Kazakhstan residence permit in 2026: who can get one and how

In 2026 Kazakhstan issues residence permits for up to 10 years, but most applicants fall under a pilot scheme: a KAZTEST language exam, about 5.7 million ₸ in a bank account and a year living in a designated resettlement region, which does not include Almaty. Investors are exempt from the regional requirement, and buying a home is not grounds for a residence permit.

In short

A residence permit is issued for 10 years, but not beyond the expiry of your passport; processing takes up to 45 calendar days
Under the pilot, running until 31.12.2026, you need at least 1,320 MRP (about 5.71 million ₸) in your account per person
Investor visa: from $300,000 in the capital of Kazakh companies or in securities, with the right to a residence permit for up to 10 years
AIFC programme: from $60,000 in AIFC instruments, a 5-year investor visa for the family
The Altyn Visa was introduced by Decree No. 1242 of 25.04.2026, but as of 26.10.2026 its rules have not been approved
Buying property does not give you a residence permit on any grounds

Does buying property in Kazakhstan give you a residence permit?

This is the question I get asked most, so I'll start with it. No, it doesn't. Neither the migration law, nor the investor visa, nor the AIFC programme counts an apartment or house as grounds or as an investment.

It works the other way round: you need a residence permit to buy housing in your own name. That's why I always sort out a client's migration status first and only then look for an apartment.

Grounds for a Kazakhstan residence permit in 2026

Residence permit by investment: the $300,000 investor visa

In force since May 2025. You need to invest at least $300,000 in the charter capital of Kazakh companies or in securities issued in Kazakhstan. This gives the right to a residence permit for up to 10 years, and the application is filed electronically.

According to public information, the order is: entry visa, investment, documents, residence permit. The exact list of documents, how long you must hold the investment and how family members are covered are not disclosed in public sources. A migration lawyer can confirm these.

The AIFC programme for investors

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) runs an investment tax residency programme. The minimum is $60,000 in securities on the AIX exchange or in the capital of an AIFC company, or $150,000 in digital assets. The fee is $7,750, or $11,375 with a spouse.

The investor and family get a 5-year investor visa; citizens of the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and some CIS countries get a temporary residence permit. Tax residency starts after 90 days instead of 183, and foreign income is exempt. You have to hold the investment for the whole period. Formally this is not a residence permit, but for many people it replaces one for the first few years.

Employment

A job is still valid grounds, but in 2026 a residence permit through employment goes through the pilot rules described below. EAEU citizens can work without a permit; everyone else needs an employer with a quota.

Business immigrant

The C5 visa is issued for up to 24 months on invitation. Within 2 months of arrival you have to register an LLP with charter capital of at least 100 MRP. Since May 2024 EAEU citizens apply for a business immigrant temporary residence permit. This is a step toward legal status, but on its own it doesn't give you a residence permit.

Family and origin

Simplified conditions apply to people born in Kazakhstan, former citizens and close relatives of Kazakh citizens. The details depend on your situation and are best checked with a lawyer.

Kandas (ethnic Kazakhs returning from abroad)

Ethnic Kazakhs from abroad also go through scoring and a language test. State support is given only in the resettlement regions, and the 2026 quota is 2,281 people. Sources disagree on the list of regions.

What are the 2026 pilot rules for a residence permit?

From spring 2026 until 31 December, a pilot scheme is in force under a joint order of the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development dated 30.01.2026, with amendments in April. For most applicants it has made the process noticeably harder.

An online KAZTEST exam: the embassy cited a pass mark of 30% per section (A1 level), while Tengrinews reported 70%; check the exact threshold with a migration lawyer
At least 1,320 MRP (about 5.71 million ₸) in your account per person, confirmed every year for 5 years
A questionnaire that scores your "immigration potential"
At least a year living in a resettlement region: these are the northern and eastern regions; Almaty and Astana are closed to most applicants
Exempt from the regional requirement: investors, in-demand professions, people with a petition from a government body, and minors

What is the Kazakhstan Altyn Visa (golden visa) and is it in force?

It comes from Presidential Decree No. 1242 of 25 April 2026 on improving migration policy. The media often date it 2 May, but that's when the articles came out. The decree sets the direction, and the government has to approve the rules by 31 December 2026.

What's planned: new visa categories (business, skilled worker, temporary worker) and the right to an Altyn Visa for business visa holders and IT specialists after one month, skilled workers after 6 months, temporary workers after a year, and for participants in the AIFC programme. The promises include exemption from personal income tax, property tax and land tax, an end to universal income declaration, and e-Residency on the QazETA platform.

As of 26 October 2026, the Altyn Visa has not come into force and no investment threshold has been officially set. The $300,000 figure in the news is still a journalists' estimate. On 30 August at the Kurultai, the President ordered a migration bill to be submitted urgently; I haven't yet seen it passed. I'm following this and will update the page when the rules appear.

How long does a residence permit take and what documents do you need?

You apply to the migration police, and processing takes up to 45 calendar days. The card is issued for 10 years, but not beyond the expiry of your passport. Certificates must be no older than 180 days.

The list for your specific grounds should be checked with a lawyer. The general list looks like this.

Passport, plus a notarised translation if it isn't in Kazakh or Russian
Criminal record certificate
Medical certificate, form 028/u
Documents for your housing in Kazakhstan
Fingerprinting
State fee of 0.2 MRP, which is 865 ₸
Under the pilot: your KAZTEST result and a bank statement showing the balance

Residence permit vs temporary residence permit (TRP)

A temporary residence permit (locally RVP) is issued for the length of its purpose: work, study, business. It's processed in 1 working day and is free. With a temporary permit you still count as temporarily staying and can't buy housing in your own name.

A residence permit (locally VNZh) makes you a permanent resident. With it you can buy an apartment or house in your own name, and banks treat you closer to a citizen.

How I help with the residence permit and housing

My partner lawyers, who handle migration cases, prepare the residence permit documents. My job is to make sure decisions about your status and your housing don't contradict each other. For example, if a residence permit isn't realistic within the next year, I'll show you how to buy through an LLP or rent while the paperwork is in progress.

I also find rentals for the first months: the pilot and registration require documents for your housing, and it's better if the lease is drawn up properly.

This is general information. Legal and tax details depend on your status, so before any deal I confirm them with a notary and a lawyer.

Let's work out your route to a residence permit and housing

Tell me about your citizenship, work and plans. I'll tell you which grounds are realistic, introduce you to a lawyer and find housing for the time the paperwork takes.

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Questions and answers

How do I get a residence permit in Kazakhstan in 2026?

The grounds are investment from $300,000, employment, business immigration, family and origin. Most applicants fall under the pilot running until 31.12.2026, with KAZTEST, about 5.71 million ₸ in an account and a year in a resettlement region. You apply to the migration police, and processing takes up to 45 days.

Can I get a Kazakhstan residence permit by buying property?

No. Property doesn't count toward the investor visa, the AIFC programme or the general grounds. You need a residence permit to buy housing in your own name, not the other way round.

Can I get a residence permit in Almaty in 2026?

Under the pilot, most applicants first have to live at least a year in a resettlement region, and Almaty isn't one of them. The exceptions are investors, in-demand professions, people with a petition from a government body, and minors.

How much money do I need in the bank for a Kazakhstan residence permit?

Under the 2026 pilot, at least 1,320 MRP per person, which is about 5.71 million ₸. You have to confirm the amount every year for 5 years.

What is the Altyn Visa in Kazakhstan?

It's a new status under Decree No. 1242 of 25.04.2026, with exemption from personal income tax, property tax and land tax. As of 26.10.2026 the rules haven't been approved and no investment threshold has been officially set. It's expected to be introduced by the end of 2026.

How much is the Kazakhstan investor visa?

You need to invest at least $300,000 in the charter capital of Kazakh companies or in Kazakh securities. The visa gives the right to a residence permit for up to 10 years. The document list and how long you must hold the investment should be confirmed with a migration lawyer.

What is the KAZTEST pass mark for a residence permit?

Sources disagree: the embassy cited 30% per section (A1 level), while Tengrinews reported 70%. Check the threshold with a migration lawyer before you apply.