Kazakhstan is preparing to introduce a differentiated visa system for foreign workers and investors as authorities seek to attract highly skilled specialists while tightening oversight of labor migration.
The new migration model was presented by Yerbol Tuyakbayev, first vice minister of labor and social protection during a roundtable discussion at the Center for Labor Resources Development.
According to Tuyakbayev, the government plans to divide foreign nationals coming to Kazakhstan for work into four categories: business immigrants, highly qualified specialists, mid-level skilled workers, and labor migrants hired by private households for domestic work.
“Each category will have a separate visa regime based on the purpose of entry, qualification level, and duration of stay,” Tuyakbayev said.
A central element of the reform will be the possibility of transitioning from a temporary work or investment visa to long-term resident status. According to officials, holders of such status would gain access to a range of rights and services similar to those available to citizens of Kazakhstan, including tax incentives, financial services, healthcare, and education.
Authorities also plan to simplify administrative procedures for foreigners, reduce application processing times, and introduce a “single-window” system.
As part of the reform, Kazakhstan plans to launch the QazETA digital platform, which will include an e-Residency module and a separate e-Residency Invest program.
The new system will also include the Altyn Visa, or “Golden Visa,” program, aimed at investors, entrepreneurs, and highly qualified specialists.
The government expects the initiative to become one of the key tools of Kazakhstan’s new migration policy and to help retain both international talent and investment capital. The Altyn Visa program is expected to launch before the end of 2026.
Experts say Kazakhstan is attempting to strengthen its position in the competition for global talent amid worldwide shortages of qualified labor and growing migration mobility across Eurasia.
Anna Alshanskaya, head of economic policy analysis at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, said the country has the potential to take a “proactive position” as a regional hub for attracting specialists.
The initiative has also received support from the International Organization for Migration. Aliya Belonosova, acting head of the organization’s mission in Kazakhstan, said the new system would create additional opportunities not only for attracting international specialists and investment, but also for preparing Kazakhstan’s youth for the labor market of the future.
The migration reform comes amid growing demand for foreign labor in Kazakhstan. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Chinese citizens currently make up the largest group of migrant workers in the country.
