Residence permit & registration

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Rules to know first

From the platform knowledge base; each point lists its legal basis and source. The official text prevails; this is not legal advice.

Which foreign employees are exempt from work permits and quotas in Kazakhstan?

Under Migration Law Art. 36-1(2), quotas and work permits do not apply to, among others: heads of branches and representative offices of foreign companies; permanent residents of Kazakhstan; self-employed foreigners with a qualification certificate; staff of SEZ participants with projects above 1 million MCI and their contractors during construction and one year after commissioning; degree-holding managers and specialists at Astana Hub; persons on a Government list. Intra-corporate transferees are outside the annual quota (Art. 36-1(3)) but still need an ICT permit (Art. 37-3).

Basis：Закон Республики Казахстан «О миграции населения» № 477-IV от 22.07.2011 ст. 36-1 пп. 2, 3; ст. 37-3 п. 1

Source：Закон РК № 477-IV «О миграции населения» — ИПС «Әділет» (сверено 19.10.2026)

What are the visa and residence rules for business immigrants in Kazakhstan?

Business immigrants come to do business (Migration Law Art. 34) and need to be of age, with a medical certificate, health insurance and a criminal record certificate (Art. 39(1)). The visa is valid up to two years; visa-free nationals get a one-year residence permit, renewable annually (Art. 39(2)). Within two months of entry they must register a commercial company or join one and deposit the charter capital in a Kazakh bank (Art. 40(2)). Foreigners without such a visa or permit may not set up or join a legal entity, except residence-card holders.

Basis：Закон Республики Казахстан «О миграции населения» № 477-IV от 22.07.2011 ст. 34 пп. 2); ст. 39 пп. 1, 2 (в ред. Закона № 82-VIII от 16.05.2024); ст. 40 пп. 1, 2

Source：Закон РК № 477-IV «О миграции населения» — ИПС «Әділет» (сверено 19.10.2026)

How does an employer obtain a foreign work permit in Kazakhstan?

The employer applies to the local executive body (akimat) where the foreigners will work, online via egov.kz, elicense.kz or migration.enbek.kz (Rules approved by Labour Ministry Order No. 279, para. 3). The decision is taken within 7 working days of registering the documents (para. 8); after notification the employer has 10 working days to prove payment of the fee (para. 23). Condition: Kazakh citizens must make up at least 70% of category I–II staff and at least 90% of category III–IV staff (para. 19).

Basis：Приказ Заместителя Премьер-Министра – Министра труда и социальной защиты населения РК № 279 от 30.06.2023 «Об утверждении Правил и условий выдачи или продления разрешений работодателям на привлечение иностранной рабочей силы, а также осуществления внутрикорпоративного перевода» Правила, п. 3, 8, 19, 23；Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан № 214-VIII от 18.07.2025 ст. 614 п. 4 (срок уплаты сбора)

Source：Приказ МТСЗН РК № 279 от 30.06.2023, Правила выдачи разрешений на привлечение ИРС (adilet)；Налоговый кодекс РК № 214-VIII (adilet, официальный текст на русском языке)

How long is a Kazakhstan work permit valid?

Categories (Rules under Labour Ministry Order No. 279, para. 5): I — heads and deputies; II — heads of structural units; III — specialists; IV — skilled workers. Validity (para. 25): I — 1, 2 or 3 years, renewable for 1, 2 or 3 years; II and III — 12 months, renewable for 12 months up to three times; IV — 12 months, not renewable; seasonal workers — up to 90, 180, 270 or 365 days, not renewable. Renewal is filed 60 to 30 calendar days before expiry (para. 30).

Basis：Приказ Заместителя Премьер-Министра – Министра труда и социальной защиты населения РК № 279 от 30.06.2023 «Об утверждении Правил и условий выдачи или продления разрешений работодателям на привлечение иностранной рабочей силы, а также осуществления внутрикорпоративного перевода» Правила, п. 5, 25, 30 (п. 25 в редакции приказа № 93 от 28.03.2025, с 01.09.2025)

Source：Приказ МТСЗН РК № 279 от 30.06.2023, Правила выдачи разрешений на привлечение ИРС (adilet)

Foreign work permit fee in Kazakhstan 2026

Fees are set in MRP by sector and worker category (Government Resolution No. 819 of 3 October 2025, applicable from 1 January 2026). Example: manufacturing — category I 154 MRP for 1 year (308 for 2 years, 462 for 3 years), categories II, III and IV — 178, 202 and 225 MRP; construction — category I 171 MRP for 1 year, category IV 250 MRP. Seasonal workers pay 12, 24, 36 or 48 MRP (up to 90/180/270/365 days). Intra-corporate transfer permits are free (para. 44, Rules No. 279).

Basis：Постановление Правительства РК № 819 от 03.10.2025 «Об установлении ставок сбора за выдачу или продление разрешения на привлечение иностранной рабочей силы в Республику Казахстан» п. 1, 3; приложение 1 (строки 3 и 6)；Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан № 214-VIII от 18.07.2025 ст. 616 п. 6；Приказ Заместителя Премьер-Министра – Министра труда и социальной защиты населения РК № 279 от 30.06.2023 «Об утверждении Правил и условий выдачи или продления разрешений работодателям на привлечение иностранной рабочей силы, а также осуществления внутрикорпоративного перевода» Правила, п. 44

Source：Постановление Правительства РК № 819 от 03.10.2025 (adilet)；Налоговый кодекс РК № 214-VIII (adilet, официальный текст на русском языке)；Приказ МТСЗН РК № 279 от 30.06.2023, Правила выдачи разрешений на привлечение ИРС (adilet)

Intra-corporate transfer of foreign staff to Kazakhstan

An intra-corporate transfer (ICT) is available for heads, managers and specialists (para. 45, Rules under Labour Ministry Order No. 279) who have worked at least one year for the sending entity established in a WTO member state outside Kazakhstan (para. 46). The permit is free (para. 44), decided within 7 working days (para. 50) and issued for the transfer period up to 3 years, with one 12-month extension (para. 75). ICT managers and specialists may not exceed 50% of Kazakh staff in the same category (para. 60).

Source：Приказ МТСЗН РК № 279 от 30.06.2023, Правила выдачи разрешений на привлечение ИРС (adilet)

Can a plant in Kazakhstan use summarized working time, and for how long a period?

Summarized working time may be used in continuous production and work where daily or weekly hour limits cannot be met; the accounting period may be any calendar period up to one year or the duration of a specific job (Labor Code, Art. 75(1),(3)). The procedure is set by the collective agreement or an employer's act; it may not be applied to persons under 18 or with Group I disability, nor to pregnant women if a shift exceeds eight hours (Art. 75).

Basis：Трудовой кодекс Республики Казахстан № 414-V от 23.11.2015 ст. 75 п. 1–8

Source：Трудовой кодекс РК № 414-V (adilet, 俄文官方文本)

What is the maximum length of a rotation shift (vakhta) in Kazakhstan?

A rotation shift (vakhta), covering work time on site and inter-shift rest, may not exceed 15 calendar days, or up to 30 days with the employee's written consent under the employment or collective agreement (Labor Code, Art. 135(4)). The employer must provide housing, meals and transport from the assembly point to the site; summarized working time over a period of up to one calendar year applies; persons under 18 and certain other categories are excluded (Art. 135).

Basis：Трудовой кодекс Республики Казахстан № 414-V от 23.11.2015 ст. 135 п. 1–5

Source：Трудовой кодекс РК № 414-V (adilet, 俄文官方文本)

Last checked：2026-10-27 · Reviewed by：YAO · Legal texts: the official version on adilet.zan.kz prevails.