Russian entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan: the numbers and how to secure legal status

Russia remains one of Kazakhstan's main economic partners, and the shared EAEU market makes trade and employment easier. Two things are often misread, though. The 2022 relocation wave has subsided, and having no work permit requirement does not mean having no paperwork. Here is what the data shows and which steps actually matter.

What the numbers show

Company counts come from Finratings.kz, citing official statistics. Other sources are higher: in February 2025 the ambassador spoke of more than 23,000 companies with Russian participation. The figures are compiled differently and should not be compared directly.

The takeaway: after a sharp rise, the market has moved into a selection phase. Some companies closed or left, so a relocation decision should rest on your own numbers rather than on what acquaintances did.

What the EAEU gives you

Work without a permit or quota. Under Article 97 of the EAEU Treaty, employers hire Russian citizens without a foreign labour permit.

Length of stay. Without temporary residence, a Russian citizen may stay up to 90 days from entry, with a total of 90 days in every 180. For workers the term follows the contract, but temporary residence must be arranged. Our visa-free entry overview and guide to counting days of stay explain the calculation.

Family. A worker's family members receive temporary residence for the same term.

What remains mandatory

• Arrival notification. The host reports the arrival within 3 working days. See our arrival notification guide.
• Temporary residence. Issued for one year with annual renewal, but not beyond the contract term. Read the temporary residence guide.
• IIN. Needed for the contract, taxes and banking: how to get one.
• Insurance. A residence application will not be accepted without it.

The company side

Your structure depends on the task. Start with how a foreigner registers an LLP. Registering a company gives no automatic right to live in the country, so the status of the founder and director needs separate planning.

The least predictable stage is the bank. It decides on an account under its own rules and may ask about your activity and source of funds, so allow time for a possible refusal. Calculate taxes before you start too: a new Tax Code has applied since 2026, with base rates of 16% VAT and 20% corporate income tax.

Common mistakes

• Relying on border runs. The 90-in-180 limit is cumulative, and regular exits do not replace a status.
• Treating the contract as a formality. It sets the worker's term of stay, so plan what happens when it ends.
• Forgetting the family. Plan documents for your spouse and children at the same time as your own.
• Trusting chat advice. Rules change and practice varies, so check deadlines and document lists against current sources.

Where to begin

Decide whether you want to work as an employee, run your own company or move with your family. That determines the contract, the residence term and the sequence of steps. Decisions rest with state bodies and banks. Visa Navigator helps prepare the documents and follow the steps in the right order: tell us about your task and we will suggest a suitable route.

This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules and practice change — verify the current requirements as of the date you apply.