Uzbekistan Allows Regional Taxi Drivers to Work in Tashkent with Local Licences

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov, has clarified the rules governing taxi operations, confirming that drivers from other regions are permitted to work in Tashkent—provided their licence explicitly states the capital as their area of operation.

According to the minister, a taxi licence must indicate the specific region in which the driver is authorised to operate. If a driver holds an interregional licence without Tashkent listed, they are not allowed to work in the capital. Each licence is valid for one region only, and drivers cannot simultaneously operate in both their home region and Tashkent.

Earlier, the Ministry’s spokesperson, Navruz Ashurmatov, noted that these rules have been in place for some time. A 2011 decree had previously regulated the operation of fixed-route taxis, introducing standard rules and requirements.

That decree has since been repealed and replaced with new regulations adopted in 2025. Under the updated rules, drivers may only operate in the region specified in their licence, as well as in neighbouring regions.

For instance, if a vehicle is registered in Tashkent (code 01), it may legally operate in the city, Tashkent region, and Syrdarya region. The same principle applies across other regions of Uzbekistan.