Kazakhstan permanent residence

Under Article 7 of the Law on Migration of Population, foreigners apply to the internal affairs bodies if they are staying in Kazakhstan with a permanent residence visa, a multiple-entry investor visa issued at the request of the investment authority or a visa issued under the list of in-demand professions, or if they came from a state that has a visa-free agreement with Kazakhstan, hold refugee status in Kazakhstan or are ethnic Kazakhs. The permanent residence visa (B8) is issued for single or multiple entry for up to 90 days to people travelling to Kazakhstan to obtain the permit, and the B9 visa is for holders of in-demand professions planning to settle.

Since the latest rules, applicants first pass a criteria-based assessment of the immigrant and receive a notice admitting them to the procedure. The file then contains the application form, the assessment notice, a passport valid for more than 180 days, proof of solvency or of an exemption, a criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or residence, the notarised consent of children aged 14 to 18, a document on housing for living and registration, a medical certificate (form 028/u) showing no diseases barring entry, a 35 x 45 mm photo, proof of the state fee, a petition of the sectoral state body for in-demand professions, and a fingerprinting certificate. The solvency, criminal record and medical documents may not be older than 180 days, foreign documents need a notarised translation into Kazakh or Russian, and official foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised.

Applicants prove solvency with a certificate from a Kazakh bank or a branch of a foreign bank in Kazakhstan, signed by an authorised bank officer, showing an account balance of at least 1,320 monthly calculation indices as set by the budget law on the date of the application. When several family members apply, each one aged 16 or over must show this amount. People born in Kazakhstan or who held Kazakh or Kazakh SSR citizenship, citizens of states entitled to simplified citizenship under international treaties, and holders of in-demand professions are exempt. The police verify the certificate with the bank with the applicant's consent.

Documents are accepted by the police at the place of stay or through a Government for Citizens branch, and the decision is due within 45 calendar days; the state fee is 4 monthly calculation indices. While the application is pending the police can issue a temporary residence permit. After approval you register at your address and apply at a Government for Citizens centre for the residence permit card, issued from age 16 for up to ten years but not beyond your passport validity. The card fee is 0.2 monthly calculation indices, and it is ready within 17 working days, or 7 working days with fast-track processing for an extra charge.

Article 49 lists the grounds, including illegal entry, failure to prove solvency, repeated violations of the rules on foreigners, false documents, refusing fingerprinting, deportation within the last five years and diseases barring entry. A permit can be cancelled if you live in Kazakhstan for less than 183 days in any consecutive 12 months, if a permit based on an in-demand profession was not followed by 183 days of work in that profession, or if a marriage on which it was based is declared invalid by a court. A refusal can be appealed, and a new application may be filed one year after a refusal or cancellation.