A Russian citizen can obtain permanent residence in Kazakhstan through an in-demand profession if it appears on the official list and their qualifications are confirmed by an endorsement from the relevant sectoral government body. A Russian passport, diploma or employer's offer does not, on its own, establish this basis.
The main benefit is exemption from proving financial solvency when eligibility is documented. The 2026 pilot procedure also provides exemptions from the criteria-based assessment and certain documents for this category. It is not a residence card issued on the strength of a CV alone, nor a promise of faster approval.
This guide helps an adult Russian citizen who intends to work in their profession in Kazakhstan check this route. The rules were checked on 16 September 2026; the pilot provisions apply until 31 December 2026. Family applications and authorisation to practise a regulated profession require separate checks.
Which professions qualify?
Use the list for obtaining permanent residence permission — Appendix 2 to Order No. 49, not a list of vacancies, shortage occupations or professions for independent employment. It includes medical, engineering, digital, teaching and creative professions.
Here are five examples from the list. This is neither the full list nor confirmation that an individual applicant qualifies.
| Profession on the list | National Classifier of Occupations code | What to check before contacting the authority |
|---|---|---|
| Software developer | 2512-1-007 | Diploma, qualifications and actual specialisation |
| Artificial intelligence engineer | 2519-9-001 | Work performed, skills and documented experience |
| Neurosurgeon | 2217-4-001 | Specialty and education documents; authorisation to practise must be checked separately |
| Aviation engineer | 2144-4-023 | Field of training and experience in the specialisation |
| Graphic designer | 2166-1 | Fit with this particular occupational group, not just any creative work |
“IT specialist” in an employment contract is too broad a title to establish eligibility by itself. Find the precise entry and code, then compare them with your diploma, duties and experience. The table's right-hand column is KLC's recommendation for preparing evidence, not a separate government document checklist.
What does the simplified procedure provide?
Article 49(4) of the Law on Population Migration includes holders of in-demand professions on the approved list among those exempt from proving financial solvency. You must document the exemption, not simply leave out the bank certificate. General requirements are covered in the guide to proof of funds.
Under the 2026 pilot, read with the August amendments, this category is exempt from paragraph 3 and subparagraphs 1, 4 and 13 of paragraph 5 in Appendix 3. These include the document confirming completion of the criteria-based assessment, proof of financial solvency and the country of citizenship's consent to departure for permanent residence abroad or a substitute document. Do not automatically pay for KAZTEST, a bank certificate or a departure record before checking your professional eligibility.
Exemption from certain requirements does not remove the remaining documents, verification of circumstances or grounds for refusal. Nor does it automatically recognise a diploma or authorise medical or other regulated practice. Permanent residence permission comes first; the residence card is issued afterwards.
Which endorsement is needed, and who issues it?
Appendix 3, paragraph 5(11) of the pilot and the document list in Appendix 7 to Ministry of Internal Affairs Rules No. 992 require an endorsement from the relevant sectoral government body. It must state the occupational group under Kazakhstan's National Classifier of Occupations and evidence of compliance: profession, skill level and specialisation, diploma, experience in the specialisation and qualification level.
A letter from a commercial employer cannot replace this endorsement. An employer can supply details of the position, duties and experience, but the final endorsement must come from the competent government body.
Before moving or paying for assistance, send the authority responsible for your profession an enquiry. For example:
“Please explain how to obtain an endorsement for permanent residence permission for the profession [exact title], classifier code [code]. My education is [diploma and specialty], and my experience is [period and work]. What evidence of compliance is required, where should it be submitted, and must my education document be formally recognised?”
This is an example enquiry, not an approved application form. Do not assume that one agency's conditions apply to another. If you have not identified the competent authority or obtained its endorsement, your professional basis has not yet been confirmed.
What to prepare for submission
For an adult applying on this basis, check the following package against paragraph 5 of Appendix 3 to the pilot, including the current amendments:
- The application questionnaire for permanent residence permission and consent to processing and cross-border transfer of personal data. Obtain the current forms from the receiving authority.
- An international passport: the original for comparison and a copy. It must have more than 180 calendar days of validity remaining on the application date.
- The sectoral government body's endorsement, with the classifier code and qualification details, to support the professional basis and applicable exemptions.
- A criminal-record certificate, including confirmation of no criminal record where applicable, from the country of citizenship and/or permanent residence. If your full name or date of birth has changed, the pilot requires certificates covering previous and current identifying details; the document must be no more than 180 calendar days old.
- Housing documentation: for those exempt from proof of funds, a notarised statement from an individual or legal entity providing accommodation for residence and permanent registration. Under the pilot, this document is valid for 180 calendar days from preparation. If you own housing, a certificate confirming the property is provided for.
- Medical certificate Form 028/у, within the validity period stated on it; the pilot specifies three months.
- One 35 × 45 mm photograph, proof of payment of the state fee and a certificate confirming fingerprint registration.
Documents in another language must be translated into Kazakh or Russian, with the accuracy of the translation certified by a notary. Apostille and legalisation requirements depend on international treaties: do not order them for every Russian document without checking each one. If children are moving with you, this adult checklist does not replace their applications: proof of legal representation is required, as is a notarised child's consent for ages 14–18. When children arrive for permanent residence together with a parent, the pilot requires simultaneous submission.
Steps, time and costs
- Before entry, find the exact profession on the list and ask the sectoral authority about its endorsement procedure. Prepare evidence of education and experience, and check your passport and certificate validity.
- Arrange genuine work in your specialisation and housing for permanent registration. Do not buy fictitious employment or an endorsement: false information can lead to refusal or annulment.
- After entry, check the arrival notification and your lawful period of stay. Appendix 3 to the pilot separately provides for a B8 visa after document submission for arrivals from visa-free countries. Ask the migration service how this is arranged in your case and what legal basis covers your stay during consideration. Submission alone must not be treated as an unconditional extension of stay.
- Submit the complete package through a branch of the Government for Citizens State Corporation under the pilot procedure. Keep proof of acceptance and confirm how you will receive the decision.
- After permission is granted, obtain the residence card. Retain records of work in your profession and track days of residence in the country.
Appendix 7 to the Ministry's rules gives a state-service processing time of 45 calendar days. Obtaining the endorsement, collecting certificates and subsequent card production are separate stages. “Simplified” does not prove that approval takes only a few days.
The state fee for permission is 4 monthly calculation indices (MRP). The residence card is paid for separately; translations, a notary, medical documents and professional assistance are not included in that fee either. Exemption from proof of funds does not mean free processing. Use the residence-cost guide for budgeting, and record the provider's price and scope of work in the contract.
Working in the profession: a different 183-day rule
Article 49(13-2) of the Law on Population Migration provides for refusal or annulment for people granted permission under the occupation list who do not work in a listed profession for 183 calendar days within any consecutive twelve-month period from the date permanent residence permission was issued.
This is not the same as the requirement to reside in Kazakhstan for a certain number of days. Living in the country but stopping work in the relevant profession creates a separate risk. Nor should you assume that a brief return to work automatically “resets” all earlier periods.
KLC recommends retaining employment contracts and records of actual duties, start dates and termination dates. Before resigning, taking a long break or moving to a different specialisation, check the consequences for your basis of residence. For remote work for a foreign client, do not assume that a contract is sufficient evidence without an individual legal review. The general residence-day rule is explained in the guide to travel abroad.
No endorsement, rejected documents or a refusal
If your profession is not listed or compliance has not been confirmed, do not claim this exemption as established. Check the general first-application route or a genuine basis for temporary residence during employment. That is a different route, not a way to replace a missing government endorsement with an employer's letter.
Rejection of an incomplete or expired document package at intake differs from a reasoned refusal of permanent residence permission. Obtain a document explaining the reason: correct the specified omissions for a defective package, or assess the grounds and appeal options for a substantive refusal. Paragraph 29 of the Ministry's rules allows a new application no earlier than one year after a reasoned refusal of permission or its annulment. This is not a rule for every return of paperwork; reapplication and appeal are different actions.
If your lawful period of stay has already expired, do not expect a future endorsement to cure the breach. Contact the migration service and seek individual legal assistance to regularise your status. Do not proceed on the assumption that your profession removes the consequences of an overstay.
What to send KLC for a route review
Prepare your profession's title and classifier code, details of your diploma and experience, whether you have an endorsement, your intended work, entry date and current status. These allow a review of both eligibility before application and your ability to meet the conditions after permission is granted.
On the “Visas and residence permits” page, “Submit an application” opens an enquiry to KLC in Telegram. It is a request for assistance, not a government application or a guarantee of approval. The individual document package and eligibility for the professional route are clarified during an individual review.