Work Permit for Foreigners in Kazakhstan
Updated: October 2026
For a foreigner to work legally in Kazakhstan, the employer in most cases needs a permit to hire foreign labour. The permit is issued to the company, not to the employee, and it is valid only for a specific position and a specific region.
What a permit to hire foreign labour is
It is commonly called a work permit. It is issued by the local executive body responsible for employment — the employment department of a region or of Astana, Almaty or Shymkent. The permit is applied for and issued electronically.
The permit is tied to three things: the employer, the position and the region. The foreigner may work only for that company, in the stated position and in the stated region.
Who needs a permit
- companies and sole proprietors hiring foreigners as managers, specialists and skilled workers;
- branches and representative offices of foreign companies;
- companies to which a foreign firm sends its employees, for example to install equipment;
- companies that transfer an employee from a foreign office to a Kazakhstan branch or subsidiary — an intra-corporate transfer.
Citizens of EAEU countries — Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan — and certain other categories of foreigners do not need a permit. We will tell you during the consultation whether one is required in your case.
Worker categories and validity
| Category | Who | Permit term | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | heads and their deputies | 1, 2 or 3 years | for 1, 2 or 3 years |
| Second | heads of structural units | 12 months | 12 months at a time, up to 3 times |
| Third | specialists | 12 months | 12 months at a time, up to 3 times |
| Fourth | skilled workers | 12 months | not extendable |
| Seasonal workers | jobs from the list of seasonal occupations | 90, 180, 270 or 365 days | not extendable |
When obtaining a permit for fourth-category workers, the employer undertakes to replace them with citizens of Kazakhstan within 6–12 months. More on the Foreign worker categories page.
What decides whether a permit is granted
- Quota. Permits are issued within the quota the state allocates to each region every year.
- Share of Kazakhstan citizens on staff. Citizens of Kazakhstan must make up at least 70% of first- and second-category staff and at least 90% of specialists and workers. This does not apply to small businesses with up to 20 employees or to branches of foreign companies with up to 10 employees.
- Qualifications. The foreigner's education and experience must meet the requirements for the position. Education documents are checked, including the authenticity of the apostille.
- Local search first. The employer must first offer the vacancy to citizens of Kazakhstan, and may apply for a permit for a foreigner only 15 days later.
- Employer's record. Before deciding, the authorities check the company for violations in state databases — migration police, employment contracts and administrative offences.
A decision is made within 7 working days of registering the application. Once approved, the employer pays the fee — see the Work permit fee page for the amounts.
Restrictions that are often overlooked
- A permit cannot be transferred to another employer.
- It is valid only in the region where it was issued. Business trips to other regions are allowed for no more than 90 days a year in total. Permanent work in several regions requires a permit approved by each of them.
- The foreigner works only in the position stated in the permit.
- After receiving the permit, the employer must register the employment contract in the state accounting system and make sure the employee has an IIN.
What happens if the rules are broken
- If a foreigner works without a permit or outside the position stated in it, the company is not issued new permits for 12 months.
- A permit is revoked if the worker is employed outside their position, if the required share of Kazakhstan citizens is breached, or if the documents contained false information.
- If the fee is not paid within 10 working days of approval, the decision is cancelled and the process has to start again.
What comes next
A foreigner from a country with a visa regime needs a C3 work visa after the permit. Deadlines matter too: a permit extension has a strict window, and if a worker did not arrive or resigned, the permit can be reissued to another person.
How Workmigration helps
We check in advance whether a permit can be obtained in your case: the quota, the share of local staff and whether the worker fits the position. We then prepare and file the documents, keep track of deadlines and handle work visas and extensions. We work in Astana and other regions, including with companies hiring foreigners in several cities at once.
Let's discuss your case
Message us — we'll tell you free of charge what your case requires and how long it will take.
Message us on WhatsAppFAQ
Who receives the permit — the employer or the foreigner?
The employer. The foreigner gets the right to work only for that employer.
Do citizens of Russia or Kyrgyzstan need a permit?
No, citizens of EAEU countries work without one.
Can the same permit be used to work in another city?
Only on a business trip and for no more than 90 days a year. Permanent work requires a permit valid in several regions.
How long does the process take?
The decision takes up to 7 working days after the application is registered, but before filing the vacancy must be posted and the documents prepared. We will give you a realistic timeline for your case during the consultation.
How much does a permit cost?
The fee depends on the category, industry and term: in 2026 it ranges from KZT 51,900 for seasonal workers to KZT 2,218,725 for a three-year permit for a manager in construction. Our processing fee equals the state fee; the work visa is charged separately. See the full table on the Work permit fee page.
Can a worker be replaced if they did not arrive or resigned?
Yes, the permit can be reissued to another foreigner for the remaining term, provided they meet the requirements for the position.
More guides
Foreign Worker Categories and Permit TermsThe four categories of foreign workers, seasonal workers and intra-corporate transfers: who belongs where, how long a permit is issued for and how many times it can be extended.
Work Permit ExtensionWhen to apply to extend a permit to hire foreign labour, who can extend it and how many times, and what happens if the deadline is missed.
Reissuing a Work PermitWhen a permit to hire foreign labour can be reissued to another worker, after a passport change or company reorganisation, and why it cannot be transferred to another employer.