Category I investor visa in Kyrgyzstan
A visa for foreign investors and heads of foreign investment companies who are putting funds into the economy of the Kyrgyz Republic in priority sectors.
Source: mfa.gov.kg — Instruction on the procedure for issuing visas: investment visa of type “I”
Who can obtain a category I visa
Who qualifies
- A foreign investor or the head of a foreign investment company carrying on investment activity in the Kyrgyz Republic
- A contribution to the country's economy — money or tangible assets worth the equivalent of 10 million som or more
- The investment is directed into manufacturing, industry, agriculture, the banking sector, energy, education, healthcare, engineering and construction or information and communication technologies
The format of the visa
- A category I visa for a term of up to 3 years
- Obtained at a foreign mission of the Kyrgyz Republic abroad or at the Consular Service Department or a representative office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inside the country
- The processing time is no more than 7 working days, and 5 working days for an electronic visa
What it costs
| Minimum volume of investment to obtain a category I visa | 10 000 000 KGS |
|---|
Documents to gather
The following are attached to the application for a category I visa:
- A copy of a valid document (passport)
- A written request from the authorised state body in the field of investment policy confirming that the applicant meets the status of an investor, signed by the head of that body
How the process runs
The procedure for obtaining a category I visa:
- 1
Confirmation of investor status
The authorised state body in the field of investment policy of Kyrgyzstan confirms that the applicant meets the status of an investor and sends a written request signed by the head of that body.
- 2
Filing the documents for the visa
The applicant files a copy of a valid document and the letter from the authorised body — at a foreign mission of the Kyrgyz Republic abroad or at the Consular Service Department or a representative office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs inside the country.
- 3
Examination and issue of the visa
no more than 7 working days, and 5 working days for an electronic visaThe category I visa is issued for a term of up to 3 years.
Who you can bring with you
The terms for family members of a category I visa holder:
A spouse, children under 18, parents of minor children, and children with a disability and dependent parents
Trips, renewal and the grace period
A minimum number of days a year and maintaining the investment
The category I visa is issued for a term of up to 3 years straight away, so no separate extension is needed within that term. If the investment activity ceases and the authorised state body in the field of investment policy confirms this, the applicant is issued an exit visa and the current category I visa is cancelled.
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.
| Category I investor visa | Digital nomad status | W1/W2 work visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa term | Usually 1–3 years, renewable while the investment is maintained | Estimated 1 year, renewable | Up to 1 year under the contract, renewable while employment continues |
| Grounds | Investment in the economy | IT specialists | Employment contract |
| Money | Minimum investment thresholds, estimated at tens to hundreds of thousands of USD | Proof of income for self-support is likely; the exact threshold is not publicly fixed | Compliance with Kyrgyz labour law and the minimum wage (estimated) |
| Work | Managing your own business without a separate permit | Remote work for clients abroad; local work requires a separate permit | Work for a particular employer; a change of employer requires a new permit |
| Residence | A minimum number of days a year and maintaining the investment | Actual presence for most of the term is likely | Residence in Kyrgyzstan and registration of the address |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
An accelerated route to permanent residence is possible (after 3 years instead of 5) (estimated)
Route to citizenship
After permanent residence and the qualifying period; the investment itself does not confer citizenship
Frequently asked questions about Category I investor visa
Who can obtain a category I visa in Kyrgyzstan?
What is the minimum amount of investment required?
For how long is the visa issued and how long does it take to obtain?
Which documents are needed for the application?
Can the investor's family come with them?
What happens to the visa if the investment activity ceases?
Other ways to move to Kyrgyzstan
- Digital Nomad statusDigital nomad
- Work visaWork residence permit
- KairylmanRepatriation
- Visa-free stay for nationals of EAEU countriesVisa-free regime
- Electronic visa of the Kyrgyz RepublicVisa
- Category S study visaVisa
- Category F family visaVisa
- Category B business visaVisa
- Category G guest visaVisa
- Meken visa of category M for ethnic KyrgyzVisa
- Category TS tourist visaVisa
- Admission to citizenship of the Kyrgyz RepublicCitizenship
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Kyrgyzstan.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.