Temporary residence permission in Kazakhstan
Residence and work for up to 1 year. For CIS citizens.
- Foreign nationals and stateless persons (the service is provided to individuals and legal entities)
The permit is tied to your presence: leaving Kazakhstan cancels a work-based temporary residence permit and you have to arrange it again. Documents are filed at your place of registration and residence — travelling to another city for the status is not an option (partner, 28.08.2026).
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.
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.
Who it suits
- Foreign nationals and stateless persons (the service is provided to individuals and legal entities)
- CIS citizens
- Short-term work
Packages
RVP
Basic arrangement
- Legal review of the grounds
- Document package preparation
- Support at the filing
- Work permit
RVP with a work permit
For taking a job in Kazakhstan
- Everything in the RVP tier
- Arranging the work permit
- State fee for the permit
RVP for a business immigrant
For founders of a company in Kazakhstan
- Package prepared on business grounds
- Support at the filing
- Renewal — from KZT 480,000
RVP on the appointment slot after filing for a residence permit
If the residence permit application has already been filed online
- Documents prepared for the appointment slot
- Support at the public service centre (TsON)
- Offline filing — from KZT 175,000
We fix the exact package after reviewing your case. You pay the expert directly.
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 Kazakhstanyou are here | CIS citizens, short-term work | ~1 week | from $510 |
| Kandas status in Kazakhstan | Ethnic Kazakhs | 4–9 weeks | from $665 |
| Work permit in Kazakhstan | 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 |
Documents and programme requirements
- 1CIS citizenship
- 2Passport
- 3Proof of funds
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
Is an RVP the same thing as a temporary residence permit?
How long does obtaining an RVP actually take?
Do EAEU citizens need an RVP?
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