16.03.2026
Company Registration in Kazakhstan for Foreigners in 2026:
Complete Legal Guide
(as of 16.03.2026)
Aigerim Massatbayeva ,
Legal consultant
LLM from the University of Vienna
In today’s economic environment, Kazakhstan is strengthening its position as an attractive jurisdiction for doing business. The country combines a strategic geographic location between Europe and Asia, well-developed transport and logistics infrastructure, a stable financial system, and a high level of digitalization of public services.
This article examines practical issues that arise when registering a company by foreign investors in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the applicable migration requirements.
Content:
1. Are foreign nationals permitted to establish a business in the Republic of Kazakhstan? Is the participation of a local partner or director required?
2. Which legal form of entity should be selected for establishing a company in the Republic of Kazakhstan?
3. What requirements must be met for a foreign national to register a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in Kazakhstan? Is the personal presence of the founder or director required?
4. Is the personal presence of the founder or director required during the state registration procedure?
5. What is the step-by-step procedure for the state registration of a Limited Liability Partnership in Kazakhstan?
6. C5 visa for a founder and temporary residence permit for a business immigrant (for citizens of the EAEU member states).
7. What is an Individual Identification Number (IIN) and why is it required for foreign nationals?
8. Registration of a mobile subscriber number in the Mobile Citizens Database (MCD).
9. Registration of the IMEI code of a mobile device in Kazakhstan.
10. May a foreign national or a foreign legal entity acquire an already registered company in Kazakhstan?
11. May a foreign national act as a director of an LLP with foreign participation, and is a work permit required?
12. What are the legal requirements for the registered (legal) address of an LLP?
13. What are the statutory requirements for the formation of the authorized capital of an LLP?
14. What is the procedure for opening a bank account for an LLP with foreign participation?
15. Opening a personal bank account for a foreign director and the procedure for payment of remuneration (salary).
16. What are the key regulatory requirements governing foreign exchange transactions for LLPs?
17. C5 business visa for founders and C3 work visa: legal differences and application procedure.
18. Category A6 investor visa in Kazakhstan (valid for up to 10 years): conditions and application procedure.
19. Liability for violations of migration legislation in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Are foreign nationals permitted to establish a business in the Republic of Kazakhstan? Is the participation of a local partner or director required?
Yes, foreign companies and foreign citizens (including citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union) can register legal entities in Kazakhstan with 100% foreign participation. In Kazakhstan, when registering a legal entity, it is permissible to conduct business without a local partner, and there are no requirements to appoint a local director.[1] However, some sectors of the economy impose restrictions on foreign participation, such as security, subsoil use, media, and others.
Which legal form of entity should be selected for establishing a company in the Republic of Kazakhstan?
The most common legal entity form for conducting business is a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). Doing business through an LLP offers a quick registration process, a minimal authorized capital requirement, the ability to open multi-currency bank accounts, the ability to obtain a multiple-entry visa, and the ability for the director to manage the LLP remotely without becoming a tax resident of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
What requirements must be met for a foreign national to register a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in Kazakhstan? Is the personal presence of the founder or director required?
To register a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), a foreign citizen must:
Obtain a C5 business immigrant visa (for EAEU citizens, a temporary residence permit for a business immigrant).[2]
Obtain an IIN for the founder and director.
Pass fingerprint registration.[3]
Cross the border of Kazakhstan on the basis of a C5 visa.
Register a local number in the Mobile Citizens Database and the IMEI of the director’s smartphone.[4]
To register a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in Kazakhstan, where the founder is a foreign legal entity, the following requirements should be fulfilled:
A notarized copy with an apostille of an extract from the commercial register of a legal entity with a notarized translation into Kazakh and Russian.[5]
Obtain an IIN for a director who is a foreign citizen.
Register the local number in the mobile citizens database and the IMEI of the director's smartphone.[6]
Is the personal presence of the founder or director required during the state registration procedure?
If the founder of the LLP is a foreign legal entity, the director must be present in Kazakhstan in order to obtain an Individual Identification Number (IIN) and open a bank account. If the founder of the LLP is a foreign citizen, they must enter Kazakhstan on a C5 business visa and obtain an IIN.
What is the step-by-step procedure for the state registration of a Limited Liability Partnership in Kazakhstan?
To register a limited liability partnership (LLP), a foreign citizen founder and/or director must obtain an Individual Identification Number (IIN) and an electronic digital signature (EDS). The applicant must be present in person. The process of obtaining an IIN and an EDS takes up to three business days.
Next, it is necessary to determine the types of activities of the company and determine its type of economic activity (OKED).
It is necessary to check in advance whether it is necessary to obtain licenses and permits for the types of activities of the LLP.
Determine the authorized capital amount based on the company's planned financing needs. The minimum amount is 100 tenge. However, when opening a bank account, banks pay attention to the authorized capital amount, especially for LLPs with a foreign element, so the optimal amount recommended is 100 MCI. [7]100 MCI in 2026 = 432,500 tenge = 870 USD. Authorized capital is tax-exempt and can be used for company development and expenses until the company begins generating income. Moreover, if the company plans to open a line of credit with the bank in the future, the authorized capital amount will also be important. Therefore, it is best to calculate your business needs in advance at the registration stage. In any case, the authorized capital can be increased subsequently, but this will require amendments to the constituent documents.
Verification of the company name for uniqueness using the state database. The company name is indicated in the constituent documents in three languages: Kazakh, Russian, and English.
Notarization and apostille/legalization of documents. This applies to the founder's passport or an extract from the commercial register if the founder of the LLP is a foreign legal entity.
Notarized translation of documents from a foreign language into Kazakh and Russian.
Preparation of constituent documents for a limited liability company (Charter, Memorandum of Association, Minutes/Resolution on the establishment of a limited liability company).
Registration of a Company with an authorized body is carried out in person through the Public Service Center (takes from 3 working days) and is possible by proxy.
After registration, a limited liability company (LLP) seal must be produced, which takes one day. It should be noted that a seal is not required for an LLP. If the LLP intends to operate without a seal, this must be specified in the LLP charter.
Opening current accounts in Kazakhstani banks takes 1 to 3 business days, depending on the bank and the company applying for registration.
C5 visa for the founder and temporary residence permit for a business immigrant (for citizens of the EAEU countries)
A founder - a foreign citizen prior to the registration of an LLP should obtain a C5 business-immigrant visa. Citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states should obtain a temporary residence permit as business immigrants. The establishment of a legal entity, as well as participation in the authorized capital of commercial organizations by joining the participants of a legal entity, is prohibited for foreign nationals who have not obtained a visa for entry as business immigrants and a temporary residence permit for a business immigrant.[8]
A C5 visa may be obtained only on the basis of an invitation issued by a Kazakhstani company and submitted through a consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan abroad in the country of citizenship of the foreign national. [9] Obtaining a visa at a Kazakhstani consulate outside the country of citizenship is only possible if the applicant has a temporary residence permit from another foreign country. Citizens from EAEU countries receive a business immigrant temporary residence permit in Kazakhstan, meaning only after arriving in Kazakhstan.
What is an Individual Identification Number (IIN) and why is it required for foreign nationals?
The Individual Identification Number (IIN) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to an individual once and valid for life. The first six digits of the IIN indicate the holder’s year, month, and day of birth.
Without an assigned IIN, foreign nationals cannot complete the state registration procedure as founders of a company, conclude an employment contract, use banking services for opening and maintaining accounts, or obtain public services. Therefore, obtaining an IIN is necessary for foreign nationals to conduct business and operate fully in Kazakhstan.
The personal presence of the applicant is required to obtain an IIN; issuance of an IIN on the basis of a power of attorney is not permitted.
However, amendments to the IIN data may be made through a duly authorized representative acting under a power of attorney. Such amendments are typically required when a foreign national changes their identity document, most commonly a foreign passport. In such cases, the applicant must apply to the Non-Commercial Joint Stock Company “State Corporation ‘Government for Citizens’ at the place of stay (Public Service Center - PSC).[10]
The power of attorney must be notarized and apostilled. Apostille legalization is not required in Kazakhstan for countries that are parties to the Minsk and Chisinau Conventions on Legal Assistance. These countries include: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
To amend the IIN data, the applicant must provide an application, the existing IIN, and a new identity document, typically the foreign national’s passport. If the passport does not contain the spelling of the full name and place of birth in Cyrillic, the applicant must provide a notarized translation of the document into Kazakh and Russian.
Obtaining an IIN. To obtain an IIN, the applicant must apply in person at a Public Service Center (PSC) at the place of stay while physically present in Kazakhstan. Only a passport is required to obtain an IIN, and a translation of the passport is not required. The state fee for this service is 5,500 KZT (approximately USD11). When applying for an IIN at a PSC, confirmation of the purpose for obtaining the IIN is not required.
IIN under the e- Residency program. In 2026, the e- Residency program was launched, and its website states that participation in the e- Residency program includes the provision of an IIN [11]. The advantage of this service is that it can be obtained online, meaning there is no need to travel to Kazakhstan. However, upon detailed review of the information on the e- Residency website, the author was unable to find any legal regulation governing the issuance of an IIN through the e- Residency website. Therefore, the author of this article submitted a request to the authorized body for clarification on the legal status of IINs under the e- Residency program.
According to the response received from the authorized body, the IIN generated/assigned within the eResidency program (hereinafter referred to as the eResidency IIN) is used to identify the participant in the information systems and services provided by the eResidency program, including when interacting with organizations connected to the relevant program services. However, the eResidency IIN is not and is not positioned as equivalent to the IIN assigned generally in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the "national" IIN), and is not intended for universal use in all state information systems/portals and procedures under the national jurisdiction of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Regarding the validity period of the eResidency IIN and eResidency status: The eResidency program participation status ( eResidency status ) is granted for one year, not the IIN as an identifier. The eResidency IIN is not "issued for one year" in the sense that the number expires after 12 months. This limitation applies to the validity of the eResidency status and, accordingly, access to program services. Renewing your eResidency status extends your access to program services; assigning a "new" eResidency IIN upon renewal is generally not required.
Consequences of Failure to Renew eResidency Status : If eResidency status is not renewed upon expiration, it is subject to termination/deactivation within the program. Access to eResidency program services will be suspended (restricted) until membership is renewed/renewed. However, the eResidency IIN is not subject to "cancellation" in the sense of invalidating the national IIN, as it is not a national IIN and does not replace it. Program services may suspend/deactivate the use of the eResidency IIN as a participant identifier until the status is renewed.
Also on the site e- Rreceidency There is a question and answer: “ Is it possible to access government services, such as eGov or eLicense, with an eResidency IIN ?”
No. Government portals, including eGov and eLicense , are intended only for residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Residency IIN is not an analogue of the IIN issued to citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, foreigners or stateless persons located on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and cannot be used in government services.
eResidency IIN is used in a separate ecosystem and provides foreign investors with access to eResidency program services. A list of services is available on the website.[12]
Please note that LLP registration is completed through a government service. Legal entity registration is included in the program's website list of services.
Registration of a mobile subscriber number in the Mobile Citizens Database (MCD).
The Mobile Citizens Database (MCD) is a unified database of users’ mobile phone numbers used for the provision of public services and for sending SMS passwords required for authorization or for signing services using a one-time password.
To register in the MCD, it is necessary to:
have a valid mobile phone number registered in your name with a telecommunications operator.
When purchasing a local SIM card, the mobile number must be registered in the MCD at the place of purchase.
Registration of the IMEI code of a mobile device in Kazakhstan.
Foreign citizens arriving in Kazakhstan receive SMS notifications requesting IMEI registration. IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique identifier assigned to each mobile device (smartphone, tablet, etc.). IMEI registration is necessary for:
use SIM cards of Kazakhstani operators without restrictions;
confirm the legality of import of the device;
Starting March 25, 2025, Kazakhstan introduced mandatory IMEI code registration (verification) for new phones imported into the country via the kz-imei.kz portal . If a phone is not registered, communication services (calls, SMS, and internet) will be blocked 30 days after use with a Kazakhstani SIM card.[13]
In practice, a local number is necessary for the company and the foreign director to receive digital services. Online government services and bank account management are provided via SMS confirmation. Therefore, registering a local number and mobile device is essential. The digital signature key is linked to the director's phone number to receive SMS messages and provide additional security.
May a foreign national or a foreign legal entity acquire an already registered company in Kazakhstan?
Yes, a foreign citizen can purchase an already registered company (LLP) in Kazakhstan, but only if a number of conditions are met:
Ownership. According to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Limited Liability Partnerships," both a foreign citizen and a legal entity may be a participant in an LLP (Clause 1, Article 3). The purchase is formalized through a share purchase agreement, which must be notarized.
Migration requirements when purchasing a company. If the foreign citizen is an individual, he must:
have a category C5 business immigrant visa or a temporary residence permit (TRP for business immigrants - for citizens of the EAEU).
Obtain an IIN.
Cross the border of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In essence, the migration requirements are identical for registering a new company and acquiring an already registered legal entity.
Purchase procedure
Checking the acquired company (through websites such as kompra.kz is not mandatory);
Conducting a company audit (not mandatory);
Obtaining consent from other participants (if more than one participant);
Notarized consent of the spouse of the seller of the share to the transaction;
Notarial registration of the transaction;
Re-registration of the company at the Public Service Center for a new participant;
(If necessary) change of director, legal address, notification of the bank, counterparties.
In some sectors, it is necessary to obtain the consent of the authorized body for a transaction, for example in the field of subsoil use.
May a foreign national act as a director of an LLP with foreign participation, and is a work permit required?
Yes, a foreign national may be appointed as the director of a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). To be appointed as a director, the individual must obtain an Individual Identification Number (IIN) and undergo mandatory fingerprint registration.
If the company is an LLP with 100% foreign participation, the director and one deputy director are not required to obtain a work permit. Instead, it is sufficient to obtain a multiple-entry work visa of category C3. For citizens of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), it is necessary to obtain a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) for work.
What are the legal requirements for the registered (legal) address of an LLP?
When registering a limited liability partnership, the company's legal address is specified in its constituent documents. [14]The legal address must coincide with the company's actual business address. If the company is a VAT payer, there is a risk of being deregistered for VAT if it is not present at its registered address.
Moreover, on July 17, 2024, amendments to the Law "On Migration" came into force, according to which migration services can conduct unscheduled inspections to identify violations of migration legislation.[15]
To address these situations, companies operating remotely enter into contracts with legal, HR, and accounting service providers who can legally represent the company during legal address verification by government agencies.
What are the statutory requirements for the formation of the authorized capital of an LLP?
The minimum authorized capital for a small business entity (LLP) is 100 tenge. Funds from the authorized capital of an LLP can be used for the LLP's business activities. Therefore, it is best to determine the amount of authorized capital taking into account the company's planned financing needs. When opening a bank account, banks pay attention to the amount of authorized capital, especially for LLPs with a foreign element, so the optimal amount is 100 MCI. [16]100 MCI in 2026 = 432,500 tenge = 870 USD. Authorized capital is not taxed and can be used for company development and expenses until the company begins to generate income. Moreover, if the company plans to open a line of credit with the bank in the future, the amount of authorized capital will also be important. Therefore, it is best to calculate the business needs in advance at the registration stage. In any case, the authorized capital can be subsequently increased, but this will require amendments to the constituent documents.
The authorized capital of an LLP must be stated in tenge. However, funds can be transferred in any currency in which the LLP's bank account is held. These funds can remain in the same foreign currency account. However, on the day the authorized capital payment is sent, the amount in tenge corresponding to the stated authorized capital must be converted. On the day the funds are credited, the accountant must correctly reflect the funds received in the balance sheet, taking into account the exchange rate difference.
What is the procedure for opening a bank account for an LLP with foreign participation?
In practice, banks conduct enhanced due diligence when opening bank accounts for LLPs with foreign participation. Under the law, opening a bank account requires disclosure of information up to the ultimate beneficial owner. In other words, it is necessary to disclose the actual owner of the LLP, particularly in cases where the founders of the LLP are legal entities.
It is possible to open a bank account online by confirming the process via an SMS code sent to the LLP’s director. However, in practice, difficulties may arise with SMS confirmation if the director is located abroad or when downloading and installing the bank’s mobile application. In such cases, the personal presence of the director may be required.
Opening a personal bank account for a foreign director and the procedure for payment of remuneration (salary).
Director's personal bank account and salary payment. If the director of an LLP is a foreign citizen and has an employment contract, the salary is paid in the national currency, the tenge [17]. This means that salaries cannot be paid in foreign currency. In practice, a multicurrency card can be opened, allowing online conversion from tenge to foreign currency. Accordingly, the director is required to open a personal bank account in tenge to receive their salary. This is done when opening an account for the company. A personal account for the director can also be opened at the same time.
What are the key regulatory requirements governing foreign exchange transactions for LLPs?
Currency transactions between residents and non-residents are carried out without any restrictions, but subject to certain requirements.
All payments between residents must be made in the national currency, the tenge, and all obligations under contracts between residents must also be expressed in tenge.
However, if an LLP has entered into an agreement with a foreign company, then payment under the agreement is possible in foreign currency.
By law, banks are required to notify the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan of any foreign exchange transactions equal to or exceeding USD 50,000. [18]If the contract amount exceeds USD 500,000 in equivalent, such a contract will be subject to special monitoring.
C5 business visa for founders and C3 work visa: legal differences and application procedure.
In practice, one of the frequently asked questions is in what cases to obtain a C5 and C3 visa.
C5 visa is a business immigrant visa.
Business immigrants are immigrants who arrived for the purpose of carrying out entrepreneurial activities in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.[19]
A mandatory condition for the stay of business immigrants in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the implementation of entrepreneurial activity.[20]
Entrepreneurial activity can be carried out by creating commercial legal entities that pursue the generation of income as the main goal of their activities.[21]
Thus, a foreign citizen who is the founder of a company for the purpose of making a profit carries out entrepreneurial activity in the territory of Kazakhstan.
The C5 visa is a special business immigrant visa designed for foreign nationals who plan to:
register a company in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
become a founder or participant of an existing Kazakhstani legal entity;
carry out entrepreneurial activities in the territory of Kazakhstan with the status of a business immigrant.
Obtaining a C5 visa is mandatory for foreign citizens intending to independently register a company or become a shareholder in a Kazakhstani company.
Exception:
if the founder of a Kazakhstani company is a foreign legal entity, rather than an individual foreign citizen, a C5 visa is not required.
Single entry visa C5
issued for a period of up to 90 calendar days;
initially issued as a one-time entry;
issued only at foreign institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan outside the country (at the place of citizenship or permanent residence of the applicant);
used to enter Kazakhstan for the purpose of registering a company or becoming a participant in a legal entity during the validity period of the visa.
The main requirements for obtaining a primary C5 visa since 10 March 2026 are:[22]
a medical certificate confirming the absence of diseases that interfere with work activity;
health insurance;
a document confirming the absence of a criminal record, issued by an authorized body of the country of citizenship or permanent residence;
a document confirming the absence of a ban on carrying out entrepreneurial activity on the basis of a court decision issued by an authorized body of the country of citizenship or permanent residence, if the issuance of such a document is provided for by the legislation of a foreign state.
Application form with a 35x45mm photograph
The visa recipient must be an adult.
The consular fee is 80 US dollars.
a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended validity of the visa;
The specified documents are submitted by the applicant to the consular office of the Republic of Kazakhstan abroad.
Mandatory actions upon entering Kazakhstan
A foreign citizen entering on a C5 visa is obliged to [23]:
register a legal entity or become a member of a company within 2 months;
contribute the declared share to the authorized capital;
Apply for a visa extension after registering your company.
If a single-entry C5 visa is not extended within the validity period of the initial C5 visa or the foreign citizen leaves the Republic of Kazakhstan, he/she will not be able to extend the visa from abroad.
C5 Visa Extension for Business Immigrants
Before registering a legal entity, a foreign citizen must obtain a single-entry C5 business immigrant visa, which is issued for up to 90 days.
After receiving a C5 visa, a foreign citizen is required to register a commercial organization or become a participant (shareholder) in a commercial organization within two months of entering Kazakhstan.
After registering a company, a foreign citizen has the right to extend their C5 visa for up to two years. [24]A C5 visa can be extended during the validity period of the initial C5 visa at the migration service at the legal entity's place of registration.
Otherwise, the C5 visa cannot be extended. Obtaining a new C5 visa means registering another company. In practice, entrepreneurs often make this mistake: a foreign citizen arrives on an initial C5 visa, registers a company, and then leaves Kazakhstan without renewing the C5 visa.
Stage 1. The C5 visa is extended based on a letter of support from the local executive authority,[25] represented by the Department of Entrepreneurship and Investment. When applying for letter of support from the executive body, the company's business plan, lease agreement, and proof of opening a bank account for the legal entity must be provided.
In practice, not all entrepreneurs have a prepared business plan ready when the company is essentially just registered. Therefore, it's best to prepare one in advance of the company registration process.
Stage 2. Submitting visa documents to the immigration service.
The state fee for a multiple-entry C5 visa is 30 MCI [26]= 129,750 tenge≈ 260 USD.
The visa extension process may take 25-30 working days.
The C3 visa is a work visa. The C3 visa is intended for foreign citizens arriving in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the purpose of employment [27].
Visa C3 is issued:
as multiple;
for a period of up to 3 years (in practice, most often for one year).
Citizens of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and a number of CIS countries (including Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) are not Apply for a C3 visa. For them, the employer issues a temporary residence permit (TRP) based on an employment contract.
Cases of obtaining a C3 visa without a work permit
A C3 work visa can be issued without obtaining a work permit if a foreign citizen is appointed:
director of a company with 100% foreign participation;
deputy director of such a company (in the singular);
head of a branch or representative office of a foreign legal entity in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The amount of the state duty is 30 MCI [28]= 129,750 tenge≈ 260 USD.
A C3 work visa can be obtained at the Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the country of citizenship of the foreign specialist. or a country of residence permit based on a letter of invitation from an employer registered in Kazakhstan.[29]
A C3 work visa can be obtained at the Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the country of permanent residence, different from the country of citizenship, upon presentation of supporting documents for long-term residence (LTRP).
In Kazakhstan, upon request from the employer. Eligibility for a visa in Kazakhstan depends on the foreign specialist's citizenship or the possession of a current Kazakhstani visa of a certain category.
A visa can be obtained in the Republic of Kazakhstan if a foreign specialist is in the country:[30]
under a visa-free regime
on a business visa of categories B2 and B3
on a private visa category B10
on a C2 family reunification visa
on a C3 work visa when changing employers
on a C9 student visa
on a private visa category C10 for ethnic Kazakhs.
What kind of visa should a foreign company director obtain?
The company director is an employee of the company, and like any other employee, they have an employment contract. Therefore, the director must obtain a category C3 work visa.
What kind of visa should a company founder have?
The founder of the company, a foreign citizen, as a person engaged in entrepreneurial activity, must extend the C5 visa.
Which visa category should a foreign citizen who is both a founder and director obtain? A C3 work visa or a C5 business immigrant visa?
As we have established above, business immigrants are immigrants who arrived for the purpose of carrying out entrepreneurial activities in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Also, in accordance with paragraph 1 of the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 24, 2023, No. 1041 (Business Immigrants Arriving for Entrepreneurial Activities), a list of individuals whose employment does not require permits from local executive authorities to employ foreign labor has been approved. Based on this, a "C5 Business Immigrant" visa entitles an immigrant to work in the Republic of Kazakhstan without the need to obtain a "C3" visa for employment.
While if the founder and director of the company are one and the same person, they receive a C3 work visa, this visa does not give them the right to engage in entrepreneurial activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Category A6 investor visa in Kazakhstan (valid for up to 10 years): conditions and application procedure.
The A6 investor visa is a special migration instrument intended for foreign citizens who make significant investments in the country’s economy. This type of visa is aimed at attracting foreign investors and provides foreign businesspersons with the opportunity for long-term stay in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan with simplified migration procedures and expanded opportunities for conducting entrepreneurial activities.
Who can obtain an A6 investor visa
In accordance with the Rules for issuing invitations, coordinating invitations for the entry of foreigners and issuing visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan, approved by the joint order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 1100 dated 28 November 2016, an investor visa of category A6 is issued to foreign citizens who have invested in the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan an amount of not less than 300,000 US dollars.
A key condition is that the right to obtain the visa arises only after the actual investment has been made. Registration of a company or the intention to invest is not a sufficient basis for obtaining an investor visa.
What investments are taken into account when issuing an A6 visa
To obtain an investor visa of category A6, a foreign citizen must provide documentary confirmation of investments made in the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in an amount equivalent to 300,000 US dollars or more.
Investments in issued securities. One of the methods of confirming investments provided by legislation is the acquisition of issued securities of Kazakhstani issuers.
In this case, the applicant shall provide:
an extract from the account of the securities holder;
documents confirming the investor’s ownership rights;
information on the circulation period of the securities.
Investment of funds into the authorized capital of a Kazakhstani legal entity
The most common method in practice for obtaining an A6 investor visa is the contribution by a foreign investor of funds to the authorized capital of a Kazakhstani legal entity (as a rule, an LLP).
In order for the investments to be recognized as meeting the requirements of the A6 visa, the following conditions must be observed.
Actual transfer of funds. The investments must be actually transferred to the bank account of the Kazakhstani company. Confirmation is provided by:
bank payment confirmations;
account statements of the legal entity;
foreign exchange control documents in the case of international transfers.
