Kazakhstan · Work
Kazakhstan Work visa C3
First stay: 3 yrs
Employment visa C3
Checked against official sources on Record corrected 11 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
Work visa C3 is a work route for Kazakhstan. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Processing
- 5 working days
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
The visa can be extended for the duration of the employer's labour permit, up to 3 years at a time, on a petition from the inviting employer. Extension documents are filed from 30 working days to 5 working days before the visa expires.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan
Processing5 working days
Visa processing may not exceed 5 working days. The National Security Committee's coordination takes up to 3 working days, extendable to 30 calendar days when needed.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Issued by Kazakh embassies and consulates abroad, or in Kazakhstan by the migration police at the employer's registration place. Holders of several other categories can switch to C3 in the country.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Kazakhstan
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The employer must hold a permit to attract foreign labour unless an exemption applies.
Documents2
- An invitation with a visa support number from the Ministry of Internal Affairs is submitted.
- An employment contract is submitted.
When you become tax resident
How Kazakhstan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in any consecutive 12 months ending in the tax periodPhysical presence including days of arrival and departure; for an AIFC investment resident the test is 90 days.
- At least 90 days in any consecutive 12 months ending in the tax periodInvestment resident of the AIFC under the AIFC Constitutional Law.
- At least 183 days in any consecutive 12-month period ending in the tax periodPermanent presence makes a person resident
- At least 90 days in any consecutive 12-month period ending in the tax periodAIFC investment resident
- Foreign-source income
Residents are taxed on worldwide income, with a progressive rate of 10% on income up to 8,500 times the monthly calculation index (MCI) in a calendar year and 15% on the excess; non-residents are taxed on Kazakhstan-source income only.
All tax rules for Kazakhstan Tax records checked
Full official text
Visa for work in Kazakhstan, issued on a petition from the inviting party who holds a permit to attract foreign labour (or where the person needs no permit); family members are covered. 1 2
Requirements
- The employer must hold a permit to attract foreign labour unless an exemption applies. 2 1
- An invitation with a visa support number from the Ministry of Internal Affairs is submitted. 2 1
- An employment contract is submitted. 2 1
Stay
- Single entry up to 90 days; multiple entry up to 3 years or the duration of the permit.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Visa validity: 36 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Work for the sponsoring employer under the labour permit.
Family
Family members may be included; their visas follow the main recipient's validity but carry no labour right.
Official sources
- Joint Order: Rules for invitations and issue of Republic of Kazakhstan visas (Annex 1 visa categories), as amended · Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan (Adilet legal database) · checked 2026-10-12
- Work visa - C3, C4, C5 (embassy consular page) · Embassy of Kazakhstan in Pakistan (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2023-06-06
- Joint Order: Rules for invitations and issue of Republic of Kazakhstan visas (current text, amended October 2025) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan (Adilet) · checked 2026-10-12
Work visa C3 and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work visa C3 | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Astana Hub / AIFC work visa | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Investor visa A5 | – | – | – |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Work visa C3?
Single entry up to 90 days; multiple entry up to 3 years or the duration of the permit.
How long does the Work visa C3 take to process?
Visa processing may not exceed 5 working days.
Can I work on the Work visa C3?
Work for the sponsoring employer under the labour permit.
Can I bring my family on the Work visa C3?
Family members may be included; their visas follow the main recipient's validity but carry no labour right.
How are Work visa C3 holders taxed in Kazakhstan?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Work visa C3. The standard rules apply: Residents are taxed on worldwide income, with a progressive rate of 10% on income up to 8,500 times the monthly calculation index (MCI) in a calendar year and 15% on the excess; non-residents are taxed on Kazakhstan-source income only. The new Tax Code applies from 1 January 2026.
More in Kazakhstan
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Joint Order: Rules for invitations and issue of Republic of Kazakhstan visas (Annex 1 visa categories), as amended · Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan (Adilet legal database) · checked 2026-10-12
- Work visa - C3, C4, C5 (embassy consular page) · Embassy of Kazakhstan in Pakistan (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) · checked 2026-10-10
- Joint Order: Rules for invitations and issue of Republic of Kazakhstan visas (current text, amended October 2025) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan (Adilet) · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.