The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a decree on ratification of the readmission agreement with the French Republic. The document establishing mutual obligations of the parties on the return of persons illegally staying in the territory of one of the states was signed on March 12, 2025 in Paris during the official visit of the head of state.
The essence of the readmission mechanism is the transfer by the competent authorities of one State of citizens who have violated migration legislation back to their country of origin. Unlike deportation or extradition, readmission is carried out on the basis of a bilateral international agreement and provides for coordinated procedures for interaction between the migration services of both countries.
The agreement with France was another step in building institutional cooperation between Uzbekistan in the field of regulating international migration. Uzbekistan has previously signed similar agreements with the Czech Republic, Estonia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Work is underway to sign an agreement with Germany.
As part of the reforms in the field of migration control, a new restriction will come into force in Uzbekistan from September 1, 2025: citizens returned under the readmission procedure will be suspended for two years the possibility of obtaining a foreign passport. This measure is aimed at preventing repeated violations of the visa and migration regime, as well as at improving the efficiency of migration regulation.
The conclusion of readmission agreements is part of the state policy of Uzbekistan to regulate labor migration, comply with international obligations and protect the rights of its citizens abroad. At the same time, these agreements make it possible to create a more transparent and secure system of interaction with host countries, ensuring the mutual interests of the parties.
