Uzbekistan offers $5,090 grants to returning labor migrants

September 11, 2026 at 03:45 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Uzbekistan launched a program offering 60 million soum ($5,090) grants to citizens who worked abroad in 2025 or 2026 and return to start small businesses. Applicants need a business plan approved by the Uzbek Migration Agency and the International Organization for Migration. The Swedish government is underwriting the project.

Key Facts

The grant amount is 60 million Uzbek soum, approximately $5,090.
Eligibility extends to any Uzbek citizen who worked abroad in 2025 or 2026.
The Uzbek Migration Agency and the International Organization for Migration jointly oversee the program.
Sweden provides financial support for the project.
In August, the Uzbek Migration Agency reported 1.4 million Uzbek nationals working in 40 countries.

Grant Program Details

The Uzbek government launched a program to promote entrepreneurship among returning labor migrants. Eligible applicants are Uzbek citizens who worked abroad in 2025 or 2026. Each approved applicant receives a grant of 60 million soum ($5,090) to launch or expand a small business. Applicants must have a business plan approved by the Uzbek Migration Agency and the International Organization for Migration. The chief criteria for approval are job creation and sustainability.

Migration Policy Shift

Uzbekistan and Sweden agreed on a migration framework in June, enabling Uzbek citizens to work in Sweden and participate in training programs in healthcare, caregiving, and services. Tashkent has also struck labor agreements with Germany, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. The government is shifting focus from menial labor in Russia toward high-skilled work in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East. The number of Uzbek labor migrants fell from an estimated 4 million in 2010 to between 2 and 3 million in 2023–24.

Current Labor Migration

In August, the Uzbek Migration Agency reported 1.4 million Uzbek nationals working in 40 countries. Roughly 60 percent, or about 834,000 individuals, were guest workers in Russia. Kazakhstan hosted about 84,000 Uzbek labor migrants, the next highest total. Around 258,000 Uzbeks were working across Europe, with Turkey and South Korea also popular destinations.