Russian citizens aged 16 and over must undergo fingerprint registration when applying for temporary or permanent residence in Kazakhstan. If you have already registered, the law provides for identity verification on a subsequent application: an officer checks your fingerprints against previously stored information. This does not mean you can simply skip the visit or treat an old certificate as a substitute for every check.
The practical route is to confirm the police unit serving your place of stay, prepare your identity document, undergo registration or the prescribed check, and review the certificate issued. Fingerprinting itself does not grant a temporary residence permit (RVP) or a residence card (VNZh), and does not replace the application for the relevant permit.
This guide is for Russian citizens aged 16 and over preparing an RVP application, permanent residence application or repeat application. Children's documents, visas and border procedures are outside its scope. Rules checked on 15 September 2026.
Who needs registration and who needs verification
Article 10 of the Law on Fingerprint and Genomic Registration makes registration mandatory for foreign nationals aged 16 and over applying for temporary or permanent residence. Obtaining, replacing and restoring a residence card are listed separately. Russian citizenship and employment under EAEU rules do not, by themselves, remove this requirement.
For people already registered, paragraph 3 of the same article provides for identity verification on a subsequent application. Under paragraph 9-1 of Ministry of Internal Affairs Rules No. 730, this checks fingerprint patterns against information in a document or database. Saying “I have already given my fingerprints” is therefore a reason to report your previous registration, not to refuse the check.
Do not apply the voluntary rule for Kazakhstani citizens obtaining a national passport or identity card to Russian citizens: it concerns a different category. Nor should the threshold of 16 be replaced with the age of majority, 18.
Where to go and what to prepare
Paragraph 5 of Rules No. 992 on temporary and permanent residence directs foreign nationals to territorial police authorities at their place of stay for fingerprinting. Under paragraph 13 of Rules No. 730, the procedure takes place in migration service units, including population documentation registration points, with the necessary equipment.
Before visiting, confirm the exact address, booking procedure and opening hours. Being able to apply for an RVP through a Public Service Centre or portal does not mean fingerprints can be taken remotely or at any Public Service Centre counter.
To prepare for the visit, we recommend gathering:
- a valid identity document; for permanent residence, check the international passport requirements in advance;
- your individual identification number (IIN), exact full name, date of birth and document details;
- your address of stay in Kazakhstan and, for an RVP, the host party's address details;
- your previous fingerprinting certificate, if you still have it, and details of where and when the earlier procedure took place.
This is KLC's working checklist for checking data, not a new mandatory document package. Confirm the specific documents for your application with the unit. The certificate form itself expressly requires presentation of a national passport.
What happens during the procedure
Under paragraph 25 of Rules No. 730, fingerprints of all ten fingers and palm prints of both hands are taken when issuing temporary or permanent residence permits. The rules provide for rolled impressions: fingers are rolled across the scanner one by one, followed by control impressions and palm prints. This involves more than placing one finger on a phone sensor.
The main method described is ink-free scanning. An inked paper fingerprint card is used in the case specified by the rules where joint deformity makes scanning impossible. Do not take your own fingerprints, download a blank card or bring one instead of undergoing the procedure with an officer.
If you have already registered, say so before processing starts. For example, paragraph 21 provides for checking the fingerprint registration marker when issuing identity documents to a foreign national: if the marker exists, verification is performed; if not, the officer creates a request and carries out registration. Do not assume that a database record can only be located using the old paper certificate.
How to check the certificate
Paragraph 26 of Rules No. 730 provides for a paper certificate under Appendix 4. The current form is the version effective from 1 July 2026. Check these five points before leaving.
| What to check | What to compare it with | If there is a problem |
|---|---|---|
| Full name and date of birth | Your identity document | Point out the exact discrepancy to the officer before applying for RVP or permanent residence |
| IIN | Your official details | Ask whether the personal data are correctly linked to the record |
| Registration identifier KZ… | The completed field on the certificate | If the field is blank or illegible, ask for the certificate to be checked |
| Authority, officer and fingerprinting date | The procedure you actually attended | Ask for incorrect or missing details to be clarified |
| Signature and passport presentation | Officer's signature; the seal is marked “if available” | Do not insist on a seal in every case; keep the certificate and present it with your passport |
The RVP document list names the certificate in item 10 of Appendix 2 to Rules No. 992; registration is also checked in the digital system. The rules allow information from integrated systems to be used without resubmitting documents containing that information. Confirm in advance how registration will be evidenced through your chosen application channel, and keep the paper copy you receive.
For permanent residence, the certificate is listed in item 10, subitem 11), of Appendix 7. The nearby 180-calendar-day requirement applies to documents in subitems 3), 4) and 7), not automatically to the entire list. Do not assign that validity period to the fingerprinting certificate by analogy—and do not conclude the opposite, that it permanently removes the need for verification or checks of current data.
If your details have changed or the procedure is difficult
If your passport or name has changed, report your previous details and registration. Paragraph 26 of Rules No. 730 provides that, if the personal particulars of someone previously fingerprinted do not match, the officer informs the relevant units about verification measures within two working days. This is a deadline for sending information, not a promise to correct the record or issue a permit within two days.
If a persistent impairment of bodily functions has caused a loss of ability to care for yourself or move independently and prevents you from attending in person, paragraph 13 provides for an officer to visit your place of residence. Ask the migration unit how to arrange the visit.
If fingerprints cannot physically be taken, do not treat this as an ordinary refusal by the applicant. Article 10-1 of the law contains special grounds for exemption; for example, when issuing identity documents, a medical advisory commission's opinion is provided for in specified cases. Whether a ground applies to your RVP, permanent residence or residence card application must be checked separately: not every injury or medical certificate grants an exemption.
How to fit fingerprinting into your application
- Before booking, check your lawful-stay period, the purpose of the application and any previous registration.
- Confirm the location and documents, and coordinate the visit with preparation of the overall package.
- Undergo registration or verification, check the details and keep the certificate issued.
- Apply for the relevant permit and monitor your migration status separately.
Booking, waiting and additional checks are not the same as the processing time for an RVP or permanent residence permit. KLC recommends not leaving everything until the final day. Check the terms and fees of third-party assistance separately: such assistance does not replace the police procedure.
If your documents are not accepted because confirmation is missing, obtain the specific reason and clarify which information is absent. Refusal of the permit itself is a different stage: see the guide on refusal of permanent residence in Kazakhstan. The certificate does not guarantee approval under the other requirements.
If you have already overstayed, contact the migration service without delay to establish your next steps. Fingerprinting does not remedy a past breach or extend your stay on its own.
Next step
Start with three questions: which permit are you applying for, have you undergone fingerprinting before, and do your current personal details match the earlier ones? Then confirm the unit and prepare your documents for the visit. The complete first-time permanent residence process is covered in a separate guide for Russian citizens.
If you need to coordinate fingerprinting with the rest of your documents, open the Visas, RVP and Residence Permits service. The application button leads to KLC's Telegram: describe your purpose and any previous registration. This is a request for assistance, not a police appointment or submission of a government application.
Official sources
- Law on Fingerprint and Genomic Registration — Articles 10 and 10-1: mandatory registration, verification on subsequent applications and special exceptions.
- Ministry of Internal Affairs Rules No. 730 — paragraphs 5, 9-1, 13, 16, 21, 25 and 26; Appendix 4: location, data, procedure and paper certificate.
- Rules No. 992 on temporary and permanent residence — paragraph 5; item 10 of Appendix 2 and item 10 of Appendix 7: attendance at the police, certificate and information checks.