Kazakhstan hires foreign workers within the established quotas. Find out how many specialists will be able to find employment in the country in 2025 and when to apply

From August 1, 2024, Kazakhstan began accepting applications for the quota of foreign workers for 2025. Applications must be submitted to the Department of Employment and Social Programs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The deadline for receiving documents is September 27, 2024.

Let's talk about what a foreigner needs for employment in Kazakhstan in 2025?

Why are there quotas for the number of foreign workers in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan's economy is developing and focused on reducing unemployment, so the country's government prioritizes local workers. Foreign specialists are hired only for positions where there is a clear shortage of local specialists. To regulate the number of expats, special quotas for the number of foreign workers are set every year.

How many quotas for foreign workers has Kazakhstan approved in 2024?

In 2024, according to the quota, 19,634 permits are planned to be issued, which are divided into the following categories:

- Managers and their deputies (first category) – 906 permits.

- Heads of structural subdivisions (second category) – 5,054 permits.

- Specialists (third category) – 10,786 permits.

- Skilled workers (fourth category) – 2,888 permits.

It is also planned to involve 2,366 people in seasonal work.

Allocation of quotas depending on the regions

It should be added that in addition to categories of specialists, quotas are also distributed by region:

- Akmola region: 800 (last year – 178).

- City of Almaty: 1,671 (2,050 last year).

- Astana city: 1,191 (last year – 1,331).

- Atyrau region: 4,765 (last year – 6,144).

- Shymkent city: 537 (last year – 156).

- Western Kazakhstan: 1,047 (last year – 1,094).

- Zhambyl: 3,660 (last year – 1,181).

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What categories of employees do not need to submit documents for the quota?

The quota does not apply to foreign workers who are exempt from work permit requirements, including internally displaced persons. Taking this into account, the list of persons who do not need a permit include:

- Business immigrants who arrived to carry out entrepreneurial activities.

- Citizens of the member states of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of May 29, 2014.

- Senior management of branches and representative offices in Kazakhstan and large investor companies.

- Crew members of sea and river vessels, air and railway transport.

- Persons engaged by participants and bodies of the Astana International Financial Center.

- Persons who are on business trips for official purposes, the total duration of which does not exceed 120 calendar days during one calendar year.

- Persons who received an investor visa, except for family members.

- Volunteers in education, healthcare or social assistance projects.

- Foreign academic staff hired for certain educational projects approved by the government.

- Certain categories of employees and consultants in the financial, environmental or pharmaceutical sectors.

Who applies for a work quota to Kazakhstan?

The application is submitted by the employer. The form must indicate the current number of employed foreign nationals and the number of foreign nationals the company intends to hire in 2025.

The quota is designed to allow companies to sponsor work permits for foreign workers in the specific region where they will be working.

How many foreigners work in Kazakhstan?

Last year, local executive authorities issued and extended 14,500 work permits to employers, which is 78.5 percent of the redistributed quota (18,000 permits).

Currently, 13,183 foreign citizens work in Kazakhstan with the permission of local executive authorities.

After the employer receives confirmation, the employee can apply for a Kazakh work visa and issue a work permit.

We will remind you! Lithuania continues to struggle with excessive migration, which is why it recently adopted new rules for the employment of foreigners. Read what has changed in the country for employers and expats since July 1 in this article.

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Ihor Usyk - head of Visit World's legal department

To simplify the employment procedure in Kazakhstan, I advise you to contact a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations when traveling abroad.

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Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Kazakhstan;

Legal advice on immigration to Kazakhstan;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Kazakhstan;

Medical insurance all over the world.

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