Kazakhstan has introduced new rules for employing foreigners from September 1, 2025. Find out what exactly has changed and how it affects employers and expats

Starting September 1, 2025, Kazakhstan will introduce new, stricter rules for hiring foreign workers. Employers will now have to undergo a 15-day labor market test, submit applications through an updated government portal, and adhere to expanded quotas for hiring local specialists.

The goal of the reforms is to protect jobs for Kazakh citizens and streamline immigration flows.

Read everything we currently know about the changes to the employment procedure for foreigners in Kazakhstan in this article.

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Change 1 – Labor market test becomes mandatory for employers in Kazakhstan

Previously, Kazakhstani companies could immediately apply for a work permit for a foreigner. Now – no.

- Step 1 – The employer is first required to post a vacancy on the Electronic Labor Exchange (enbek.kz) in the region where the hiring is planned.

- Step 2 – The vacancy must be published on the exchange for at least 15 calendar days.

- Step 3 – If no qualified local candidate is found during this time, the company receives a vacancy registration code, which must be entered in the work permit application and reported to the local employment office.

What does this mean? The process of hiring a foreign employee will now take at least 15 days longer. You can only submit an application after the labor market test period has ended.

Change 2 – New online portal for employment of foreigners in Kazakhstan launched

To facilitate the implementation of the new rules, the government has created a special digital platform – migration.enbek.kz.

Through it, you can submit new applications for work permits, renew existing documents and monitor the status of consideration.

The system automatically integrates the labor market testing requirement.

The previous portals – egov.kz and elicense.kz – remain active, but do not support the new rules. Therefore, employers are advised to use only the updated platform for all applications after September 1, 2025.

In 2025, Kazakhstan introduced three new visa options. Read here what these permits are and what conditions for obtaining Neo Nomad Visa, Digital Nomad Visa and Visa for Permanent Residence in Kazakhstan are relevant in 2025.

Change 3 – Small businesses now also required to comply with quotas for hiring foreigners in Kazakhstan

Another important innovation concerns small businesses. If a company has more than 20 employees, it must comply with the established quotas for local hiring. Previously, such firms were exempted from this obligation.

The requirements are now as follows:

- at least 70% of management positions (directors, deputies) must be citizens of Kazakhstan;

- at least 90% of experts and qualified employees must also be local.

This means that it will become more difficult for small employers to attract foreigners without adjusting the ratio of employees in the staff.

Why is Kazakhstan introducing changes to the procedure for hiring foreigners?

According to government representatives, the updated policy should increase the competitiveness of the local labor market and protect Kazakhstani workers.

The growth in the number of foreign specialists in recent years has sparked discussions about the balance between importing personnel and supporting the national market.

Labor market testing is a common practice in the world (it is used, in particular, in Canada and EU countries), which proves that hiring a foreigner is truly justified.

What does this mean for employers and employees in Kazakhstan?

1. Companies need to plan the hiring process in advance, taking into account the mandatory 15-day testing period.

2. It is worth checking quotas and staffing structures in advance to avoid violations.

3. For foreigners, this means more bureaucratic steps and possible delays in processing applications.

The new rules for employing foreigners in Kazakhstan make the procedure more controlled and transparent, but at the same time more difficult for businesses.

Employers should adapt internal HR processes to avoid fines and delays, and foreign specialists should take into account additional time for document processing.

Need help with obtaining a work permit or employment contract in Kazakhstan? Get advice from experienced employment and immigration lawyers at Visit World.

Specialists will help you prepare all documents, avoid mistakes, and go through the procedure legally and without stress.

Reminder! Working abroad in 2025 will become more accessible. Read here about which countries are easiest to get a work visa in, what documents are required, and how to increase your chances of success.

Photo – Freepik

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Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Kazakhstan;

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