What happened
According to Caravan.kz on 2 October 2026, citing prosud.kz, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister amended by an order of 28 September 2026 the Rules for issuing a petition for an investor visa to non-residents carrying out investment activity in Kazakhstan. The order takes effect on 12 October. The source does not give the order's number, so none is stated here.
Legal basis
The Rules rest on Order No. 1265 of the Minister for Investment and Development of 29 December 2015. According to the text on adilet.zan.kz, they were drawn up under Article 282(7) of the Entrepreneurial Code, and investor visas are issued under Article 6(1) of the Law "On Migration of the Population". Recent amendments in the consolidated text include Foreign Ministry orders No. 11-1-4/247 of 25 April 2025 and No. 11-1-4/328 of 16 June 2026 (in force from 1 July 2026). As of 4 October 2026 the 28 September order is not reflected in the adilet text; applicants should rely on the latest officially published version.
Application and review procedure (per the Rules on adilet)
1. The application is filed through the egov.kz portal with the Investment Committee of the Foreign Ministry. The applicant is an individual or legal entity registered in Kazakhstan.
2. Within 3 working days of registration the Committee checks the documents and, if the main requirements are met and one of the following conditions applies, decides to issue the petition: an individual's investment in Kazakhstan's economy equivalent to USD 300,000 or more over the 12 months before applying; membership of the Foreign Investors Council under the President; an investment contract with the authorised investment body; or recommendations from state bodies or quasi-state entities confirming the applicant's investment project in Kazakhstan.
3. Validity of the petition: up to 10 years for an investment of USD 300,000 or more; up to 5 years for Foreign Investors Council membership or an investment contract; up to 3 years with recommendations from state bodies or the quasi-state sector.
4. Where the applicant is a legal entity, the petition is issued to a foreign citizen who is its head, deputy head or head of a structural unit; where the applicant is an individual, it is issued in that person's name (para. 3, as amended by the order of 16 June 2026).
Documents (Annex 2 to the Rules)
Legal entities: electronic copy of the ID document of the person for whom the visa is sought, with a notarised translation into Kazakh or Russian; electronic copy of the charter with notarised translation; a document confirming the person's position; documents confirming investment in the project over the previous 36 months (primary accounting documents, invoices, customs declarations); recommendations of state bodies or quasi-state entities, if any.
Individuals: electronic copy of the ID document with notarised translation; documents confirming an investment of USD 300,000 or more over the previous 12 months, namely an account statement of a holder of securities with a circulation period above 10 years, or an extract from a company's charter on capital increase (with notarised translation) together with a registration certificate.
Rules related to this news
- Investor visa近12个月内向哈萨克斯坦经济投资不少于30万美元（投入哈国公司注册资本或流通期超过10年的本国证券），经Kazakh Invest或投资委员会邀请，可申请A6类投资者签证：多次往返、有效期最长10年，并可据此申请居留许可。Text and legal basis →
- How do I get a C3 work visa for Kazakhstan?The C3 visa is Kazakhstan's work visa for foreigners coming to or staying in Kazakhstan for employment, and their fami…Text and legal basis →
- What is the maximum probation period in Kazakhstan?Probation may not exceed three months and counts toward length of service.Text and legal basis →
What it means for Chinese investors
First, an individual who reaches the USD 300,000 threshold through a capital increase in a Kazakh company or long-term securities should keep records of fund transfers, the capital increase and registration. Second, applications made on behalf of a company focus on proof of investment over 36 months. Third, the source does not list the specific changes made by the 28 September order, so check the latest text on the Foreign Ministry site and adilet before applying. This article is for information only and is not legal advice.
Sources: Caravan.kz, https://www.caravan.kz/news/investorskaja-viza-dlja-nerezidentov-chto-izmenilos-v-pravilah-vydachi/; adilet.zan.kz, Rules for issuing a petition for an investor visa, https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/V1500013039
https://www.caravan.kz/news/investorskaja-viza-dlja-nerezidentov-chto-izmenilos-v-pravilah-vydachi/
Key facts
- The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan issued an order on September 28, 2026, amending the rules for processing investor visa request letters for non-resident investors, reportedly effective from October 12.
- The above rules of Kazakhstan provide that if an individual has invested the equivalent of USD 300,000 or more into Kazakhstan's economy within the 12 months before applying, the request letter is valid for up to 10 years.
- Applications for an investor visa request letter are submitted via egov.kz to the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and reviewed within 3 working days from the date the application is registered.
- The validity periods of Kazakhstan investor visa request letters are tiered: under the USD 300,000 condition, up to 10 years; for a council member or holder of an investment contract, up to 5 years; with only a recommendation, up to 3 years.
- The original report did not give the number of the September 28 order; as of October 4, 2026, the amendment record has not been seen in the compiled text on adilet.zan.kz; for official application, the latest official text shall prevail.
FAQ
How much investment is required to obtain a request letter valid for up to 10 years?
If an individual has invested the equivalent of USD 300,000 or more into Kazakhstan's economy within the 12 months before applying, the request letter is valid for up to 10 years.
Where is the investor visa request letter submitted, and how long does review take?
It is submitted through the e-government portal egov.kz to the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan; the Investment Committee reviews the materials within 3 working days from the date the application is registered.
What validity periods are available for the request letter?
Where the USD 300,000 condition is met, up to 10 years; where the applicant is a member of the Presidential Council of Foreign Investors or holds an investment contract concluded with the investment authority, up to 5 years; where there is only a recommendation from a state body or quasi-state agency, up to 3 years.
What is the number of the September 28 order?
The original report did not give the number of the order; as of October 4, 2026, the amendment record has not yet been seen in the compiled text on adilet.zan.kz. For official application, please refer to the latest officially published text.
What documents must an individual submit with the application?
An electronic copy of an identity document and a notarized Kazakh or Russian translation must be submitted, along with documents proving investment of USD 300,000 or more into Kazakhstan's economy within the 12 months before applying, such as a securities holder account statement with a term exceeding 10 years, or an excerpt from the charter of a legal entity showing an increase in registered capital and a certificate of registration of the legal entity.