Kyrgyzstan has put up for public discussion a bill amending the law "On External Migration." The document provides for a significant simplification of the procedure for obtaining a residence permit for foreigners, reports Todayinfo.
The authors of the initiative propose to abandon the current complex system. In particular, it is planned to cancel the mandatory registration of immigrant status. This will eliminate the need for foreigners to visit various institutions and re-collect documents. Instead, the "one-stop shop" principle is introduced, which will reduce the processing time of applications and reduce the bureaucratic burden.
In addition, the requirement to reside in the country for at least six months to obtain a temporary residence permit is abolished. The list of grounds for obtaining a residence permit is expanded: work, study, investment, family reunification, and residence for citizens of CIS countries with which Kyrgyzstan has a visa-free regime.
The project also provides for new restrictions. For example, if the owner of a residence permit is absent from the country for more than a year without notifying the authorized bodies, the permit may be revoked. Possible exceptions will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.
The bill also proposes to abandon outdated norms, such as the requirement to register foreigners in hotels, and to transfer the authority to issue and extend residence permits to the government. As noted in the explanatory materials, the current system is overly complex and inefficient, and the proposed measures are aimed at increasing the accessibility of public services.
