Category 1 — Executives & Senior Managers (C3)

Work permit for foreign nationals appointed as CEO, director, or deputy of a Kazakhstani legal entity. The C3 permit is the most commonly used category for foreign executives of international companies operating in Kazakhstan. Validity: 1 year, renewable. Application managed through the Ministry of Labour. Bond Stone prepares the full application package including employment contract, appointment documents, and state duty payment.

Category 2 — Specialists

Work permit for foreign specialists hired within the employer’s approved annual quota. The employer must have a quota allocation for the relevant employment category before applying. Validity: 1 year, renewable. Bond Stone manages both the quota application and individual work permit applications for specialist categories.

Seasonal Work Permits

Short-term work permits for seasonal workers — valid for up to 1 year within a defined seasonal period. Used in agriculture, construction, and tourism sectors. Quota requirements apply.

EAEU nationals — no permit required

Citizens of EAEU member states (Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan) do not require a work permit to work in Kazakhstan under the EAEU Treaty on the Status of Migrant Workers. However, registration obligations and social insurance requirements still apply. Bond Stone advises on EAEU national employment compliance obligations.

Annual quota application

Employers wishing to hire foreign workers in Kazakhstan must apply for an annual quota allocation from the Ministry of Labour before the end of the previous year. The quota application specifies the number and categories of foreign workers the employer intends to hire. Bond Stone advises on quota planning and manages quota applications on behalf of international employers.

Local content requirements

The subsoil use sector has mandatory local content requirements for employment — minimum percentages of Kazakhstani nationals must be employed at each level of the workforce. Non-subsoil employers are subject to the general foreign worker quota system. Bond Stone advises on local content compliance obligations for both subsoil and non-subsoil employers.

Consequences of non-compliance

Employing a foreign national without a valid work permit or in excess of quota exposes the employer to administrative fines and the employee to deportation. Bond Stone advises on compliance monitoring and remediation where employers identify permit gaps in their workforce.

C3 CEO Work Permit — Norwegian Company

Immigration · Kazakhstan · Norway

C3 work permit application for a foreign CEO of two Kazakhstani subsidiaries of a Norwegian transport company — employment contract preparation, appointment order, Ministry of Labour filing, and permit receipt. Renewed annually.

Specialist Quota Application — Energy Sector

Immigration · Kazakhstan · Energy

Annual quota application for an international energy company — 12 specialist foreign worker positions across 3 employment categories. Quota allocation obtained and individual permits filed within the approved quota.

EAEU National Employment — Belarus

Immigration · Kazakhstan · Corporate

Advising on employment compliance for a Belarusian national working in Kazakhstan — no work permit required under EAEU Treaty, but registration obligations, social insurance enrolment, and income tax withholding requirements managed.

Permit Compliance Audit — Construction

Immigration · Kazakhstan · Construction

Work permit compliance audit for an international construction company with 20+ foreign workers on a Kazakhstan project — identifying 3 expired permits and managing renewal and regularisation before a scheduled labour inspection.

Subsoil Local Content — Mining Company

Immigration · Kazakhstan · Mining

Advising an international mining company on local content compliance obligations for its Kazakhstani workforce — analysing required Kazakhstani national employment percentages by category and advising on compliant hiring strategy.

Emergency Permit — Key Specialist

Immigration · Kazakhstan · Manufacturing

Emergency work permit application for a key technical specialist urgently needed at a Kazakhstan manufacturing facility — fast-track application management, Ministry liaison, and permit receipt within accelerated timeline.