On the Requirement for EAEU Citizens to Have Health Insurance When Applying for a Temporary Residence Permit
This article was prepared by WPK consultants based on current legislation and our own experience in processing temporary residence permits in 2026.
March 2026
March 2026
What is a temporary residence permit?
A Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) is a document that grants immigrants the right to reside in the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) for a specified period, depending on the purpose of their stay.
TRPs are issued to citizens of the following countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
TRPs are issued to citizens of the following countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Is health insurance mandatory for non-residents?
In the Rules for Issuing Temporary Residence Permits in the Republic of Kazakhstan to Foreigners and Stateless Persons, approved by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 992 dated December 4, 2015 (hereinafter – the Rules), it is specified that to obtain a TRP (Temporary Residence Permit), a copy of medical insurance must be provided (the original is provided for verification), with the exception of citizens of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter – the EAEU).
According to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Ratification of the Treaty on the EAEU," if a citizen of an EAEU country works in another EAEU member state, their labor activity is regulated by the legislation of the state of employment. In other words, if a citizen of the Russian Federation is legally employed by a company in the Republic of Kazakhstan, their labor relations will be regulated by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Paragraph 6 of Article 35 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Population Migration" states that foreign workers arriving for independent employment or recruited by employers, including within the framework of an intra-corporate transfer, are required to have medical insurance covering primary health care and specialized medical care in inpatient conditions in an emergency form, on terms determined by the agreement of the parties, in compliance with the minimum requirements established by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Additionally, Paragraph 6 of Article 26 of the Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan prohibits the conclusion of an employment contract with foreigners and stateless persons temporarily staying in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan who do not have an imputed medical insurance contract covering primary health care and specialized medical care in inpatient conditions in an emergency form under the conditions established by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
According to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Ratification of the Treaty on the EAEU," if a citizen of an EAEU country works in another EAEU member state, their labor activity is regulated by the legislation of the state of employment. In other words, if a citizen of the Russian Federation is legally employed by a company in the Republic of Kazakhstan, their labor relations will be regulated by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Paragraph 6 of Article 35 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Population Migration" states that foreign workers arriving for independent employment or recruited by employers, including within the framework of an intra-corporate transfer, are required to have medical insurance covering primary health care and specialized medical care in inpatient conditions in an emergency form, on terms determined by the agreement of the parties, in compliance with the minimum requirements established by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Additionally, Paragraph 6 of Article 26 of the Labor Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan prohibits the conclusion of an employment contract with foreigners and stateless persons temporarily staying in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan who do not have an imputed medical insurance contract covering primary health care and specialized medical care in inpatient conditions in an emergency form under the conditions established by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
How does this affect the temporary residence permit process?
By virtue of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Legal Acts," if there are contradictions in the norms of normative legal acts of different levels, the norms of the higher-level act shall apply. In this regard, until amendments are made to the Rules, applicants are required to provide medical insurance when submitting documents for the issuance of a TRP.
When applying for a TRP, it is necessary to provide the original, or a copy + the original for verification, of the imputed medical insurance (IMI) contract.
When reviewing an application, the migration authorities take into account the validity period of the issued insurance. If the insurance term is less than 1 year / the Employment Contract concluded for 1 year, the term of the issued TRP will be identical to the term of the insurance.
When applying for a TRP, it is necessary to provide the original, or a copy + the original for verification, of the imputed medical insurance (IMI) contract.
When reviewing an application, the migration authorities take into account the validity period of the issued insurance. If the insurance term is less than 1 year / the Employment Contract concluded for 1 year, the term of the issued TRP will be identical to the term of the insurance.
Contact Us
Leave a request here or write to us at info@wpk.kz
About WPK
WPK Consulting Company is a 100% Kazakhstani-owned company founded in 2002, with offices in Astana, Almaty, and Atyrau.
For over 20 years, we have specialized in immigration law and business process outsourcing.
Our consultants support foreign companies of all sizes in Kazakhstan, providing services and representing the interests of HR managers, specialists, foreign executives, and employees.
For over 20 years, we have specialized in immigration law and business process outsourcing.
Our consultants support foreign companies of all sizes in Kazakhstan, providing services and representing the interests of HR managers, specialists, foreign executives, and employees.
About WPK
WPK Consulting Company is a 100% Kazakhstani-owned company founded in 2002, with offices in Astana, Almaty, and Atyrau.
For over 20 years, we have specialized in immigration law and business process outsourcing.
Our consultants support foreign companies of all sizes in Kazakhstan, providing services and representing the interests of HR managers, specialists, foreign executives, and employees.
For over 20 years, we have specialized in immigration law and business process outsourcing.
Our consultants support foreign companies of all sizes in Kazakhstan, providing services and representing the interests of HR managers, specialists, foreign executives, and employees.
Submit a Request
Please fill in the required fields
By clicking the "Submit" button, you consent to the processing of your personal data and agree to the privacy policy