uzbekistan. So, having an Uzbek passport is not a huge achievement.

Secondly, it’s very difficult to get an Uzbek passport. If you buy property here legally, say you bring around 1.5 to 2 lakh dollars from Pakistan and purchase property here, you get a five-year residential permit or card against that. You can stay here for five years. Similarly, if you marry here, there is a proper office where you go and get married, and your marriage is registered there. After that, you get a two-year residential permit card. You stay here for two years. If your married life is going well and you continue, then you will get the next five-year permit. But you will only get the residential permit, not the passport.

So, keep in mind that getting the passport here is very difficult. Yes, getting a passport in Kyrgyzstan is easier. You might even get it in Tajikistan, but in Uzbekistan, you do not get a passport. You only get a residential permit. This residential permit can be obtained through marriage or through investment.

So, I believe your question has been answered. If you come to Uzbekistan and want to marry, the marriage will happen, but you will not get the passport. If you want to get a residential permit, you need to invest here, and you will get a residential permit. Thank you very much.