Single entry C5 visa for business immigrants
A business immigrant is a foreign citizen who arrives in Kazakhstan with the purpose of engaging in entrepreneurial activities.
If you intend to register a Company in Kazakhstan or acquire a share in a Company, you must first obtain a C5 visa.
Foreign nationals who have not obtained a C5 visa are prohibited from engaging in entrepreneurial activities, establishing a legal entity, or becoming founders.
The primary C5 visa is single-entry and is issued for a period of up to 90 days with the right to stay for the entire duration of the visa's validity. The initial single-entry visa is processed abroad at Kazakhstan's diplomatic missions based on an invitation from a Kazakhstani company.
Within 2 months of obtaining the C5 visa, the foreign national must register the Company or become a founder and pay the statutory capital for the share in the Company.
Conditions for obtaining a single-entry C5 visa:
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applicant must be of legal age
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submission of a medical certificate confirming the absence of diseases preventing employment
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medical insurance
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certificate of no criminal record
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provision of a certificate stating no prohibition on engaging in entrepreneurial activities issued in the country of citizenship or permanent residence
Multiple-entry C5 visa
After registering the Company, the founder can obtain a multiple-entry C5 visa. The multiple-entry C5 visa is issued by the migration service within Kazakhstan. Upon renewal, a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 2 years is issued.
To renew the C5 visa, the applicant must submit a written petition to the akimat (local executive body).
Important to note
In practice, it is possible to register a Company online without obtaining a C5 visa, and the Company may start its entrepreneurial activities, hire employees, and then the Company's registration may be annulled by a court upon the claim of the tax authority.
C3 Work Visa
The visa is issued to foreign nationals for the purpose of employment in Kazakhstan.
C3 visa is not required for citizens of the CIS and the EAEU:
- Azerbaijan
- Armenia
- Belarus
- Kyrgyzstan
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
For citizens of the above-mentioned countries, the employer instead of a visa applies for a permit for temporary residence.
Your employer is the inviting party to whom you are going to work in Kazakhstan. As the inviting party, the employer is responsible for your entry and timely departure from Kazakhstan.
The duration of providing a multiple-entry C3 visa is up to 3 years. In most cases, it is provided for 1 year.
The C3 visa can be obtained at the consulate of Kazakhstan in your country of citizenship and permanent residence or at the migration service in Kazakhstan if you are already in Kazakhstan.
To obtain a work visa, your employer must apply to the migration service. The main document for obtaining a visa is a work permit.
If you will work as a director or deputy director of a legal entity with 100% foreign participation, a work permit will not be required. The basis for obtaining a work visa will be a decision/protocol of the general meeting on the appointment of a director.
For the head of a branch/representative office of a foreign legal entity in Kazakhstan, a work permit is not required. The basis for obtaining a visa will be a decision/protocol on the appointment of the head and a general power of attorney from the parent company.
C3 Visa for Family Members
During your trip and work in Kazakhstan, your family (spouse, children) may accompany you. In this case, each family member also needs to obtain a C3 visa as an accompanying person.
To apply for a visa, the following documents are required:
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marriage certificate
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child's birth certificate
Family members are issued a visa for the duration of your visa. Holding a C3 work visa does not give the right to accompanying family members to work in Kazakhstan.
If a close relative wants to work in Kazakhstan officially, they will need to obtain a work permit.
Author: legal consultant Aigerim Massatbayeva
