Kazakhstan Residence Permit – Application Policy Updated

Note to foreigners considering permanent residency in Kazakhstan: As of June 12, 2025, a fresh round of policy changes has been formally implemented, improving the nation’s residence permit process! Here is everything you need to know about this comprehensive reform, regardless of whether you are a skilled worker, a stateless person, or an ethnic Kazakh hoping to become the economic center of Central Asia.

Kazakhstan’s Residence Permit Revamp

The Kazakhstani Ministry of Internal Affairs has revised the regulations and documentation needed to receive a residency permit, tightening certain qualifying conditions while expediting the procedure for qualified professionals.

In the Republic of Kazakhstan, a residence permit is now more than simply an ID card; it is your pass to ten years of continuous residency, lawful work, and social service access.

What’s Required to Apply in 2025?

The following must be submitted by applicants in order to be granted permission to live in the country permanently (note: all documents in foreign languages must be certified and formally translated into Kazakh or Russian):

1. Residence Permit Application Form
   • The official format (Appendix 4 of the applicable regulation) must be adhered to.
2. Valid Passport
   • The passport must remain valid for a minimum of 180 days after the application date.
3. Proof of Solvency
   • in accordance with the June 2023 requirements.
   • These could be proof of income, employment contracts, or bank statements.
   • An exemption under Article 49 may be requested, if appropriate.
4. Criminal Record Certificate
   • issued in the previous 180 days.
   • must demonstrate a spotless criminal record in the nation where you now reside and hold citizenship.
5. Child’s Consent (If applicable)
   • The notarized consent of youngsters between the ages of 14 and 18 is necessary if you are applying with them.
6. Accommodation Documentation
   • One of the following is needed:
     • a rental agreement that is registered and has a minimum 180-day term, or
     • a letter of sponsorship verifying residence from a Kazakh citizen or lawful resident.
7. Medical Certificate (Form 028/y)
   • Verify that there are no contagious or forbidden illnesses.
   • issued by a reputable healthcare organization.
8. One Passport-Sized Photo
   • Must be 35×45 mm in size.
9. National Duty Payment Receipt
   • 20% of the monthly calculation index (subject to annual revision) must be paid as a state charge.
   • The receipt for the payment confirmation must be attached.
10. For In-Demand Professions (if applicable)

• A formal request from an appropriate Kazakh government organization attesting to:
  • Your recognized specialization
  • Work experience
  • That your profession is considered highly needed in Kazakhstan

11. Fingerprint Registration Certificate

• required starting in September 2024, under the new law.
• Both the registration certificate and biometric fingerprinting must be completed.

Fast-Track & Fees

In Kazakhstan, obtaining a residency permit typically takes 17 calendar days. A fast-track option, on the other hand, reduces the processing period to just 7 working days from the date of registration for applicants who want faster results. A foreigner’s residency permit application fee is 20% of the monthly calculation index, or roughly KZT 1,470 in 2025.

The national obligation, which is 400% of the monthly calculation index, is much greater for stateless people requesting a certificate. Authorized banking institutions are required to handle all payments, and they will provide an official receipt as evidence.

Who Can Apply?

Under the updated 2025 residency policy, Kazakhstan welcomes a range of applicants for permanent residence, provided they meet the legal and documentary requirements. The following categories are eligible:

1. Foreigners from Visa-Free Countries or Those with Valid Visas

• Applications are accepted from citizens of nations with visa-free entry agreements with Kazakhstan.
• As long as they fulfill other requirements like solvency and health clearance, foreign nationals who are now in Kazakhstan on a valid long-term visa or temporary residency permit are also eligible.

2. Ethnic Kazakhs

• It is not necessary for ethnic Kazakhs, sometimes referred to as Oralmans or Qandas, who are returning from overseas to demonstrate their financial stability.
• They frequently gain from extra integration support services and are given priority consideration.

3. Skilled Professionals

• Foreign specialists working in in-demand occupations listed by the Kazakh government may apply.
• Must submit:
  • Proof of qualifications
  • Work experience
  • An official petition from a relevant government body confirming their profession is on the approved list.

4. Family Members of Kazakh Citizens

• Foreign nationals who are
  • Spouses
  • Children
  • Parents
    of Kazakh citizens may apply for permanent residency.
• must present documentation of their relationship, such as birth or marriage licenses.

5. Stateless Persons

• Those who are officially recognized as stateless are eligible to apply.
• They must provide:
  • A certificate of statelessness issued by Kazakh authorities
  • Additional paperwork needed, such as housing and health clearance

Who Will Be Rejected?

The following are prohibited from receiving or will have their residency permits revoked under Articles 19-1 and 49:

• people who have fabricated applications or fraudulent documentation.
• candidates having a criminal history, a history of terrorism or extremism, or a threat to national security.
• foreigners who, unless exempt, do not meet solvency standards.
• people who have multiple violations of the migration law or prohibited diseases.
• those whose court-issued marriage-based permits were revoked.
• After the issue, residents cannot spend less than 183 days in Kazakhstan annually.
• those who, if given a permit based on a skill shortage occupation, leave their registered profession within a year.

Special Exemptions

Certain applicant categories are granted unique exemptions under the 2025 Kazakh immigration policy. Qualified individuals can avoid certain limitations or requirements that would otherwise result in rejection thanks to these exemptions.

1. Ethnic Kazakhs and Their Families

• Exempt from:
  • Solvency requirements (no proof of income or financial support needed)
  • Some documentation delays or omissions
• Applies to:
  • Ethnic Kazakhs (Qandas/Oralmans) returning from abroad
  • Their immediate family members

2. Stateless Women (Protected under Kazakhstan’s Convention on the Nationality of Married Women)

• Exempt from:
  • Rejections related to lack of nationality or undefined legal status
• Applies to:
  • Stateless women who are married to Kazakh citizens
  • People who are safeguarded by Kazakhstan’s approved treaty, which guarantees the right to get or keep nationality after marriage

3. Persons with Disabilities

• Exempt from:
  • Disqualifications based on medical disorders associated with specific chronic diseases
• Applies to:
  • Candidates with official handicap status, as demonstrated by medical records
  • People with potentially non-communicable or non-prohibited medical conditions

Renewals and Validity

In Kazakhstan, residence permits are granted for a maximum of ten years; however, their validity cannot be extended past the applicant’s national passport’s expiration date. Foreign nationals must apply for renewal at least one month prior to the permit’s expiration date in order to preserve legal residency.

The application for reissuance must be made within three days in the event that the permit is lost or damaged. It’s important to note that the applicant maintains their status as a permanent resident during the processing of a new residence permit.

References

• https://egov.kz/cms/en/articles/vid_na_jitelstvo.

Conclusion

The changes Kazakhstan plans to make to its residency laws in 2025 are a positive move in luring in international talent, assisting diaspora populations, and controlling permanent foreign residency. With a 10-year validity period, a recently implemented fast-track procedure, and explicit paperwork criteria, the nation is providing a well-organized and alluring route to permanent residency.

Kazakhstan’s immigration laws are now more inclusive, flexible, and clear, regardless of whether you’re a qualified worker, an ethnic Kazakh returning home, or a family member of a citizen. However, preserving your resident status depends on paying close attention to documentation and adhering to stay conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions