Competition Committee classifies VFS Global and Vizametric as dominant in Uzbekistan's visa services market

The determination follows a comprehensive market analysis conducted by the anti-monopoly regulator to assess the competitive environment and ensure compliance with national competition laws.

According to the committee’s findings, VFS Global Services UBKN holds a dominant market share in processing visa services for a wide range of destinations, including Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, New Zealand, Israel, and Malta. Meanwhile, Vizametric has been designated as the dominant player specifically for US visa services.

The regulator also assessed TLScontact LLC, determining that the company possesses "superior bargaining power" in the market for German and French visa services.

Under Uzbek law, a dominant position allows a business entity to act independently of its competitors, exert a decisive influence on market competition, create barriers to entry for other participants, or otherwise restrict their economic activities. Superior bargaining power applies to an entity that, while not holding a strictly dominant market position, is still capable of unilaterally dictating transaction terms, determining distribution territories, or influencing service prices.

The Competition Committee emphasized that any abuse of a dominant position or superior bargaining power is strictly prohibited. Such abuses include actions that lead to the restriction of competition or the infringement of the rights and legitimate interests of consumers and other market participants.

The regulatory findings coincide with ongoing adjustments in the visa services sector. The French Embassy in Tashkent recently issued a warning to Uzbek citizens regarding visa fraudsters, urging applicants not to pay any unofficial fees during the application process. Additionally, the TLScontact visa center introduced a new appointment booking system for short-stay tourist visas to France.