According to clause 9 of the Rules for entry and stay of foreigners in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the host party (entity) must notify the migration service about arrival of a foreigner in Kazakhstan. Notification is required regardless of the order of entry of a foreigner - on a visa or under visa-free regime. It does not depend on the purpose of his visit and duration of stay in the country.

Who is submitting the notification?
Notification is submitted by the inviting (host) company. Foreigner himself does not need to visit the migration service.

When should you submit the notification?
It is necessary to submit a notification within 3 business days since arrival date of a foreigner.

How can you submit the notification?
There are several ways to submit a notification on stay:
1. online through the Visa and migration portal vmp.gov.kz
2. in paper form to the migration service directly
3. electronically via the information system eQonaq.kz

What penalties are provided for late submission of the notification?
Late submission of the notification entails a fine for the inviting company in the amount of 10 to 20 MCI* (from 30,630 to 61,260 tenge). Repeated violation during the year entails a 1-year ban on issuing visa invitations**.

*Article 518 of the Administrative Offenses Code
*Article 48 of the Law on Migration of the Population

Here is the recent case from our practice we would like to share with you. One of the client, UK citizen arrived in Kazakhstan under visa-free regime for 30 days. Upon arrival in the country, he found out that there was no stamp on the border crossing in his passport. When passing through the passport control, the border control officer did not put a date stamp in the passport.

Absence of the border's stamp may serve as a signal of illegal border crossing. Therefore, if you encounter such situation, follow these simple steps:

1. Visit the border service at the point of your entry.
2. Briefly describe the situation and provide the border service office with the original passport.
3. An officer will check your border crossing data in the Berkut system.
4. If such data is available, you will put the border's stamp.

We remind you that foreigners of 57 visa-free countries can stay in Kazakhstan for up to 30 calendar days (in total 90 days within a 180-day period). Exceeding period of stay entails administrative liability of a foreigner and host entity.

In the procedure of obtaining residence permit, one of the key stages is filling out the questionnaire. Incorrectly compiled questionnaire often becomes the reason for refusing to accept documents for residence permit in Kazakhstan.

KZ Ministry of Internal Affairs has recently approved a new application form for issuing residence permit. Structure of the questionnaire has become clear and simple.

Application form includes the following information blocks:

• Applicant's personal data
• Information about family members
• Employment background
• Existence or lack of the criminal record
• Information about family members simultaneously applying for residence permit in Kazakhstan

Application can be filled out by hand in legible handwriting or using the computer. You may complete the application form in Russian. If you fill out the application in a foreign language, you will need to certify document's translation into Russian by the notary.

It is not allowed to use abbreviations of words when filling out the questionnaire. Any corrections and errors are also unacceptable. The answers in the application form should be specific and exhaustive. The successful consideration of the questionnaire by the migration service depends on completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

Current rules* provide for the possibility of extension of the single-entry / multiple B2 business visa in Kazakhstan. Such visa can be renewed only once based on the application of the host entity, which previously applied for the primary visa.

Documents required for renewal process:

• application indicating a foreigner's purpose of visit in the country
• passport with the valid visa
• original payment slip in the amount of 7 MCI (21,441 tenge)
• copy of the existing service contract with the customer or another document which explains reasons for extending period of stay of a foreigner in Kazakhstan

Keep in mind that:

• visa cannot be extended if validity period of B2 business visa has not expired yet, but the allowed number of days of stay has already been used (period of stay 90 days within a 180-day period)
• application for B2 visa renewal is submitted to the migration service no later than 5 business days prior to expiry date of the valid visa
• extension of B2 business visa is carried out for up to 30 days
• business visas of B1 and B3 categories are not subject to prolongation process

*Paragraph 49 of the Rules for processing invitations and issuing visas of the RoK

This reason is one of the most common among employers and companies often turn to us for help after receiving such a refusal.
We would like to share with a recent case.
The company have received a refusal twice due to non-compliance of the level of education and work experience of a foreign specialist with the qualification requirements of the current Rules*.
At the same time, a foreign specialist has had 20 years of work experience and higher education.
Therefore, we promptly took the following actions:
1. Analysis of employee's personal documents;
2. Assessment of all chances and risks;
3. Selection of the correct position in the qualification guide, consider experience and education of a foreigner and the duties that he will perform in this position;
4. Preparation of a written request to the Ministry of Education
5. Participation in the commission

After successfully passing all these stages, the client re-submitted an application and received the approval of the commission and a work permit (WP).
Therefore, we carefully and comprehensively approach the selection of a position and the analysis of documents of a foreign specialist. This is an important stage, which subsequently minimizes the risk of failure.
In controversial cases, we contact the authorized state body with a request to clarify or confirm the disputed point of the rules.
In case of such situation, contact the migration consultants of the WPK Group. We will be glad if we can be useful.

* paragraph 24, the Rules and Conditions for issuing and (or) extending permits to employers to attract foreign labor, as well as the implementation of intra-corporate transfer