Major changes announced for self-employment activities in Uzbekistan

A new list of activities, jobs, and services allowed for self-employed individuals in Uzbekistan has been approved. This was outlined in the Presidential Decree “On Measures to Increase the Role of Small and Medium Businesses in the Economy” issued on March 19.

According to the decree, starting January 1, 2026, the list of activities for self-employed individuals will be reduced from the current 104 items to 72.

The following activities will no longer be included:

• Tutoring in private homes or unused rooms of public educational institutions — holding individual or group lessons for children and adults in educational subjects.
• Cleaning rooms, landscaping, and greening personal territories.
• Repairing and assembling furniture in private homes.
• Performing basic construction and repair work for individuals (concrete pouring, painting, plastering, brick and tile laying, perforation, carpentry, locksmithing, and other general construction tasks).
• Repairing personal cars, installing accessories and alarms, sewing car seat covers and mats.
• Collecting recyclable materials such as paper, plastic containers, scrap metal, and other raw materials.
• Creating wooden architectural structures (playground equipment and park structures made of wood, sculptures).
• Metal repair work (repairing household metal items, duplicating keys, repairing umbrellas, and other basic metal repairs).
• Preparing and selling popcorn or ice cream at home using machines.
• Selling agricultural products at farmers’ markets.
• Retail sales of newspapers, magazines, and books.
• Providing hairdressing, manicure, and pedicure services.
• Cosmetic services and similar activities.
• Providing laundry and ironing services at home.
• Repairing textile, fur, leather, knitwear, hats, and galanterie items, as well as sewing such items on individual orders.
• Decorating fabrics (dyeing fabrics and clothing, applying patterns manually or with stencils).
• Sewing and repairing window curtains, embroidery, and handicrafts.
• Creating and repairing accessories and galanterie items.
• Producing and repairing jewelry and bijouterie.
• Making wreaths (including funeral wreaths), artificial flowers, ikebana, and floral garlands.
• Building and repairing fences, sculptures, and metal wreaths.
• Breeding and selling ornamental fish, birds, and other animals.
• Providing video and photography services.
• Preparing and selling national sweets and confectionery at home without using packaging equipment.
• Preparing and selling salads, pickles, and specific dishes individually at home, without setting up dining areas or selling at specially designated locations authorized by local government agencies.
• Producing and selling drinks, ayran, goja, and kurt at home for on-the-spot consumption.
• Organizing and running hobby clubs.
• Growing and selling flowers and ornamental trees (including bonsai art).
• Distributing advertising brochures and accepting orders at home by operators.
• Performing binding and book repair services.
• Offering guide, interpreter-guide, and excursion leader services.
• Writing and editing content (copywriting, rewriting, SEO copywriting, SEO rewriting, proofreading, content management, editorial work, email outreach, speechwriting, transcription, and others).
• Providing realtor services (helping clients rent or buy real estate).
• Collecting agricultural products within neighborhoods and exclusively selling them to local export companies.
• The new list of permitted activities for self-employed individuals is provided in the accompanying photo.

The Presidential Decree issued on February 14, titled “On Additional Measures to Improve the System of Financial Assistance for Attracting the Population to Entrepreneurship and Ensuring Employment,” introduced interest-free loans of up to 10 times the base calculation amount for a period of up to three years. These loans will be provided to entrepreneurs hiring unemployed citizens or members of low-income families as self-employed individuals.