KazakhstanIn person

Temporary residence permission in Kazakhstan

Residence and work for up to 1 year. For CIS citizens.

Price from

$50

Best for

CIS citizensShort-term work

Timeline

3–4 weeks

Tax

—

Format

In person

The RVP is a Kazakhstani status in its own right, not a leftover of Russian terminology

Temporary residence permission (RVP) is a separate service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan (situation No. 572 on gov.kz), set out in national migration legislation. It gives the right to stay lawfully (and in some cases to work) in Kazakhstan beyond the visa-free period, but it is not permanent residence and not a residence permit.

Choice

Temporary residence permit or residence permit in Kazakhstan

The RVP is permission to stay for up to a year; the residence permit is a permanent status for up to 10 years. The RVP covers a stay beyond the visa-free period and takes 21–30 days to arrange. The residence permit is issued only after permanent residence permission (RPP), and since 13 February 2026 first-time applicants sit the KAZTEST Kazakh language test and must score 600 points under the immigration potential system.

	RVP, up to 1 year	Residence permit, up to 10 years
Length of status	Up to 1 year	Up to 10 years, but no longer than the foreign passport
What it gives	The right to live and work beyond the visa-free period; the residence permit is not part of the service	Work, loans, buying property; citizenship is not part of the service
Requirements	Passport and proof of funds; CIS citizenship is among the requirements	Foreign passport and source of income; from 13 February 2026 — the KAZTEST test and 600 points
Cost	From $50 via the appointment slot (talon), from $470 on employment grounds, from $850 for a business immigrant	From $1,760 in Almaty, from $2,010 in Almaty Region; renewal from $305
Processing time	21–30 days including collecting documents and registration; the Ministry of Internal Affairs decides on a complete package in 1 working day	60–90 days: the RPP takes up to 45 calendar days, then the residence permit card takes 7–17 working days

Staying beyond the visa-free period without an RVP is unlawful: it lasts 90 days for EAEU citizens and 30 days for citizens of other CIS countries.

What the service includes

Scope: a tick means included in the price, a cross means billed separately
	Preparation of the package
	Filing
	Legal support
	Residence permit (arranged separately)— billed separately

What we need from you

1CIS citizenship
2Passport
3Proof of funds

Frequently asked questions

Is an RVP the same thing as a temporary residence permit?

In substance yes, it is a close equivalent: the RVP gives the right to live lawfully (and to work on the relevant grounds) in Kazakhstan beyond the visa-free period, but it is a separate, simpler and shorter status rather than a full residence permit. It is normally issued for up to a year, whereas the residence permit is a permanent status for up to 10 years.

How long does obtaining an RVP actually take?

The formal review period for a complete document package under the regulations is 1 working day, but the real timeline, taking in document preparation, translation and legalisation and registration at the place of stay, is usually 3–4 weeks.

Do I need an RVP if I am a citizen of Russia or another EAEU country?

Yes, if you plan to stay in Kazakhstan beyond the visa-free period — 90 days for EAEU citizens and 30 days for citizens of other CIS countries. Staying beyond that period without an RVP is unlawful.

Sources

Kazakhstan immigration statuses in Kazakhstan: comparison

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 from
Temporary residence permission in Kazakhstanyou are here	CIS citizens, short-term work	3–4 weeks	$50
Kandas status in Kazakhstan	Ethnic Kazakhs	4–9 weeks	$615
Work permit in Kazakhstan	Foreign specialists	2–4 weeks	$1,030
Residence permit in Kazakhstan	CIS citizens, relocators, families	2–3 months	$1,760
Permanent residence permission in Kazakhstan	Long-term residence, families	2–3 months	$1,760

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