Starting enforcement proceedings

To turn a successful claim into a recovery, the creditor needs an enforcement document. This will usually be a writ of execution, the court order itself or a notary’s executory endorsement. The document goes to the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement (BPI), which opens proceedings in one business day (Article 23 of the Enforcement Law) and begins the voluntary and then compulsory stages.

In brief:

• A judgment does not normally replace a writ of execution; a court order and a notary’s executory endorsement are already enforcement documents.
• The state enforcement officer issues the opening decision within one business day (Article 23 of the Enforcement Law) after receiving a compliant document.
• The general presentation period for a writ and notarial endorsement is three years (Article 27 of the Enforcement Law); a writ based on a domestic arbitral award has a six-month period.
• A complaint against the officer’s decision, action or inaction must be filed within ten days (Article 86-1 of the Enforcement Law).
• Before filing, check the document’s particulars, the correct BPI office, the presentation period, the representative’s authority and the available information about the debtor’s assets.

Updated: 05 September 2026

Which enforcement document does the creditor need

The right document depends on how the claim has already been established. The Law expressly treats writs of execution, court orders and notarial executory endorsements as enforcement documents (Article 7 of the Enforcement Law), together with writs based on domestic arbitral awards and foreign court or arbitral decisions.

An economic court order is issued without a hearing after ten days (Article 143 of the EPC) from service of the application copy on the debtor. The debtor may seek cancellation within ten days of receiving the order, while another affected person may do so after learning about it. If the order is cancelled, the creditor keeps the underlying claim but must pursue it through claim proceedings (Article 147 of the EPC).

How to obtain a writ after judgment

The court that made the decision issues the writ once the decision becomes final, except where immediate enforcement applies. In economic proceedings, one decision normally produces one writ. If enforcement must occur in different places, or there are several creditors or defendants, the court may issue several writs that allocate the obligations precisely.

The economic court must deliver the writ to the creditor or, on the creditor’s application, send it to the state enforcement officer within five days (Article 336 of the EPC). A legal entity receives it through its taxpayer account, and the writ may be electronic. The creditor may therefore ask the court in the same application to transmit the writ for enforcement instead of issuing a paper document for collection.

Before filing, verify the mandatory writ particulars (Article 337 of the EPC): the court and case number, dates of the decision and its entry into force, exact names and addresses of the parties, the individual’s PINFL (personal identification number) or the legal entity’s taxpayer identification number, the operative part, issue date and presentation period. An error in the debtor, amount or operative part will delay opening.

If the original writ or order is lost, the creditor applies for a duplicate to the issuing court before the presentation period expires. If the state enforcement officer or another enforcing person lost the document and the creditor learned of this later, a special one-month period (Article 341 of the EPC) runs from discovery of the loss.

This article starts with a decision that has already been made. If the claim has not yet been adjudicated, the process for preparing the application, choosing order or claim proceedings and obtaining a judgment is covered in filing a claim in the economic court. That material is needed before the enforcement-document stage.

When a notary’s executory endorsement is available

A notarial executory endorsement is available only for an undisputed claim in an eligible category. The notary checks whether the documents establish the debt without a dispute and whether no more than three years (Article 78 of the Notariat Law) have passed since the right to sue arose, unless a special limitation period applies.

Since 1 March 2026, the procedure covers claims up to 440.000.000 sum (1,000 BRV, the base calculation unit) based on a notarised transaction; enforcement against movable collateral where there is a written notarised transaction; and arrears for rent, mandatory condominium contributions, utilities and communications services. These categories were established by Resolution PP-280 of 9 September 2025.

For a transaction claim, the creditor provides a copy of the transaction, a default notice sent to the debtor and evidence of the debt. For rent, contributions, utilities and communications, the list also calls for an invoice and, when applicable, the contract or cadastral number. The notary obtains some data electronically; the document list is set by Regulation No. 3757.

The notary delivers or sends the endorsement to both parties. The debtor may object and ask the same notary to cancel it within ten days. A timely objection leads the notary to cancel the endorsement and explain that the claim may be filed through ordinary claim proceedings.

If no objection arrives, the notary, at the creditor’s request and after the ten-day period, sends the electronic endorsement to the BPI office at the individual debtor’s residence or the debtor company’s location. The creditor does not have to collect a paper copy and submit it again.

How to file the enforcement document with BPI

An ordinary enforcement document goes to the district or city BPI office at the place of enforcement. For an individual debtor, this is the place of residence or work or the location of assets; for a legal entity, it is the location of its governing body or assets. An obligation to perform an act is enforced where the act must occur (Article 25 of the Enforcement Law).

The Law assigns large and special cases differently. A territorial administration handles documents for amounts from 22.000.000.000 to 44.000.000.000 sum (50,000 to 100,000 BRV) and documents against a legal entity resident in another state. The central office handles recovery from 44.000.000.000 sum (Article 8-1 of the Enforcement Law) and certain matters involving foreign states, international organisations and persons with diplomatic immunity.

When filing directly, provide the original or a compliant electronic document and identify the requested result, the creditor, its contact details and the account for recovered funds. Attach the information you hold about bank accounts, vehicles, real estate, receivables and the debtor’s operating address. This does not replace the officer’s asset search, but it helps determine the first measures.

A company representative must provide proof of authority. The power of attorney must expressly cover presentation and withdrawal of the enforcement document, abandonment of recovery, complaints against the officer, receipt of money or property and settlement; these are specific powers (Article 14 of the Enforcement Law).

If the document lacks mandatory particulars or an eligible special document lacks its required annexes, the officer does not correct the court’s or notary’s act. The officer issues a return decision (Article 24 of the Enforcement Law). Before dispatch, compare the debtor’s name, taxpayer number or PINFL, amount, currency, method of enforcement and finality date with the operative part.

Which presentation periods must not be missed

The period depends on the document, not on when the creditor decides to pursue recovery. The principal periods (Article 27 of the Enforcement Law) and their starting points vary by document.

Presentation of the document and partial performance by the debtor interrupt the period. If the document is returned because full or partial enforcement proved impossible, a new period begins on the return date (Article 28 of the Enforcement Law), and time elapsed before the interruption is not counted.

The officer will not accept an expired document. The period for a writ or court order may be restored by the issuing court or the court at the place of enforcement. For other documents, the Law expressly provides that the period is not restorable (Article 29 of the Enforcement Law).

What happens after filing

If the period is open, the particulars are complete and all mandatory annexes are present, the officer accepts the document and opens proceedings (Article 23 of the Enforcement Law) within one business day. The opening decision allows no more than fifteen days for voluntary performance. A copy must be sent to the creditor, debtor and issuing body no later than the next day.

Decisions go to individuals through their account on the Single Portal of Interactive Public Services, where available, and to legal entities through the taxpayer account. If contact details are available, notice may also arrive by email or SMS. In immediately enforceable matters, the Law permits action without advance notice (Article 22-1 of the Enforcement Law).

Compulsory measures generally begin after the voluntary period, but for a monetary recovery the officer may inventory and arrest assets when opening the case. The legal basis for coercion is a compliant document and the opening decision (Article 44 of the Enforcement Law).

After the voluntary period, the officer has no more than two months (Article 30 of the Enforcement Law) to carry out enforcement measures and satisfy the document. Deferral, instalments, postponement, suspension, expert work and asset sale time are excluded. Expiry of two months does not itself terminate unfinished proceedings.

What the officer does in the first weeks

The first priority is to find money and liquid assets. The Law allows recovery against the debtor’s money and other property, property held by third parties, receivables, property rights and income, and delivery of specified items. This is the list of compulsory measures (Article 46 of the Enforcement Law), not an identical sequence for every case.

Money is pursued before other property. If the officer does not know the account, the officer asks a bank to identify it, and the bank must respond by the next business day (Article 47 of the Enforcement Law). Arrest and recovery must be limited to the debt, enforcement fee, penalties and costs.

Assets must be arrested within one month (Article 53 of the Enforcement Law) after service of the opening decision, or simultaneously where the Law permits. Arrest consists of an inventory and prohibition on disposal and, where required, restriction of use, removal or placement in custody.

If enforcement is impossible without a search, the officer may search for an individual debtor and assets. The Law allows the officer to request records, enter premises under prescribed conditions, arrest accounts and assets, issue collection orders and restrict an individual’s departure from Uzbekistan within statutory powers (Article 84 of the Enforcement Law). The search itself is subject to separate statutory grounds (Article 42 of the Enforcement Law).

A company’s assets are arrested and sold in three tiers: first, movable property not used in production; then unused property rights and valuables; and finally production rights, real estate, raw materials and equipment. This business asset sequence (Article 60 of the Enforcement Law) helps the creditor identify realistic assets in a motion.

How much compulsory enforcement costs

The debtor pays the enforcement fee if compulsory measures begin after the voluntary period. The Law establishes the duty to pay (Article 77-1 of the Enforcement Law), while Resolution PP-722 determines the amount and the timing of the decision.

Example. If a company owes UZS 100,000,000, the claim is below 440.000.000 sum, so the fee upon compulsory enforcement is UZS 100,000,000 × 5% = UZS 5,000,000. If the debt is UZS 600,000,000, it exceeds the threshold: UZS 600,000,000 × 2% = UZS 12,000,000. The fee is additional to the debt and is collected in proportion to the amount actually recovered.

Documented costs arise separately: transport, storage and sale of assets, interpreters or specialists, transfer of funds, search and other necessary steps. The cost categories are set by Article 75 of the Enforcement Law. They are normally reimbursed by the debtor, and the cost-recovery decision is sent to the parties within three days (Article 77 of the Enforcement Law).

The creditor may advance the costs of a specific step, such as search or storage. The portion reimbursed by the debtor is returned to the creditor (Article 76 of the Enforcement Law) when the measures are complete. Before paying, ask for the calculation and its link to the proposed enforcement step.

What rights the creditor has in an open case

The creditor may inspect the file, make extracts and copies, submit materials and motions, participate in measures, give explanations, object, challenge an officer and complain about action or inaction. These party rights (Article 11 of the Enforcement Law) allow the creditor to monitor the case actively.

The officer must explain the parties’ rights, enforce the document in a timely, complete and correct manner, provide file access and decide applications and motions by a formal decision. A decision affecting the parties must give reasons and explain the appeal route; this is the required decision format (Article 86 of the Enforcement Law). The officer’s duties appear in a separate statutory list (Article 85 of the Enforcement Law).

If a decision, action or inaction infringes the creditor’s rights, a complaint goes to the administrative court at the officer’s location or to the higher authority or official. The period is ten days (Article 86-1 of the Enforcement Law) from notice or from discovery of the infringement.

Return of the document because the address or assets could not be found does not forgive the debt. After unsuccessful measures the document may be returned or its details entered in the Register of Obligations. Return does not prevent refiling (Article 40 of the Enforcement Law) within the recalculated period.

How a foreign judgment becomes a BPI document

A foreign judgment is not filed directly with the state enforcement officer. An Uzbek court must first recognise it and then issue a local writ. For an economic dispute, recognition is available where a treaty or Uzbek legislation provides for it, and the successful party applies within three years (Article 248 of the EPC).

The application goes to the Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, a regional court or the Tashkent City Court at the debtor’s location or residence. If that is unknown, venue follows the debtor’s registration place (Article 249 of the EPC). A non-economic civil judgment follows the parallel chapter of the Civil Procedure Code.

An application concerning a foreign state court decision must include eight groups of documents (Article 251 of the EPC):

1. the certified decision or a certified copy;
2. official confirmation that it is final, unless the decision says so;
3. evidence of partial performance abroad, if any;
4. proof that an absent party was duly notified;
5. a power of attorney or other proof of representative authority;
6. proof that a copy of the application was sent to the debtor;
7. evidence of payment of the state duty and postal costs, unless a treaty provides otherwise;
8. a duly certified translation of the documents in the first five items into the state language, unless a treaty provides otherwise.

Foreign official documents require consular legalisation or an apostille unless an applicable law or treaty dispenses with that formality. A foreign-language document also requires a certified translation (Article 246 of the EPC). The applicable treaty must be identified before filing because it may change the documents, jurisdiction and formalities.

The applicant pays 880.000 sum (2 BRV) as the state duty for an economic-court application to recognise a foreign court or arbitral decision. The court considers it within six months (Article 254 of the EPC) and may not reconsider the merits of the foreign decision.

Refusal grounds include lack of finality or due notice, exclusive Uzbek jurisdiction, an earlier judgment or proceeding in Uzbekistan, expiry, lack of foreign-court jurisdiction, cancellation, absence of a treaty basis, and harm to sovereignty, security or fundamental principles of Uzbek law. These are the full EPC list (Article 255 of the EPC), while a treaty may add its own grounds. After a positive order, the court issues the writ for ordinary filing with BPI.

How to enforce foreign and domestic arbitral awards

A foreign arbitral award follows the same two-stage model: recognition by the economic court, followed by a local writ and BPI. The application requires eight groups of documents (Article 252 of the EPC): certified copies of the award and arbitration agreement, information about partial performance, proof of notice to an absent party, representative authority, proof of sending the application to the debtor, payment documents and certified translations of the first documents into the state language.

The New York Convention requires a certified original or copy of the award and arbitration agreement and, when needed, a certified translation (Article IV of the Convention). Its refusal grounds cover defects in the agreement, notice, scope of mandate, tribunal composition or procedure, finality of the award, arbitrability and public policy; they appear in Article V of the Convention.

The EPC reflects those grounds: the debtor must prove some, while the court applies the rules on arbitrability, public policy and expiry. The refusal grounds (Article 256 of the EPC) limit the recognition inquiry and do not permit a rehearing of the dispute.

An award of a domestic arbitration court does not require foreign recognition. The creditor applies to the competent court for a writ and states the parties, tribunal, arbitrators, date and place of the award and the request for the writ; the application contents are set by Article 51 of the Arbitration Courts Law. The court decides the application within twenty days (Article 52 of that Law) without reviewing the merits, and the resulting writ has a six-month presentation period.

What changed in 2025–2026

• Resolution PP-280 of 9 September 2025 introduced, from 1 March 2026, the new executory-endorsement procedure for three groups of undisputed claims up to 1,000 BRV.
• Regulation No. 3757 of 19 January 2026 took effect on 1 March 2026. It provides electronic applications, a ten-day objection period and electronic transmission of the endorsement to BPI at the creditor’s request.
• Decree UP-50 of 30 March 2026, effective 1 April 2026, set digitalisation and automation as system goals. Proposals for creditors to take certain steps and use funds in arrested accounts require separate legislation, so the Decree does not itself replace the current presentation procedure.

What the creditor should check before filing

Assemble one control file: the final decision, the correct enforcement document, proof that it was received through the electronic system, the balance calculation, authority documents and payment details. Record separately the debtor’s accounts, vehicles, real estate, receivables and operating address that are known to you.

Keep proof of the filing date and BPI office. On the next business day, check the opening decision, then its transmission to the debtor and the end date of the voluntary period. During the first weeks, file a written motion identifying particular accounts or assets and request file access. That calendar shows when the ordinary sequence has become appealable inaction.

Frequently asked questions

Can the judgment itself be filed with BPI?

Usually not. A court decision is enforced on the basis of a writ unless the procedural code provides an exception. A court order is itself an enforcement document and needs no separate writ. A foreign decision first requires an Uzbek recognition order and local writ. Check the document’s name and particulars, finality and presentation period before filing.

Must the creditor collect the writ in person?

Not always. At the creditor’s request, an economic court may send the writ to the state enforcement officer. A legal entity receives an electronic writ through its taxpayer account. If you request direct transmission, retain the application and check which BPI office received the document: its arrival starts the one-business-day period for the opening decision.

When may the officer arrest the debtor’s assets?

For a monetary recovery, inventory and arrest may occur together with opening, on the creditor’s application or the officer’s initiative. In the ordinary sequence, assets must be arrested within one month after the opening decision is served. Compulsory recovery generally begins after the voluntary period, but a protective arrest prevents assets from disappearing before then.

What should the creditor do if BPI returns the document?

First read the stated ground. A formal defect must be corrected by the issuing court or body; expiry of a writ or order may require restoration by the court. Return for lack of assets does not extinguish the debt and permits refiling within the period recalculated from return. The return decision itself may be challenged within ten days.

Can a foreign arbitral award be filed directly with BPI?

No. The Uzbek economic court first considers recognition and enforcement. The application includes the award, arbitration agreement, evidence of notice and service of the application, authority and payment documents, and translations. After a positive order, the court issues a local writ; that writ is the entry document for BPI.