2. Place of issuance
Residence permit can now be obtained at TSON at the place of a foreigner's temporary residence.

3. Processing time
Term for consideration and approval of documents has been reduced from 60 to 45 calendar days.

4. State fee
New rate of state fee for issuance of a residence permit in the amount of 4 MCI has been established.

5. List of documents
List is supplemented with a document on payment of state fee or exemption from its payment.

Get acquainted with terms and conditions of residence permit in Kazakhstan https://new.wpk.kz/residence_eng
If you need consultation and accompanying during the process, please contact us: +7 (705) 500-58-86, Aisana Akimbayeva

How to obtain EDS?
You can apply for an EDS in two ways:

• at the public service center (TSON) at place of your temporary stay
• online via the Egov.kz portal

Meanwhile, personal presence at TSON is not required if your authorized representative submits an application.

What documents are required to obtain EDS?

• individual identification number (IIN)
• passport original or its notarized copy
• notarized power of attorney for the representative (if application is submitted by your representative)

If you have any questions, please contact WPK consultants. We will help you prepare and receive EDS in a timely manner.

Entry to Kazakhstan
Under the quarantine restrictions, UK citizens no longer require IDC entry permission to Kazakhstan.

However, to enter Kazakhstan, you need a visa, since the previously valid visa-free regime is temporarily suspended until December 31, 2021.

You can travel to Kazakhstan by direct flight from London. Or by transit air travel through those countries with which Kazakhstan has resumed regular air flights (list of 18 countries). Number of visits is not limited.

In addition to business and work purposes, you can visit the country as part of tourist and private trips.

Visa
According to the current Visa Rules, UK is included in the list of 48 economically developed and politically stable states (annex 4 to the rules).

Therefore, an invitation letter from the Kazakhstan side (host party) is not required when applying for single entry visa:

• business visa В1, В3 – up to 30 days
• private visa В10 – up to 90 days
• tourist visa В12 – up to 30 days

To obtain single entry visa, it is sufficient to apply to the consulate of Kazakhstan in the country of your citizenship or permanent residence.

Important.
For issuance of multiple-entry business and work visas, an invitation letter from the host party is required.

PCR certificate
When entering Kazakhstan, you must present a PCR certificate with a negative test result for Covid-19. The term of the certificate should not exceed 3 days (72 hours) since issuance date until crossing the border.

If you have already received a full course of vaccination in Kazakhstan, then you can enter the country based on the Kazakhstan vaccination passport.

2. Passport pages
Look carefully at all pages and elements of the passport. Make sure that your passport is not damaged, there are no scratches, scuffs, etc. Photo and pages must be intact.

Passport must not contain:

• marks on extension of validity
• reservations
• records
• erasures
• fixes
• torn / embroidered pages

Pay attention that minor damage can be a subject to recognize your passport as invalid.

3. Blank pages
To enter Kazakhstan, passport must have free pages for visa and stamps. Passport must have at least 2 blank pages.

You may be denied in issuing visa or entering the country if there are no blank pages.

4. Entry with two passports
If you have a valid visa in your passport that has been expired, or has been cancelled due to absence of blank pages, you can enter Kazakhstan with two passports:

• using your old passport with Kazakhstan visa
• with a new one, in which there is no visa

Moreover, both passports must match your name, surname, date and place of birth.

5. Family members
If you are accompanied by your family, each family member must have a separate passport.

Pasting children in parents' passports are not valid in Kazakhstan.

What should you do if you find an error in the vaccination passport?
Recently, a foreign employee approached us. He received the vaccine in Kazakhstan.

His vaccination passport incorrectly indicated the last name and first name in the Latin transcription. In other words, the name was not indicated as in the national passport.

Another foreign employee had no surname and name in Latin at all.

One of the reasons for this may be related to problems with IIN issues. In particular, incorrect typing of names / surnames in the Latin transcription.

It is possible to correct an error in the vaccination passport.

What is needed for this?

1. Contact the Public Service Center (TSON) at place of your temporary residence.
2. After your request, TSON will make appropriate adjustments to your IIN and data will be updated.
3. Then download the updated vaccination passport on eGov.kz portal or via eGgov mobile app.

When using the mobile app, we recommend that you first update the "Digital documents" section and then download the passport itself.

If you find an error in the vaccination passport of a foreign employee,
you can contact us:

3. Application must be submitted in the regions where your company operates or plans to carry out its activities next year.

4. Received applications are considered by the Committee on quota forming, and in case of approval, they will be taken into account when allocating for the coming year.

5. Quota is not required for foreign employees who under exemption without work permits as well as those who are attracted under intra-corporate transfer.

6. Quota requests can be rejected by the Committee fully or partially if the employer has violations of procedures of work permits obtainment / renewal and labor legislation.

If you have any questions on the application and quota, please contact us:

What do you need to do? You should apply to the public service center (TSON) at the place of temporary residence of a foreigner. Application can be submitted online via eGov.kz portal by using an electronic digital signature.

After your request, TSON will forward it to the information system of the migration service for verification. Migration service will make appropriate adjustments to your IIN. Your data will be updated.

If you find an error in the foreign employee's IIN, please contact us:

2. Multiple-entry C5 visa is now available at the Kazakhstan consulate
Foreigners can receive C5 visa – multiple-entry business immigrant visa – at the Kazakhstan consulate in the country of their citizenship and permanent residence.

Previously, the consulate of Kazakhstan issued only a primary single-entry C5 visa. Multiple-entry C5 visa is issued for a period of up to 2 years.

Please note that a foreigner with C5 visa is allowed to:

• carry out business / entrepreneurial activities in Kazakhstan
• open a company (register a legal entity)
• be part of shareholders of the exisiting company

3. Conditions for issuing and extending A5 investor visa have been defined
Migration service issues and extends A5 investor visa. Issuance is possible based on a letter from the Investment Committee or a request from the Administration of the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC).

A5 visa is issued for a period of up to 5 years. Visa validity can be extended for up to 3 years.

Visa extension for residents of the AIFC and their family members is carried out for up to 5 years.

You can download amended rules in the "Library" section.

• Russia
• Tajikistan
• Uzbekistan

Who can be the host entity?
Inviting party is your Kazakhstani employer, to whom you are heading to work in the RoK.

Employer is responsible for your entry and timely exit from the country.

For how long is C3 visa issued?
Single-entry visa is issued for up to 90 days of stay.

Multiple-entry visa is issued for the period of validity of a work permit, but not more than 3 years.

Where can you get C3 visa?
You can receive visa at the consulate of Kazakhstan in the country of your citizenship and permanent residence.

In the absence of consulate in your country, C3 visa can be obtained upon arrival at the airports of Almaty, Nur-Sultan and Aktau.

You can get C3 visa in Kazakhstan from the migration service if you are already in the country under visa:

• B2-B3 business
• B10 private
• C2 for family reunion
• C3 when changing employer
• C9 study

What is required to apply for C3 visa?
To apply for work visa, your employer needs to contact the migration service. Main document while obtaining visa is work permit.

If you work as the head of the branch / representative office of a foreign legal entity in the Republic of Kazakhstan, you do not require work permit*.

* Appendix 2 to the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 15, 2016 No. 802

For visa process, you must provide:

• decision on appointment as a manager
• general power of attorney from the parent company

If you have been appointed to the position of director or deputy director of a Kazakhstani legal entity with 100% foreign participation, work permit is also not required.

To apply for visa, you must provide:

• decision and order on your appointment
• employment contract when hiring as a deputy director

Documents issued abroad are subject to the apostille or consular legalization procedure in the issuing country. If the document is issued on the territory of one of the CIS countries, it is enough to provide its original.

C3 visa for family members
During your trip and work in Kazakhstan, you can be accompanied by your family (spouse, children).

Each family member must also obtain C3 visa as an accompanying person.

To apply for visa, you will need:

• marriage certificate
• child's birth certificate

Family members are issued visa for the duration of your visa.

Having C3 work visa does not entitle your accompanying family members to work in Kazakhstan.

If a close relative wants to officially work in Kazakhstan, for this he will need to issue a work permit.

For what purposes is TRP issued?

TRP is issued for the following purposes:

• labor activity (on the basis of labor contract, patent, work permit)
• family reunion
• study
• business immigrant activity
• treatment

For how long is TRP issued?
Temporary residence permit is issued for up to 1 year.

Who is TRP issued by?

TRP is drawn up by the receiving party at the migration service (individual or legal entity).

It is the host party that is responsible for untimely issuance of TRP.

The application for TRP must be accompanied by the original of your passport and document confirming the purpose of your stay.

When carrying out labor activities, this is work permit. For citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union countries – labor contract.

Is TRP required for family members of a foreigner (spouse, children)?
Children under 16 years of age do not need TRP.

Accompanying spouse, as well as children over 16 years old, must apply for TRP. Certificate of marriage / birth certificate of child must also be attached to the application.

Is it necessary to issue TRP upon re-entry?
While leaving the country, according to the rules, you hand over TRP at the time of passing the border control. TRP is terminated.

Next time you enter Kazakhstan, you need to issue TRP again.

What is the difference between temporary residence permit and residence permit?

Residence permit or pink card is a document that grants a foreigner the right to permanently reside in Kazakhstan.

Residence permit is issued for a period of up to 10 years and gives its owner the following opportunities:

• freely enter / leave the country without visa / TRP
• live in any city of Kazakhstan
• carry out labor, business activities without the need to obtain work permit
• purchase real estate, transport

TRP does not give such rights and is issued only for temporary residence for up to 1 year.

If you have any questions on this topic, please, order an online consultation on our website.

If you entered Kazakhstan on a multiple-entry visa, you can stay in the country continuously for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Or, if necessary, enter Kazakhstan for shorter periods during the validity of visa.

Total period of stay of a foreigner for business purposes in the RoK should not exceed 120 calendar days a year*. Over 120 days, we recommend obtaining work permit and work visa C3. According to the rules, you can change the category of B2 visa to work visa without leaving Kazakhstan.
*Appendix 2 to the Government Resolution No. 802 as 15.12.2016

What is required for B2 visa?
To apply for visa, the inviting party must contact the migration service. Main document when applying for a multiple-entry visa is a contract for the performance of work / provision of services.

Such contract must be concluded between the inviting party in Kazakhstan and a foreign company that sends foreign specialists to project in the RoK. Contract is not required when applying for B2 visa for citizens of 48 economically developed and politically stable states.

How long does it take to obtain B2 visa?
Consideration and approval of the visa invitation at the migration service takes on average 5-7 working days. Additionally, 5 working days are required to insert a visa at the RoK consular office in the foreigner's country of residence.

Where can B2 visa be obtained?
Business visa can be obtained at the Kazakhstan consulate in the country of your citizenship. In the absence of a consulate, B2 visa can be obtained upon arrival at the airport.

It should be noted that foreigners and host entities will not be brought to administrative liability for violation of the period of stay while leaving the country before June 5.

For convenience, we have prepared answers to the most interesting questions on this topic.

Question:
Will the date June 5 be postponed to a later date as it was last year?

Answer:
Yes, actually the term of permitted departure was postponed several times last year. But taking into account resumption of regular air flights in Kazakhstan and opening of the international borders, extension of permitted departure period is not planned. Therefore, foreigners with the expired travel documents must leave Kazakhstan until June 5.

Question:
Is it possible to stay in Kazakhstan after June 5? What is required to extend a period of stay?

Answer:
If you plan to stay in Kazakhstan for the purpose of employment or family reunion, then on reasonable grounds it would be possible to extend your period of stay. For this, you will be required to apply for C3 work visa, temporary residence permit or C2 reunion family visa to the migration service until June 5. Meanwhile, visa and temporary residence permit are issued regardless requirements for the stated purpose of your visit.

Question:
Will a penalty be imposed on a foreigner if he/she applies for visa or TRP to the migration service before June 5?

Answer:
If you apply for visa or TRP by June 5, the migration service will not call you to administrative liability.

Question:
Can a foreigner apply for exit visa at the migration service before June 5 due to force majeure, delay or cancellation of the flight?

Answer:
According to the current Visa regulations, you can apply for B20 exit visa if you provide the migration service with proof of force majeure, delay or cancellation of the flight. For example, an official letter from the airline.
B20 exit visa is issued for up to 15 days.

Question:
Is it possible to change B20 exit visa to C3 work visa? Or is it necessary to leave the country before expiry of B20 visa?

Answer:
Change of B20 visa category to C3 visa category in Kazakhstan is not regulated by the current Visa rules. Therefore, it is necessary to leave the country before expiry of exit visa.

Question:
What penalty may apply for departure from Kazakhstan after June 5?

Answer:
Administrative offences code specify the following penalties for untimely departure:

• June 5, 6, 7 (up to 3 days) – warning
• June 8, 9 (from 3 to 5 days) – penalty 10 MCI or 29 170 ₸
• June 10, 11, 12, 13 (from 5 to 10 days) – penalty 15 MCI or 43 755 ₸
• June 14 (over 10 days) – penalty 25 MCI or 72 925 ₸

For example, you are leaving Kazakhstan on June 8, so in this case, the border control officer will reveal a violation, draw up an administrative protocol and impose a penalty in the amount of 10 MCI (29 170 ₸). At the same time, you can pay a fine within 30 calendar days, for example, upon arrival in your home country.

• PCR certificate is not required for Kazakhstan citizens and KZ residence permit holders who received a full course of vaccination in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Entry into the country is carried out based on the vaccination passport.
• Foreign employees with KZ visas (work, investor, business, etc.) who received vaccine in Kazakhstan are not exempt from presenting the PCR certificate while arriving in the RoK.

2. About Ashyq app

• Foreign citizen and family members do not need individual identification number to work with the Ashyq app.
• Ashyq app is also required to enter the Almaty and Nur-Sultan airport buildings when departing from Kazakhstan.

3. About IDC entry permission

• For the duration of the quarantine measures the IDC entry permission is required for a foreigner to arrive in Kazakhstan. the inviting party must obtain a permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Such permission is issued for single or multiple entry-exit.
• IDC permission is not required for citizens of the countries Kazakhstan has resumed direct air flights with. As of 20.05.2021, air flights are open with 15 countries:
• Germany
• Netherlands
• UAE
• South Korea
• Turkey
• Egypt
• Ukraine
• Belarus

• Russia
• Kyrgyzstan
• Uzbekistan
• Georgia
• Sri Lanka
• Tajikistan
• Montenegro

• When crossing the border by road, the IDC permission is required (including for each family member).

4. About visa-free regime

• Visa-free regime for citizens of 54 countries is suspended until December 31, 2021 by the decision of the Kazakhstan Government.
• Citizens of these countries require visa to travel to Kazakhstan. Visa is not required for citizens of those countries which concluded separate bilateral agreements on mutual visa-free travel with Kazakhstan.
• Citizens of Turkey, UAE and South Korea can stay in Kazakhstan under visa-free regime for up to 30 days for private, guest and business purposes. Visa will be required if staying beyond 30 days.

5. About crossing border once in 30 days

• For KZ residence permit holders and their family members, as well as for foreigners who are family members of KZ citizens, restriction on border crossing once in 30 days applies.
• This restriction does not apply to the foreigners with the IDC permission issued for multiple entries-exits, as well as to foreign citizens of the countries Kazakhstan has resumed direct air flights with.

• Nesterenko Vladimir Alexandrovich, Deputy Head of the Department of the RSE "Information and Production Center" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Imashev Didar Kuandykovich, Deputy Head of the Department of the RSE "Information and Production Center" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan

An application for an IIN can be submitted by a foreigner to the CSC department at the place of his temporary stay in Kazakhstan or online through the E-gov portal. At the same time, the personal presence of a foreigner for submitting documents in the CSC is optional. Documents can be submitted by a representative of a foreigner on the basis of a notarized power of attorney. An application for obtaining an IIN through the E-gov web portal is drawn up by a representative of a foreigner or a receiving party (employer) on the basis of an EDS.

Foreign citizens wishing to receive a vaccine against coronavirus in Kazakhstan must have an IIN. For family members of a foreigner, IIN is issued by the migration service authorities without any restrictions.
Vaccinations are carried out upon presentation of a passport and IIN.
According to the decree of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Kazakhstan, data on vaccination are registered in the established registration forms, indicating the full name, IIN, address of residence, date of vaccination, etc. All information about the vaccinated is entered into the "Vaccination" medical information system

Keep in mind: late submission of the notification entails administrative liability of the host entity with further ban on issuing visa invitation letters within 1 year.

We will discuss the issues of the migration registration of foreigners during our seminar on March 17-19 in Almaty.