C3 work visa and the foreign labour permit in Kazakhstan: how they are linked and in what order they are obtained

"Work visa" and "work permit" are not synonyms but two different documents with different holders. The permit to attract foreign labour is obtained by the employer from the local executive body (akimat). The C3 visa is obtained by the employee — on the basis of the permit already issued. The order cannot be reversed: without the permit the invitation for a C3 visa will not be approved.

Step 1. The permit to attract foreign labour

The procedure is governed by Articles 37 and 37-1 of the Migration Law and the Rules approved by Ministry of Labour Order No. 279 of 30 June 2023.

Who issues it. The local executive body — the akimat of a region, Almaty, Astana or Shymkent — within the quota distributed annually by the employment authority.

Categories of foreign workers: 1 — heads of organisations and their deputies; 2 — heads of structural units; 3 — specialists; 4 — skilled workers. The category is determined by qualification reference books and professional standards; it drives both the permit term and the fee.

Permit terms (paragraph 25 of the Rules as amended in 2025):

Timing. The public service standard is 19 working days: up to 8 working days for notification of the decision, then 10 working days for the employer to pay the fee. Extension — 3 working days, re-issue — 6. The akimat checks completeness on the first working day and returns incomplete packages, so preparation matters more than speed of filing.

The fee is paid to the budget at rates set by the Government in MCI, depending on category and industry. No fee is charged for intra-corporate transfers.

Who does not need a permit. EAEU citizens; intra-corporate transferees (separate procedure); persons on the Government's list; foreigners self-employing in in-demand professions with a qualification compliance certificate and a C4 visa.

Step 2. The invitation

Once the permit is issued, the employer as inviting party files an invitation through the territorial police (migration service) — in person, via the Government for Citizens corporation or the visa and migration portal.

• review of the invitation — no more than 3 working days electronically, 5 working days on paper;
• security service (KNB) clearance — up to 3 working days, extendable to 30 calendar days at KNB request;
• the invitation is filed no later than 5 working days before the planned entry.

Step 3. The C3 visa

Category C3 is the visa for employment; the same category is issued to family members.

• Single-entry — up to 90 calendar days, issued by a Kazakhstan consulate abroad or by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the basis of the invitation.
• Multiple-entry — up to 3 years or the term of the permit; up to 5 years for AIFC participants and Astana Hub.
• Visa processing — no more than 5 working days.
• Initial C3 visas are issued by the migration service at the place of registration of the inviting party; when working in another region, extensions are handled at the foreigner's place of residence.
• Extension is filed no earlier than 30 and no later than 5 working days before expiry.

If the employee is a citizen of a visa-free country, no C3 visa is needed — an RVP is issued instead for the permit term.

Step 4. After entry

1. Within three working days the host files the arrival notification.
2. The employee signs an employment contract on the terms stated in the permit: position, speciality and region must match.
3. The employer monitors the share of local staff: the ratio requirement does not apply to managerial positions.
4. Extension of the permit is planned ahead — together with the visa or RVP.

The permit is not transferable to another employer and is valid only in the regions stated in it. Business trips elsewhere are allowed for up to 90 calendar days per year in total.

Liability

Article 519 of the Administrative Code fines attracting foreign labour without a permit: 30 MCI for individuals, 50 for officials, 100 for small business and non-profits, 200 for medium and 700 for large business. Using a foreigner in a position other than the one in the permit is a separate offence. For the worker, working without a permit means activity inconsistent with the visa purpose — up to expulsion with a five-year ban.

A realistic timeline

For an Almaty company hiring a third-category specialist from a visa country the chain usually takes 6–9 weeks: 2–3 weeks to collect documents and file with the akimat, up to 19 working days for the permit and fee, a week for the invitation, a week for the consular visa, then entry, notification and the contract. Delays most often arise at qualification confirmation (apostille or legalisation of the diploma) and when the regional quota is exhausted.

Visa Navigator supports the employer at every stage: we determine the category and quota, prepare the akimat package, arrange the invitation and C3 visa, and register the employee after entry. Decisions are taken by the akimat and the internal affairs bodies; we are responsible for the quality of the package and the timeline. See the Work permit 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.