If you are an Uzbek founder planning to start a company in Korea, this page lists the official contacts in Tashkent and Seoul, the trade and tax framework, and the main steps to a startup visa. Korea and Uzbekistan have a double tax treaty in force that was updated in 2020.
Key contacts
| Contact | Official website |
|---|---|
| Korean mission: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uzbekistan (Tashkent) | https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/uz-uz/index.do (Uzbek version); Korean version: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/uz-ko/index.do |
| KOTRA Korea Business Center in Uzbekistan | Tashkent: https://www.kotra.or.kr/tashkent (pages in Korean) |
The Korean embassy listed above handles visa applications and consular questions for people in Uzbekistan. KOTRA’s Korea Business Center mainly supports trade and investment between Korea and Uzbekistan, so it is a useful contact if your business plan involves importing, exporting or investment.
Trade and tax
Trade agreements
There is no trade agreement in force between Korea and Uzbekistan. In November 2020 the two governments agreed to announce the launch of trade agreement negotiations at a suitable time; as of September 2026, Korea’s FTA portal does not list these negotiations. Sources: Etoday – Korea and Uzbekistan agree to declare trade talks (6 November 2020, in Korean); Korea FTA portal.
Double tax treaty
A Korea–Uzbekistan double tax treaty is in force: it was signed on 11 February 1998 and entered into force on 25 December 1998. An amending protocol was signed on 19 April 2019 and took effect on 18 October 2020. The treaty helps prevent the same income, such as salaries, dividends or royalties, from being taxed twice. Source: Korean government list of tax treaties (조세조약 체결 현황), Public Data Portal, as of 20 July 2026.
Your path to starting a business in Korea
- Startup visa (D-8-4) and OASIS: the usual route for founders from Uzbekistan is the startup visa (D-8-4). It requires a company set up in Korea and a minimum score in the OASIS points system (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System), which you build through OASIS courses, IP applications or startup competition awards. See our D-8-4 startup visa and OASIS guide.
- K-Startup Grand Challenge: this government accelerator program is open to founders from any country and offers funding, office space and visa support to selected teams. Read the K-Startup Grand Challenge guide.
- Office space and global startup centers: several public centers in Seoul and other cities offer free or low-cost desks to foreign founders, and some of these spaces can also serve as your business address. See free office space for foreign founders in Korea.
- Government support programs: an overview of the main programs open to foreigners, from mentoring to grants, is in our guide to Korean government startup programs for foreign founders.
- Studying in Korea first: if you are, or plan to be, an international student, you can move from a D-2 student visa to the D-8-4 startup visa. See the international student startup guide (D-2 to D-8-4).
- Check visa details with official offices: before you apply, confirm the current document list with the Korean mission in Uzbekistan listed above, as requirements can change.
Sources
- Etoday – Korea and Uzbekistan agree to declare trade talks (6 November 2020, in Korean)
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uzbekistan (Tashkent) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uzbekistan (Tashkent) (Korean version)
- KOTRA Tashkent Korea Business Center
- Korea FTA portal – status of Korea’s FTAs (발효/서명/협상 현황)
- Korean government list of tax treaties (재정경제부 조세조약 체결 현황), Public Data Portal, as of 20 July 2026
Latest updates for founders from Uzbekistan
No country-specific updates yet. New programs for founders from Uzbekistan will appear here automatically. Meanwhile, start with our visa guides and government programs.