Legal status of a foreigner in Kazakhstan: residence permit and temporary residence permit in 2026

Tengrinews.kz — The Interior Ministry has explained the difference between a residence permit and a temporary residence permit, and also reported how many foreigners have obtained residence permits in Kazakhstan. According to the ministry, as of the beginning of March 2026, more than 240,000 foreigners with residence permits permanently live in Kazakhstan.
How many foreigners have residence permits in Kazakhstan
According to the Interior Ministry, as of March 1, 2026, 241,000 permanently residing foreigners were registered in Kazakhstan, of whom 97,500 were Russian citizens (40.4 percent).
According to the ministry, Russians most often apply for residence permits in Almaty, Astana, the Karaganda Region, the East Kazakhstan Region, the Kostanay Region, and the Pavlodar Region.

“From 2024 to the present, 19,000 Russian citizens have received permission for permanent residence in Kazakhstan,” the Interior Ministry noted.

Meanwhile, as of March 1, 2026, 63,000 temporarily residing foreigners were registered in the country, of whom 9,600 were Russian citizens.

“The largest number of Russian citizens temporarily registered are in Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, as well as the Almaty, Atyrau, and Mangystau regions,” the ministry said.

How to get a temporary residence permit in Kazakhstan
A temporary residence permit is a document issued by the internal affairs bodies to immigrants who meet the requirements of the country’s legislation. It gives the right to live in the country for a certain period depending on the purpose of stay.

“To receive the temporary residence permit service, one must apply at the place of registration to the territorial police authorities, or through the state corporation, or through the portal with an application form for issuing a temporary residence permit in Kazakhstan to a foreigner or stateless person, with supporting documents depending on the purpose of stay. A temporary residence permit is issued from the age of 16,” the Interior Ministry clarified.

The application review period for a temporary residence permit is one working day. The service is provided free of charge.
How to get a residence permit in Kazakhstan
A residence permit confirms a foreigner’s right to permanently reside in Kazakhstan. The procedure for obtaining it is longer and requires confirmation of status through the territorial police departments.
The Interior Ministry explained that the review of the application takes up to 45 calendar days.

“The main requirements for those arriving in Kazakhstan and wishing to obtain a residence permit are proof of financial solvency and the absence of outstanding criminal convictions,” the ministry specified.

How to simplify getting a residence permit
The Interior Ministry also named circumstances that may make the process easier:

the foreigner was born in Kazakhstan;
the foreigner previously held Kazakh citizenship;
the foreigner has close relatives in the republic.

The document itself is issued to persons over the age of 16 for a period of 10 years. At the same time, the validity period of the residence permit cannot exceed the validity period of the foreigner’s national passport, and children under 16 do not need a separate residence permit.