Extending a work permit in Kazakhstan for foreign citizens

We advise filing documents 45–60 days before expiry, because extra time will also be needed to extend the work visa.

What steps are needed to extend the permit?

To initiate the extension, the employer or their representative files an application through the e-License portal with the Employment Department at the specialist's place of work. The following data is attached:

• information about the foreigner being hired,
• information on the staff composition indicating the share of local personnel,
• an electronic copy of the foreign employee's passport together with the application.

After the documents are filed, the Department decides to extend or refuse within three business days. The review is held without a Commission meeting.

After receiving the extension notice, the employer must, within 10 business days, provide a payment order confirming payment of the state fee. Then, within one business day, the Department places the electronic original of the extended permit in the employer's personal account. The new validity period starts from the expiry date of the previous permit.

Can all permits be extended?

Whether an extension is possible depends on the position category:

• The first category can be extended for 1, 2 or 3 years.
• The second and third categories — extension for 12 months, a maximum of three times.
• Permits for fourth-category workers and seasonal specialists cannot be extended.

In what cases can an extension be refused?

• If the regional quota for foreign labor is exceeded;
• If the ratio of local to foreign employees is violated;
• If obligations to replace foreigners in category 4 are not fulfilled;
• If it is found that the person worked without a permit or in a specialty that does not match the one stated in the permit.

For the last item, an extension application is allowed only 12 months after the violation was identified.

Can a permit be extended in another region?

No. A permit can only be extended in the region where it was originally issued. Otherwise a new permit must be obtained in the relevant region. At the same time, a foreign specialist can be temporarily sent to another region for up to 90 calendar days within a year.

How much does a permit extension cost?

The state fee ranges from 137 to 462 MCI (in 2022: from 419,631 to 1,415,106 tenge), depending on the employee's category and the employer's field of activity. The rates are available at: adilet.zan.kz.

Exception: no state fee is required for intra-company transfers (ICT).

What if we did not manage to file the application on time?

If the application is not filed at least 30 days before the current permit expires, a document package for an initial permit must be filed. In this case a diploma, proof of qualifications and work experience are additionally required.

If a second-category permit has already been extended three times and the employee continues to work — what should we do?

You need to prepare documents for an initial permit. After the new document is obtained, it can be extended three times again.

Note: the list of documents for an initial permit differs from the extension package.

Which documents from the foreign specialist are needed for the extension?

You need to provide:

• a current residential address in Kazakhstan,
• a notarized copy of the passport with a translation into Kazakh or Russian.

Confirmation of qualifications is not required.

What additional steps are needed after the permit is extended?

• obtaining a C3 visa or TRP;
• filing an arrival notification;
• monthly reports;
• annual quota application.