KAZAKHSTAN · IMMIGRATION
Kazakhstan Investor Visa (C5)
The C5 business immigrant visa is the mandatory immigration status for any foreign national who wishes to register a company, acquire a share in an existing Kazakhstani company, or conduct entrepreneurial activity in Kazakhstan.
Bond Stone assists foreign investors with the full C5 visa process — issuing the invitation letter, coordinating the visa support number with the Migration Service, and completing company registration immediately upon arrival. Our Almaty and Astana teams manage the entire sequence from first contact to registered BIN.
Important — AIFC exception: Foreign nationals registering a company within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) do not require a C5 visa. AIFC incorporation is conducted remotely without the need to enter Kazakhstan. If your intended structure is an AIFC entity, see our Company Formation guide for the alternative route.
Governed by: Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 477-V dated 22 July 2011 “On Migration of the Population” (as amended); Rules for Issuing Visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan (as amended 18 November 2024); Government Resolution No. 1041 dated 24 November 2023 (list of persons exempt from foreign labour permits).
The C5 Visa — Key Facts
| Parameter | Stage 1 — Initial C5 | Stage 2 — Extended C5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Single-entry | Multiple-entry |
| Validity | Up to 90 days | Up to 1 year (extendable) |
| Where obtained | Kazakhstani embassy/consulate abroad — cannot be obtained inside Kazakhstan | Migration Service of Kazakhstan — must be extended while physically in Kazakhstan |
| Processing time | Invitation letter: 5–7 business days (up to 30 days if NSC review required) | ~15 business days for Akimat petition + 5–10 days for Migration Service processing |
| Company registration deadline | Within 2 months of entry into Kazakhstan | Company must be registered before extension is applied for |
| Work rights | C5 holder may act as Director — no separate C3 work visa required | Full work rights as Director of registered company |
| Cost | Issued free of charge under current KZ legislation | State duty applies — amount per current fee schedule |
Stage 1 — Obtaining the Initial C5 Visa
Obtain an invitation letter & visa support number
The invitation letter must come from a Kazakhstan-registered company and must carry a visa support number issued by the Migration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This is the “chicken-and-egg” problem Bond Stone solves: if you have no company yet, we issue the invitation letter on your behalf as an authorised legal firm. Processing: 5–7 business days. If the application is referred to the National Security Committee: up to 30 days.
Apply at the Kazakhstani embassy or consulate in your country of residence
The initial single-entry C5 visa must be obtained abroad. It cannot be obtained inside Kazakhstan or converted from a tourist visa. You apply at the Kazakhstani embassy or consulate in your country of citizenship or permanent residence with the invitation letter, visa support number, and the required document package.
Documents required (as updated November 2024)
Following the November 2024 regulatory update which significantly reduced documentation requirements:
✓ Valid passport (minimum 6 months remaining validity)
✓ Completed visa application form
✓ Invitation letter with visa support number from the Migration Service
✓ Medical certificate confirming absence of diseases prohibiting entry into Kazakhstan
✓ Medical insurance
✓ Certificate of criminal record check from country of citizenship or permanent residence
✓ Certificate confirming absence of ban on entrepreneurial activity (issued by relevant authority in country of citizenship or permanent residence)
✓ One passport-sized photograph (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
After Arrival — Critical Obligations & Deadlines
⚠ The 3 deadlines every C5 holder must know
Within 3 working days of arrival: Register with the migration authorities (temporary stay registration). Bond Stone handles this as part of the formation package.
Within 2 months of entry: Register your commercial organisation (TOO/LLP) or formally acquire a share in an existing company. Failure to meet this deadline is grounds for immigration complications and cannot be remedied once the 90-day visa has expired.
Before leaving Kazakhstan: Apply for the C5 extension while still physically in the country. This is the most commonly missed step — if you leave Kazakhstan after registering the company without first extending the C5 visa, the extension cannot be processed later. A new C5 visa would require registering an additional company.
Stage 2 — Extending the C5 Visa
Once the company is registered, the investor may apply to extend the C5 to a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 1 year. The extension is processed by the Migration Service of Kazakhstan and must be applied for while the investor is physically present in Kazakhstan on the initial 90-day visa.
Documents required for C5 extension
✓ Application letter from the registered company
✓ Power of attorney for the company representative
✓ Original passport of the foreign investor
✓ Completed visa application form
✓ One passport-sized photograph (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
✓ Certificate of company registration (BIN extract)
✓ Evidence of charter capital contribution (bank confirmation)
Family Reunification — C2 Dependent Visa
Spouses, children under 18, and dependent parents of C5 visa holders may apply for the C2 family reunification visa. Following the November 2024 regulatory update, the minimum duration of marriage required for spousal reunification has been reduced from three years to one year.
Eligible dependants: Spouse (minimum 1 year of marriage) · Children under 18 · Dependent parents
Visa validity: Up to 1 year — renewable
Work rights: Adult dependants may work in Kazakhstan on a C2 visa
Processing: Applied through the Migration Service together with or after the primary C5 extension
Grounds for Visa Denial
|
Criminal record in country of citizenship or permanent residence |
Presence of diseases prohibiting entry into Kazakhstan |
|
Existing ban on entrepreneurial activity imposed by court order |
Incomplete document package or deficient invitation letter |
|
Refusal by the National Security Committee — no reason required to be given |
Failure to register a company or acquire a share within the 2-month deadline |
Bond Stone — Full C5 & Formation Service
Bond Stone provides a complete C5 visa and company formation service — from issuing the invitation letter through BIN registration, bank account opening, and C5 extension. All managed by our Almaty and Astana teams on one engagement, with no need to coordinate across multiple providers.
✓ Invitation letter issued by Bond Stone — no Kazakhstani company required at outset
✓ Visa support number coordination with the Migration Service
✓ Document package preparation and checklist review before embassy application
✓ Migration registration within 3 working days of arrival
✓ TOO registration within 1 business day via egov.kz
✓ Charter capital contribution and bank account coordination
✓ C5 extension application before departure — the step most investors miss
✓ C2 dependent visa coordination for family members
Why Bond Stone
✦ AIFC Registered Legal Adviser No. 250 — authorised across Corporate & M&A and Regulatory & Compliance
✦ Invitation letters issued directly by Bond Stone — no intermediary or third-party required
✦ C5 + formation on one mandate — visa, registration, bank account, seal, and extension
✦ On-the-ground teams in Almaty and Astana — ranked Legal 500 EMEA and IFLR1000
Primary legal authority: adilet.zan.kz
Bond Stone Kazakhstan offices: Almaty · Astana
Start your C5 visa process
Contact Bond Stone for a confidential discussion about your C5 visa, invitation letter, and company formation in Kazakhstan.
📧 info@bondstonelaw.com
📞 +7 (701) 729 76 72
Request a Confidential Consultation
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