KazakhstanVisa-free regime

EAEU visa-free entry in Kazakhstan

Nationals of Russia and of the other countries of the Eurasian Economic Union enter Kazakhstan on a passport alone, without a visa. Records of arrivals are kept by the migration police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: the host — an employer, a university, a relative or the owner of the accommodation — reports the guest at the place of registration. Anyone staying longer than the permitted term obtains a temporary residence permit at the same territorial police bodies.

Source: eGov.kz — visa regime of the Republic of Kazakhstan for foreign nationals

Who the visa-free regime suits

The procedure for entry without a visa is the same for all of Kazakhstan's visa-free partner countries, but the rules on work and the length of a single stay differ depending on whether the country is a member of the EAEU.

Nationals of Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan (EAEU countries)

They enter and stay without a visa for up to 90 calendar days at a time from the moment the border is crossed
They work under an employment contract without a work permit — the contract is concluded directly with the employer
To live beyond the visa-free term they obtain a temporary residence permit for the term of the employment contract, but for no more than a year, renewable annually

Nationals of the other visa-free CIS countries

They enter without a visa, but the permitted visa-free period ends 30 calendar days after the border is crossed
For employment a separate permit from the local executive body for engaging foreign labour is required
The temporary residence permit is obtained on the general grounds — according to the purpose of the visit: work, study, treatment or business

When the programme will not suit

I want to stay in Kazakhstan for more than 90 days in a half-year

Obtain a temporary residence permit — a status for the term of an employment or other contract, but for no more than a year, renewable annually

I am a national of a country that has no visa-free agreement with Kazakhstan

A visa of the Republic of Kazakhstan is required — it is obtained at a consulate or through the visa and migration portal before entering the country

I need permanent resident status or citizenship straight after the move

A separate programme for obtaining a permanent residence permit or admission to citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan will suit — they are applied for separately after a period of lawful residence in the country

An employer wants to bring a worker from a country outside the EAEU for permanent work

A permit from the local executive body for engaging foreign labour within the quota is required — visa-free entry is no substitute for it

Documents to gather

The list is for those staying in Kazakhstan beyond the visa-free term and obtaining a temporary residence permit. The set is gathered by the host — an employer, a university, a relative or the owner of the accommodation.

An application form for the issue of a temporary residence permit
A copy of the identity document (the original for verification)
A copy of the medical insurance registered in the Saqtandyry information system (the original for verification)
Notarised consent to the immigrant's residence — where the host is not the owner of the accommodation
A certificate of completion of fingerprint registration

How the process runs

The procedure applies to those who have entered without a visa and are moving to a temporary residence permit in order to stay in Kazakhstan beyond the visa-free term.

1
Entry on a passport without a visa
At the border the foreign national presents only a passport — no visa is needed if their country has a visa-free agreement with Kazakhstan.
2
Registration by the host
3 working days
The employer, university, relative or owner of the accommodation informs the internal affairs bodies of the foreign national's arrival within three working days of the day of arrival.
3
Filing the application for a temporary residence permit
by the end of the visa-free term or within 10 calendar days after it
The application form with the set of documents is filed with the territorial police body at the place of registration, through the Government for Citizens State Corporation or through the egov.kz portal.
4
Fingerprint registration
The foreign national gives fingerprints at the territorial police body at the place of stay — without this certificate the application will not be accepted.
5
Checking the documents and issuing the permit
1 working day
The migration police check the set of documents and the details in the Berkut and IS MP systems, and then issue the temporary residence permit. The service is free of charge.

Timelines and rights

Work

Nationals of Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan work without a work permit — an employment contract is enough.

Who you can bring with you

A spouse and children who have arrived with the foreign national are entered in the same application form — a separate table is provided for them.

Children under 16

They do not need a temporary residence permit at all — immigrants under the age of 16 are exempt from that requirement.

The spouse and children of a labour immigrant

The temporary residence permit is issued for the same term as the permit of the labour immigrant themselves.

Relatives whom the foreign national has joined for family reunification

The temporary residence permit is issued on the application of the inviting person for the terms established by the Law on Population Migration.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Nationals of Russia live without a visa for 90 days in every 180. Anyone staying longer than 30 days at a time obtains a temporary residence permit; children under 16 do not need one.

The temporary residence permit is issued for the term of the employment or other contract, but for no more than one year, and is renewed annually while the ground for residence remains. The permit is never issued for longer than the validity of the foreign national's national passport. Those who have already filed an application for permanent residence are issued a temporary permit for a maximum of 90 calendar days while the application is being examined.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	EAEU visa-free entry	Kandas status	C3 work visa
Visa term	Up to 90 days without a visa; for nationals of Russia — up to 90 days within 180 days	The status is the basis for accelerated permanent residence and citizenship	Single-entry — up to 90 days; multiple-entry — up to 3 years
Grounds	Intergovernmental agreements on visa-free travel	Ethnic Kazakhs	Employment in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Money	The temporary residence permit is issued free of charge	There are no investment requirements, but you usually have to show sufficient funds	The fee for the permit to engage foreign labour is paid by the employer
Residence	Nationals of Russia live without a visa for 90 days in every 180	Usually residence in a particular region under the quota	There is no minimum length of stay

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Permanent residence is a separate permit. The applicant confirms funds in an account of at least 1,320 MCI; ethnic Kazakhs, former citizens of Kazakhstan and nationals of Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan are exempt from this. The residence card is issued for 10 years, the service is provided within 17 calendar days, or 7 working days on an expedited basis.

Route to citizenship

Citizenship is applied for after 5 years of permanent residence or 3 years of marriage to a citizen of Kazakhstan. For those who have come from the former Soviet republics and have a close relative who is a Kazakhstani, the residence period is not counted. The decision is taken by the President.

Frequently asked questions about EAEU visa-free entry

How many days may a national of Russia stay in Kazakhstan without a visa?

Up to 90 calendar days at a time from the moment the border is crossed, but no more than 90 days in total within each period of 180 calendar days. Once the limit is used up, you have to obtain a temporary residence permit or leave the country.

Can you work in Kazakhstan without a work permit?

Immigrants in general are prohibited from working without a permit from the local executive body, but the rules expressly make an exception for those for whom Kazakhstan's international treaties provide otherwise. For nationals of Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan that treaty is the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union — its article 97 separately governs the work of employees from the member states.

How much does the temporary residence permit cost?

Nothing — the state service for issuing a temporary residence permit is provided free of charge. You only have to pay for the medical insurance and for notarising the consent of the owner of the accommodation.

When after the move can you apply for citizenship of Kazakhstan?

After five years of permanent residence in the country on lawful grounds or after three years of marriage to a citizen of Kazakhstan — both grounds are expressly listed in the law on citizenship. The application is examined within no more than six months.

Does a foreign national have to report themselves to the migration police?

No, that duty falls on the host — it notifies the internal affairs bodies of the guest's arrival within three working days of the day of arrival.

Other ways to move to Kazakhstan

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Kazakhstan.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.