Visas to Kazakhstan

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.

For how long is C2 visa issued?
Single-entry visa is issued for up to 90 days of stay.
Multiple-entry visa – up to 1 year.

What documents are required for C2 visa?
If you are the inviting person, you need to write a free-form application to whom you want to invite, where and for how long.

Application must be accompanied by:

1. identity card or passport
2. bank certificate on availability of funds for maintenance of the invited family member (amount is not less than 42 500 tenge per month for each invited person)
3. certificate of housing availability in Kazakhstan
4. marriage / child's birth certificate

Invited family member will need:

1. medical insurance
2. police clearance certificate (if an adult)

Documents should be submitted to the Kazakhstan consulate in the country of citizenship or permanent residence of the invited family member. Visa will be granted there.

Standard term for consideration and processing C2 visa is 5-7 working days.

Is it possible to obtain C2 visa in Kazakhstan?
Visa can be issued in cases when the invited family member is already in Kazakhstan under visa:

• В10 (private)
• C3 (work)
• С9 (study)

Current rules regulate change of these categories of visas to C2 visa. For this, it is required to submit documents to the migration service.

If documents issued abroad, they must first be apostilled or legalized in the country of issuance. Documents issued in the CIS member states suffice to be provided in the original.

Documents drawn up in the foreign language must be translated into the state or Russian language, and authenticity of the translator's signature must be certified by a notary.

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.

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.

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.

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.