Kazakhstan student visa C9: who invites you, documents, validity, extension and whether students can work

The C9 visa is Kazakhstan's study visa. It is issued on the basis of an invitation filed by a Kazakh educational institution (or the authorised education body): single-entry for up to 90 calendar days or multiple-entry for up to 1 year. After that, the visa is extended every year on the institution's petition for the period of study. Citizens of visa-free countries (China, Turkey, the EU and others) usually do not need a C9 at all — once enrolled, they receive a temporary residence permit instead.

Who the C9 visa is for

Annex 1 to the Rules for Invitations and Visas (Joint Order of the MFA No. 11-1-2/555 and the MIA No. 1100) names three groups:

• people travelling to Kazakhstan to apply for admission to secondary, technical and vocational, post-secondary, higher or postgraduate education;
• people already studying at such institutions, including exchange programmes and preparatory courses, and their family members;
• ethnic Kazakhs who arrived temporarily under the visa-free regime and enrolled in an institution, and their family members.

Internships and work placements fall under other grounds in the Rules. If the plan is an internship at a company rather than a study programme, the category has to be chosen separately.

Single-entry or multiple-entry

The Law on Population Migration (Article 32) sets the frame: study visas are issued for no more than one year and extended annually for the period of study, each time for no more than a year. A visa cannot be longer than the period stated in the invitation.

Who invites and how the invitation works

The educational institution where the student is applying or enrolled files the invitation with the internal affairs bodies. The procedure is the same as for other invitations:

1. The institution collects the student's details: passport copy, programme and duration, address in Kazakhstan.
2. The invitation is filed with the migration service, online or on paper, no earlier than 1 year and no later than 5 working days before entry (paragraph 10 of the Rules).
3. Review takes up to 3 working days online and up to 5 working days on paper, plus clearance by the national security bodies.
4. Since 1 January 2026, a fee of 0.5 MRP per invitee applies — KZT 2,162.5 at the 2026 MRP of KZT 4,325.
5. Once approved, the student applies for the visa at the Kazakh consulate in their country.

Study visas are issued at the location of the institution where the applicant is enrolled (paragraph 26 of the Rules), which matters when the visa is obtained inside Kazakhstan.

Documents

For the consulate, you will generally need:

• a passport valid for at least the visa period;
• a visa application form and photo;
• the number of the approved invitation;
• proof of payment of the consular fee (it depends on the number of entries and validity);
• for minors, notarised written consent of the legal representatives, translated into Kazakh or Russian.

The Law on Population Migration (Article 31) also lists what an immigrant arriving to study must show: financial means, a medical certificate confirming no contraindications, health insurance, a criminal record certificate and proof of enrolment. Individual consulates may ask for a slightly different set, so request the list in advance.

Extending the C9 visa

A degree takes several years and the visa lasts a year at most, so extension is routine:

• the ground is a petition from the authorised education body or an educational institution registered in Kazakhstan (Annex 8 to the Rules);
• the visa is extended for up to 1 year, and also for the summer holidays (paragraph 51);
• documents are filed no earlier than 30 and no later than 5 working days before expiry (paragraph 53);
• for C9, the petition does not have to come from the party that filed the original invitation, which helps when a student transfers to another university.

On extension, a single-entry C9 may be replaced with a multiple-entry one.

Students from visa-free countries

Citizens of visa-free countries do not need a C9 to enter, but their visa-free allowance (for example, 30 days per entry and 90 in 180 for Chinese citizens, or 90 in 180 for Turkish citizens) does not cover an academic year. The solution is a temporary residence permit: Article 6-1 of the Law expressly lists educational institutions that have enrolled a foreigner in full-time study among those who apply for a TRP. Students receive it for a year within the period of study. See our guide to the temporary residence permit and to visa-free entry.

Arrival notification and address

A student entering on a visa is registered automatically at the address stated in the invitation. If they live somewhere else — a dormitory, with relatives, in a rented flat — the host notifies the internal affairs bodies within 3 working days, and the same deadline applies to a change of address. The immigrant must register at the new address within 5 working days. The host is liable under Article 518 of the Administrative Code for late notification. Details are in our article on arrival notification.

Can students work?

A C9 is a study visa, not a work visa, and the right to work is limited:

• The list of persons who do not need a permit from the local executive authorities (Government Decree No. 1041, Annex 1, item 8) includes full-time students who also work at educational institutions of Kazakhstan in their free time in accordance with labour legislation.
• The wording is narrow, and how it is read (work at an educational institution only, or more broadly) is worth checking before signing an employment contract.
• Work outside that scope without a permit is an offence under Article 517(5) of the Administrative Code: a fine of 25 MRP (KZT 108,125), detention for up to 10 days or expulsion, followed by a five-year entry ban. The employer is liable under Article 519.

If you plan to work after graduating, that is a separate status — usually a C3 work visa and work permit.

After graduation

Article 33 of the Law requires students to leave once they complete the full course unless they have another lawful ground to stay. Expulsion from the university or graduation removes the basis of the visa, and the period of stay may be shortened. Decide in advance whether you will have a new ground — work, family or business — and arrange it before the visa expires.

Timing and costs at a glance

Build in a margin: if the invitation goes in on the last permitted day and clearance takes longer, the student may miss the start of classes. Ideally, start two to three months before the academic year, and file extensions as soon as the 30-day window opens.

Who pays. The invitation fee is usually paid by the institution as the inviting party, and the visa fee by the student. It is worth agreeing this in advance, especially for large intakes.

Common mistakes

• Filing the extension in the last few days. Five working days is the minimum, not the recommended timing.
• Moving out of the dormitory without notification. A new address means a new notice within 3 working days.
• Part-time jobs "like everyone else". Courier or office work outside the list risks expulsion.
• A passport shorter than the visa. A visa cannot outlast the passport, so renew it early.
• A minor without notarised parental consent — the consulate will not accept the file.

How Visa Navigator can help

We work with educational institutions and students in Almaty: we prepare invitations and extension petitions, keep a calendar of visa and TRP deadlines, and file arrival and change-of-address notifications. Visa decisions are made by the consulate and the internal affairs bodies; we are responsible for a complete file and timing. Learn more on our migration services page.

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.