Work Permit in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan offers five types of work visas to foreign employees:

M1 visa

M1 visa is granted to expats who have been issued a work permit from a Kazakhstan employer.

M2 visa

This visa is granted to the dependents of foreign workers who hold M1 visas.

M3 visa

This visa is issued to expats who need to travel to Kazakhstan to finalize their work permit with local authorities.

M4 visa

M4 visa is issued to “business immigrants” or entrepreneurs.

M5 visa

Seasonal employees apply for this type of visas

The M1 visa is the most common Kazakhstan work visa among expats looking into working there.

However, there are two effective ways to obtain a Kazakhstan work permit:

1. Work permit for managers, specialists, and qualified workers

This visa is for all foreign individuals who are going to work in Kazakhstan 

(whether for an LLC, representative, or branch office)

2. Representative Office Work Visa for Chief Executives

First category workers or chief executives going to a representative office in Kazakhstan can opt for this type of visa. As this visa needs no prior application, the process is much quicker. However, an expat should be on local payroll and contract in Kazakhstan.

To obtain a Kazakhstan work visa for your foreign employee, your organization will require visa support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kazakhstan. You should submit the following:

• Invitation letter of the employee
• A notarized copy of the organization’s current charter
• The employer’s power of attorney
• Proof that the employer has no outstanding taxes
• A notarized copy of the work permit
• Proof of payment for the consular fee

The following documents are required to obtain the M1 visa:

• Completed visa application form
• The passport of the applicant
• The payment receipt of the consular fee
• One passport-size photograph

Kazakhstan government grants work permits only to a limited number of foreign nationals. Therefore, Kazakhstan’s work visa process is relatively complicated. 

In most cases, the employer chooses to hire Kazakhstani employees. However, under extreme conditions, preferences are given to highly skilled foreign employees.

The visa application process varies according to the type of visas for your foreign employee, their job title, salary, etc. The steps involved in the Kazakhstan work permit application are:

• The employer conducts a labor market search to determine if any eligible candidate in Kazakhstan could fill the position. 
• Once he establishes the need for an expat, the foreign employee should undergo a complete health screening. 
• The employer must submit a work permit application on behalf of the foreign employee to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• After the work permit is issued, the foreign employee needs to visit the embassy or consulate of Kazakhstan in their country to apply for an entry visa. 
• The foreign employee should provide documents like an employment contract, CV, proof of accommodations in Kazakhstan, etc. 
• After obtaining a work visa and traveling to Kazakhstan, foreign employees should register with the Migration Police.

Once the foreign worker is granted a Kazakhstan work permit, their dependent family members can submit their application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After obtaining the original work permit, the expat and his family can apply for an entry visa at the Kazakh diplomatic post.

Kazakhstan Work Visa processing time

It takes two to five months for managers, specialists, and qualified workers until they enter Kazakhstan. As for the representative office work visas for Chief executives, it takes anywhere between one to three months until their entry to the country and an additional day for the entire process to be completed. 

Kazakhstan Work Permit Fees

(Data taken from szp)

Depending upon the employer’s business and expatriate’s category, Kazakhstan’s work permit fees range from USD 950 to USD 1,729.

How can Multiplier help with a Kazakhstan Work Permit?

We are a global EOR company with experience in handling and providing HR solutions around the globe. With a presence in over 150 countries, our team of professionals efficiently handles the process of onboarding and managing employees.

Obtaining a Kazakhstan work permit is a multi-tiered and complex procedure. Partnering with Multiplier and its in-house experts will offer you a one-stop solution to this process by taking care of the application procedure from the beginning till the final receipt of the work permit.