KazakhstanIn person

Work permit in Kazakhstan

The right to official employment through regional quotas.

Price from

$980

Best for

Foreign specialists

Timeline

1–2 weeks

A temporary residence permit with a work permit — up to 5 working days once the full package is filed

The length of the permit depends on the worker's category

For managers (category 1) the permit is issued for up to 3 years with annual renewal; for specialists (categories 2–3) for 12 months, renewable a maximum of 3 times; for manual workers (category 4) and seasonal workers for 12 months with no right of renewal.

This is not a residence permit or a separate right of residence

A work permit confirms only the right to be employed and is arranged alongside lawful stay (usually an RVP) — on its own it does not give the right to reside permanently in the country, which is correctly reflected in the offer card (residencyIncluded: false).

Compare with 5 programmes: employmentRequirements, timelines and the right to work across every country on this ground.

Kazakhstan immigration statuses in Kazakhstan: comparing the options

The difference is not the price — it is who each option suits. The “Best for” column is the business profile the option is built around.

Option	Best for	Timeline	Price
Temporary residence permission in Kazakhstan	CIS citizens, short-term work	~1 week	from $510
Kandas status in Kazakhstan	Ethnic Kazakhs	4–9 weeks	from $665
Work permit in Kazakhstanyou are here	Foreign specialists	1–2 weeks	from $980
Residence permit in Kazakhstan	CIS citizens, relocators, families	6–9 weeks	from $1,910
Permanent residence permission in Kazakhstan	Long-term residence, families	6–9 weeks	from $1,910

What the service includes

Scope: a tick means included in the price, a cross means not included
	Preparation of the application
	Liaison with the akimat
	Progress tracking
	Residence permit— billed separately

Documents and programme requirements

1Offer from an employer
2Passport
3Education or qualifications

Frequently asked questions

Who issues a foreigner's work permit — the akimat or the Ministry of Internal Affairs?

The permit allowing an employer to hire foreign labour is issued by the akimat (the local executive body) following a review of 7 working days from the filing of a complete document package, within the quota set annually by the Ministry of Labour.

Is there a quota for foreign workers in 2026?

Yes: since 10 May 2026 the quota is 0.3% of the labour force for employer permits and 2.85% for labour immigrants (raised or revised by Ministry of Labour order No. 153 of 24.04.2026 from the previous 0.25% and 2.9%). How much of the quota has actually been used in a particular region is checked at the application stage.

For how long is a work permit issued?

It depends on the category: managers get up to 3 years with annual renewal, specialists get 12 months renewable up to 3 times, and manual and seasonal workers get 12 months with no renewal.

Sources

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