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Starting from March 1, 2026, citizens of Uzbekistan residing in Turkey on a permanent basis for at least three years will be able to automatically receive work permits in this country. This information was announced by the press service of the Migration Agency of Uzbekistan.
This innovation became possible due to an agreement reached between Behzod Musaev, the head of the Agency, and the Turkish Minister of Labor Vedat Işıkhan.
Currently, to obtain a work permit, foreigners must have an employer and apply for a special visa at the consulate in their home country, as well as receive approval from local authorities through information systems. Now, a more accessible scheme is being introduced for Uzbeks.
During the meeting, it was also agreed to sign a document stating that the Turkish Employment Agency İŞKUR will centrally compile a list of the most in-demand professions in the labor market and send these requests to Uzbekistan.
Additionally, both parties agreed to continue the legalization of Uzbek citizens in Turkey who are without documents, without applying harsh measures such as deportation. This work will be systematic and aimed at protecting the rights of migrants.
Following the negotiations, Musaev and Işıkhan emphasized that the agreements reached lay the foundation for further development of cooperation in the field of labor migration and enhancing the protection of the rights of Uzbek citizens in Turkey.
It was later reported that the Migration Agency signed an agreement with the Turkish company KSK Tezimlik, which involves attracting 2,500 Uzbek builders to work on major projects in Ankara. The demand for labor is expected to be met within the current year.
These contacts at the level of various ministries and departments were established during the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Ankara, where he held talks with the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and participated in several joint events, including the opening of a residential complex built by Uzbek specialists in the province of Hatay, which was affected by an earthquake three years ago.
