President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Upgrading the level of migration and personalization units of Interior Ministry to a new level through digitalization decree Monday which is aimed at gradually transforming Migration and Personalization Units into service units providing the public with more accessible and high-quality efficient and transparent services.

The Department of Migration and Personalization (formerly the Main Directorate for Migration and Individualship) under the Interior Ministry has been instructed to set up, as a pilot project, a smart migration station with the use of AI and featuring self-service capabilities under migration and personalization units of one district (city) in the Tashkent, Samarkand, and Fergana provinces, as well as Karakalpakstan, starting May 1.

Based on the pilot project results, smart migration stations are planned to open in other provinces next year, as well as in shopping and entertainment venues and tourist areas.

The decree stipulates that, starting February 1, an electronic digital signature certificate will be inserted into the ID card chip free of charge upon initial registration. Furthermore, individuals will be automatically registered free of charge in the Unified Information System for Identifying Users of the Electronic Government system.

Starting May 1, the Department will be authorized to extend the validity of electronic visas for aliens and stateless persons entering Uzbekistan with an electronic visa once for up to 30 days.

Migration departments will also be able to extend visas and registrations at place of residence of aliens at places where they are studying, or at companies where they work, on a fee basis, at the expense of the enterprises, institutions, and organizations.

Furthermore, the Department will be authorized to issue aliens confirmation of their right to work in Uzbekistan.

Starting September 1, a composite procedure will be implemented for registering students at their place of residence simultaneously with the conclusion of an agreement for their accommodation in student dormitories.

By August 1, a mobile app, Passport-visa, is planned to be developed using AI. It will provide electronic governmental services, online legal consultations on migration and personalization, and information on less busy migration units.

While, the E-Rozilik platform is scheduled to launch. It will enable remote identification and consent for governmental services on migration and personalization that require consent through the Face-ID system.

Starting in September, the following services will be available on the Unified Portal of Interactive Government Services (My.Gov.uz) and at governmental service centers:

• inviting fellow countrymen living abroad and their family members to Uzbekistan;
• filing an application for biometric travel documents for stateless persons;
• filing an application to cancel registration at place of residence based on a request from owner or an Uzbek citizen registered at place of residence.