Visas to Kazakhstan

Here you can find detailed information about Kazakhstan visas in 2023
Foreign citizens need a visa to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Depending on your purpose of visit and duration of stay, you can determine the required visa category below.
Category of visas
  • Business visa
  • Work visa
  • Family visa
  • Private visa
  • Tourist visa
  • Investor visa
  • Visa for business immigrant
  • Visa for obtaining residence permit
Category of visas
  • Business visa
  • Work visa
  • Family visa
  • Private visa
  • Tourist visa
  • Investor visa
  • Visa for business immigrant
  • Visa for obtaining residence permit

1
B2 business visa
For what purposes of travel is B2 visa issued?
A visa is issued for the purpose of:
  • installation, repair and maintenance of equipment
  • provision of consulting or audit services

For how long is B2 visa issued and how long can you stay in Kazakhstan on a visa?
Single-entry visa is issued for up to 90 days with the right to stay up to 30 days.

Version of videon in French
B2 business visa
For what purposes of travel is B2 visa issued?
A visa is issued for the purpose of:
  • installation, repair and maintenance of equipment
  • provision of consulting or audit services

For how long is B2 visa issued and how long can you stay in Kazakhstan on a visa?
Single-entry visa is issued for up to 90 days with the right to stay up to 30 days.

Version of videon in French
Multiple-entry visa is issued for up to 180 days with the right to stay up to 90 days.

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 RoK Government Resolution No. 802 as of 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.

2
C2 family reunion visa
You can invite your close relatives from abroad to Kazakhstan with C2 visa.

Who can be invited on C2 visa?

Visa is issued to family members:
  • spouse who has been officially married for at least 3 years
  • children including children over 18 years old, unmarried and dependent
  • disabled parents who are dependent on the inviting person
  • other family members whose maintenance is responsibility of the inviting person
C2 family reunion visa
You can invite your close relatives from abroad to Kazakhstan with C2 visa.

Who can be invited on C2 visa?

Visa is issued to family members:
  • spouse who has been officially married for at least 3 years
  • children including children over 18 years old, unmarried and dependent
  • disabled parents who are dependent on the inviting person
  • other family members whose maintenance is responsibility of the inviting person

3
C3 work visa
Who can apply for C3 visa?
Visa is issued to foreign workers to enter Kazakhstan for the purpose of employment.

Visa is not required for citizens of the CIS and EAEU countries:
  • Azerbaijan
  • Armenia
  • Belarus
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Russia

Version of video in French
C3 work visa
Who can apply for C3 visa?
Visa is issued to foreign workers to enter Kazakhstan for the purpose of employment.

Visa is not required for citizens of the CIS and EAEU countries:
  • Azerbaijan
  • Armenia
  • Belarus
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Russia

Version of video in French
  • 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.

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 RoK Government Resolution No. 802 as of 15.12.2016
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.

4
C5 business immigrant visa
Foreign citizens willing to perform business activities in Kazakhstan can open a company or join the founders of an existing Kazakhstan company. For this, a foreigner must apply for a business immigrant visa of C5 category.

Business immigrant is a foreign national who has arrived in Kazakhstan to carry out entrepreneurship activities.

Single entry C5 visa
Preliminary C5 visa is issued for a period up to 90 days with the right to stay for the entire period of validity of the visa.
C5 business immigrant visa
Foreign citizens willing to perform business activities in Kazakhstan can open a company or join the founders of an existing Kazakhstan company. For this, a foreigner must apply for a business immigrant visa of C5 category.

Business immigrant is a foreign national who has arrived in Kazakhstan to carry out entrepreneurship activities.

Single entry C5 visa
Preliminary C5 visa is issued for a period up to 90 days with the right to stay for the entire period of validity of the visa.
According to the Rules for issuing visas, the primary single-entry visa is issued only abroad in foreign institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

What are the conditions for applying for a single-entry visa?
  1. legal age of the applicant
  2. provision of a medical certificate confirming the absence of diseases that obstruct labor activity
  3. health insurance
  4. police clearance certificate
  5. providing a certificate of the presence / absence of a ban on running business, issued in the country of citizenship or permanent residence

What actions should a foreigner take after obtaining visa?
Within two months from the date of entry, it's required to:
  1. register the company in the Republic of Kazakhstan or join to the company's participants (shareholders)
  2. deposit the amount for the authorized capital to the bank once registration is completed
Multiple entry C5 visa
C5 visa is extended in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan by the migration service. Upon renewal, a multiple-entry visa is issued for a period of up to 2 years with the right to stay for the entire period of validity of the visa.

It should be noted that business immigrants, when extending a C5 visa, additionally submit to the migration service a request from the Akimats (regional governor's offices) of Kazakhstan.

Please consider the following:
  • If business-immigrants fail to fulfill their duties, the internal affairs bodies, based on the request of local executive bodies, decide to reduce the period of stay of business immigrants for the period for voluntary departure.

  • A foreigner who has not received a C5 visa is prohibited from carrying out business activities, creating a legal entity or becoming a member of the founders.

5
A5 investor visa
Who can apply for A5 visa?
Investor visa is granted to:
  1. chief executives of organizations engaged in the investment activities in Kazakhstan and their deputies
  2. heads of structural divisions (department director, CFO, etc.)
  3. foreigners carrying out investments in accordance with the AIFC investment tax residency program
  4. family members (dependent)

Version of video in French
A5 investor visa
Who can apply for A5 visa?
Investor visa is granted to:
  1. chief executives of organizations engaged in the investment activities in Kazakhstan and their deputies
  2. heads of structural divisions (department director, CFO, etc.)
  3. foreigners carrying out investments in accordance with the AIFC investment tax residency program
  4. family members (dependent)

Version of video in French
Who is an inviting party?
Applicant for issuance of an application (inviting party) for obtaining A5 investor visa is an individual and a legal entity.

How long is A5 visa issued for?
Visa is issued for a period of up to 5 years with the right of extension for up to 3 years in Kazakhstan.

Procedure for obtaining investor visa consists of 3 main stages:
  1. Approval and receipt of the application for investor visa at the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RoK.
  2. Submission of documents to the migration service at the place of registration of the inviting party.
  3. Obtainment of visa at the embassy of Kazakhstan in the country of citizenship or permanent residence of a foreigner.

Application for A5 visa can be submitted online via Elicense.kz portal or through the public service center (TSON) at the place of registration of the receiving party.

What is processing time for A5 visa?
Period of consideration and issuance of the application via Elicense portal is 5 business days from the date of documents submission.
Standard period for considering an application at TSON is 11 business days.

Additional 5 business days are required for visa issuance at the consulate of Kazakhstan abroad.

Where is A5 visa issued?
You can get investor visa at the Kazakhstan consulate in the country of your citizenship or permanent residence. Visa is issued free of charge in accordance with the current legislation of Republic of Kazakhstan.

A5 visa can be also procured in Kazakhstan if you are already in the country under visa:
  • B3 (business)
  • B10 (private)
  • C3 (work)
  • C4 (self-employment)
  • C5 (business-immigrant)
  • C10 (ethnic Kazakhs)
According to the current rules, it is possible to change these categories of visas to A5 investor visa. For this, you need to apply to the migration service.

6
B8 visa for obtaining residence permit
Before obtaining residence permit (pink card), you need to register your temporary stay in Kazakhstan. For this, you will be required obtain B8 visa.

What should be considered when applying for B8 visa?
Visa can be obtained in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, if you:
  • arrived in Kazakhstan on visa-free trip (for example, for citizens of Turkey, South Korea)
  • stay in Kazakhstan under C3 work visa
B8 visa for obtaining residence permit
Before obtaining residence permit (pink card), you need to register your temporary stay in Kazakhstan. For this, you will be required obtain B8 visa.

What should be considered when applying for B8 visa?
Visa can be obtained in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, if you:
  • arrived in Kazakhstan on visa-free trip (for example, for citizens of Turkey, South Korea)
  • stay in Kazakhstan under C3 work visa
If you stay in Kazakhstan based on:
  • A5 investor visa
  • B1, B2, B3 business visa
  • B10 private visa
  • B12 tourist visa
  • or any other type of visa
you will need to leave Kazakhstan and apply for B8 visa at the Kazakhstan consulate in the country of your citizenship or permanent residence.

For how long is B8 visa issued?
B8 visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days with the right of extension for up to 30 days. In practice, visa is issued for a period required for consideration of the residence permit application.
How long does it take to obtain B8 visa?
Standard visa processing period is 5-7 business days from the date of documents submission to the Kazakhstan consulate abroad or to the migration service of the RoK.

Pay attention:
  1. It is prohibited to perform employment or other paid activities in Kazakhstan under B8 visa.
  2. If you are accompanied by children under 16 years old when applying for residence permit in Kazakhstan, they will need to obtain C11 visa – visa for minors. Such visa is issued for up to 1-3 years.

7
B10 private visa
Private visa is issued to:
  • individuals traveling to Kazakhstan for private purposes
  • citizens of 48 economically developed and politically stable countries (for example, citizens of Germany, UK, Italy, Netherlands, etc.)
  • persons traveling to Kazakhstan for funerals or in cases of illness of relatives (upon provision of the supporting documents)
  • spouses, children (including adopted children) or parents (guardians, trustees) entering Kazakhstan together with citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan
  • spouses, children (who are not ethnic Kazakhs) entering together with ethnic Kazakhs
  • former compatriots

Single-entry B10 visa is issued for up to 90 days with the right to stay for the entire period of visa validity. Multiple entry visa is issued for a period of 180 days to 3 years (stay no more than 90 days at each entry).
B10 private visa
Private visa is issued to:
  • individuals traveling to Kazakhstan for private purposes
  • citizens of 48 economically developed and politically stable countries (for example, citizens of Germany, UK, Italy, Netherlands, etc.)
  • persons traveling to Kazakhstan for funerals or in cases of illness of relatives (upon provision of the supporting documents)
  • spouses, children (including adopted children) or parents (guardians, trustees) entering Kazakhstan together with citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan
  • spouses, children (who are not ethnic Kazakhs) entering together with ethnic Kazakhs
  • former compatriots

Single-entry B10 visa is issued for up to 90 days with the right to stay for the entire period of visa validity. Multiple entry visa is issued for a period of 180 days to 3 years (stay no more than 90 days at each entry).

8
B12 tourist visa
Tourist visa is issued for a short stay in the RoK for tourism purposes: visiting cultural events, excursions, sightseeing.

Single-entry tourist visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days and a stay period of no more than 30 days. Multiple-entry B12 visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days with the right to stay for no more than 30 days at each entry into the country.

Foreigners can apply for B12 visa if they have an invitation from a tourist organization in Kazakhstan. According to the rules, such invitation letter is not required for foreigners from the list of 48 economically developed and politically stable countries when applying for a single-entry tourist visa.
B12 tourist visa
Tourist visa is issued for a short stay in the RoK for tourism purposes: visiting cultural events, excursions, sightseeing.

Single-entry tourist visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days and a stay period of no more than 30 days. Multiple-entry B12 visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days with the right to stay for no more than 30 days at each entry into the country.

Foreigners can apply for B12 visa if they have an invitation from a tourist organization in Kazakhstan. According to the rules, such invitation letter is not required for foreigners from the list of 48 economically developed and politically stable countries when applying for a single-entry tourist visa.

9
E-Visa to Kazakhstan
According to the current regulations, citizens of 109 countries* can apply for the electronic visa to Kazakhstan.

The following categories of single-entry visas are available for e-Visa:
  • B1, B2, B3 business (from 30 to 60 days of stay)
  • B12 tourist (up to 30 days of stay)
  • C12 for medical treatment (up to 90 days of stay)
E-Visa to Kazakhstan
According to the current regulations, citizens of 109 countries* can apply for the electronic visa to Kazakhstan.

The following categories of single-entry visas are available for e-Visa:
  • B1, B2, B3 business (from 30 to 60 days of stay)
  • B12 tourist (up to 30 days of stay)
  • C12 for medical treatment (up to 90 days of stay)
Learn more about E-Visa on a separate page
About changing the visa category
About change of visa category
We are often asked the question whether a foreign citizen can change visa of one category to another without leaving Kazakhstan.

Yes, in some cases it is possible to change visa category. In this video, we are sharing some examples.

About change of visa category
We are often asked the question whether a foreign citizen can change visa of one category to another without leaving Kazakhstan.

Yes, in some cases it is possible to change visa category. In this video, we are sharing some examples.

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