A document confirming the foreigner's right to permanent residence in Kazakhstan is a residence permit. To obtain a residence permit you must obtain a permission for the permanent residence. The permit is issued in the territorial police departments service. The main requirement that is presented to those arriving in Kazakhstan and wishing to obtain a residence permit is the proof of their solvency.

What do you need to get a permit?

Foreigners temporarily staying in the Republic of Kazakhstan with a permanent residence visa or arriving from the countries that have concluded visa-free entry and stay agreements with the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as ethnic Kazakhs, regardless of the visa category issued to them, apply to the internal affairs bodies for a full-time residence clearance in the Republic of Kazakhstan and provide the following package of documents approved by the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 992 as of December 4, 2015:

The validity period of the documents specified in subclauses 3), 4), 7) is not more than 180 calendar days.

A service recipient, who applied for a citizenship of another state through diplomatic missions and consular offices of other countries to the Republic of Kazakhstan and has permanent registration in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, submits the documents specified in the subclauses 1), 2), 8), 9).

A service recipient who has not reached the age of eighteen, who arrived together with parents, or with one of the parents, or whose legal representative (parent, guardian, trustee) is a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan or a foreigner or a stateless person permanently residing in the Republic of Kazakhstan, provides the documents specified in subclauses 1), 2), 5), 6), 8), 9) along with a copy and an original copy (for verification) of a birth certificate or other identity document; a notarized statement of consent from another parent (both parents), in case of his/her (their) residence outside the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Documents drawn up in a foreign language are subject to translation into the Kazakh or Russian language. The accuracy of the translation from one language to another is attested by a notary public pursuant to Article 80 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Notaries".

In accordance with Clause 60of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan as of April 25, 2016 No. 240 "On approval of the Consular Charter of the Republic of Kazakhstan", documents and acts drawn up with the participation of foreign authorities or emanating from these authorities are accepted for consideration with legalization only, unless otherwise provided by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan or an international treaty ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In case if an application for a clearence was successfully approved, a foreigner is subject to registration at a permanent place of residence.

What do I need to get a residence permit?

Pursuant to the Rules for registration, issuance, re-issuance, submission, withdrawal and destruction of a foreigner's residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan, a residence permit is issued for a period of 10 years, i.e. for a validity term of a foreigner`s passport. Applications for validity extension of an existing permit or issuance of a new document for the right of residence in the Republic of Kazakhstan should be submitted by foreigners to the internal affairs bodies at their place of residence no later than 1 month prior to expiration of validity and in case of loss, no later than three days.

Foreign citizens staying on the territory of the country based on the "permanent residence" visa category (ethnic Kazakhs regardless of the category of the visa issued to them) can obtain a residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In order to obtain a residence permit for a foreigner in the Republic of Kazakhstan, foreigners should personally submit the following documents to an authorized government agency and receive a full-time residence clearance in the Republic of Kazakhstan:

• document on payment of state fee.
• two photograph of the size of 3.5 x 4.5 centimeters.
• valid national passport.

When filling-in a residence permit for a foreigner in the Republic of Kazakhstan, surname, name, patronymic (if any) and other data is recorded as in foreign passports.

A foreigner's residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan is issued to foreigners permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan from the age of sixteen.

From the moment of documents submission and issuance of counterfoil to an applicant prior to the issuance of a residence permit/a certificate of a stateless person: 17 calendar days. At the request of an applicant, the service can be delivered on a fast-track basis up to 7 working days from the date of registration.

The amount of national duty for the issuance of a stateless person certificate is 400% of the monthly calculation index established on the day of payment of national duty. When applying for a residence permit of a foreigner in the Republic of Kazakhstan: 20% of the monthly calculation index established on the day of payment of national duty. The national duty is paid through the banking institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which issue a document (receipt) confirming the amount and date of payment.