Temporary residence permit (RVP) in Kazakhstan: who needs it, grounds, validity and how it is issued

A temporary residence permit — RVP (Russian abbreviation for разрешение на временное проживание) — is issued by the internal affairs bodies to a foreigner who arrived in Kazakhstan without a visa and intends to stay longer than the visa-free regime allows. Without it, a visa-free visitor must leave after 30 calendar days (and may not exceed 90 days in any 180). With an RVP, the lawful stay is tied to a ground: work, study, family, treatment or business.

Who needs an RVP and who does not

The permit is required for immigrants from visa-free countries who stay beyond the visa-free limit — typically:

• an employee from an EAEU country or another visa-free state who signed an employment contract with a Kazakhstan company;
• a full-time student;
• a spouse, child or parent of a citizen of Kazakhstan arriving for family reunification;
• a business immigrant from a visa-free country who is registering a company;
• a patient receiving in-patient treatment.

Exempt (paragraph 10 of Decree No. 148): immigrants who entered on a Kazakhstan visa, holders of diplomatic or service passports, and children under 16.

Separately, Article 6 of the Migration Law obliges immigrants entering for more than 30 days to register with the internal affairs bodies no later than the 30th day after crossing the border — in practice this is the RVP obtained through the host.

Grounds and who applies

The RVP is always issued on the application of the host party, not the foreigner. The list of grounds is exhaustive (Article 6-1 of the Law, paragraph 10 of the Rules):

One limit applies to all cases: the RVP cannot outlast the immigrant's national passport.

How the procedure works

1. The host prepares the ground — an employment contract (and, where required, a work permit), an enrolment order or documents confirming kinship.
2. The application is filed through the visa and migration portal vmp.gov.kz or egov.kz with the host's digital signature, or in person at the migration service.
3. The basic package under the Ministry of Internal Affairs Rules No. 992: application form; copy of the passport; copy of medical insurance registered in the Saqtandyry system; notarised consent of the property owner if the host does not own the housing; a fingerprint registration certificate under MIA Rules No. 730 (check the procedure with your local office); plus the ground-specific document.
4. The migration service decides within one working day. The permit is recorded in the migration police system and transmitted to the Berkut database used at the border and during inspections.

You may live only at the address declared by the host when the RVP was issued — a direct requirement of Article 6-1 of the Law.

Extension and change of ground

The RVP is extended on the same ground by a new application from the host before expiry. If the ground changes — a student graduates and takes a job — a new RVP is issued on the new ground with the employer as host.

On a change of address two deadlines apply: the immigrant re-registers within five working days, the host notifies the police within three working days.

Penalties

Overstaying is an offence under Article 517 of the Administrative Code: a warning for up to 3 days; 10 MCI for 3–5 days; 15 MCI for 5–10 days; 25 MCI or expulsion beyond 10 days. Expulsion carries a five-year entry ban, so "sitting out" a few extra days is the most expensive mistake available. If the RVP is about to expire and the new ground is not ready, leaving and re-entering is safer than overstaying. In 2026 one MCI equals 4,325 tenge.

Common mistakes

• Purpose and ground do not match — entering as a tourist and asking for an employment RVP without a work permit.
• An expiring passport — the RVP cannot be issued beyond its validity.
• Living at a different address — the host is fined under Article 518.
• Filing on the last day — apply for extension two to three weeks in advance.

What comes next

The RVP is a temporary status. If you plan to live in Kazakhstan permanently, the next step is a permanent residence permit and residence card. How the host notifies the police about a foreigner's arrival is covered in a separate article.

Visa Navigator helps determine the right ground, prepares the documents and accompanies the filing with the migration service in Almaty. The decision is taken by the internal affairs bodies; we are responsible for a complete and correct package and for the timeline. See the RVP service 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.