On measures to improve migration policy in order to create favorable conditions for attracting highly qualified specialists, foreign investors and entrepreneurs
Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated April 25, 2026 No. 1242.
In order to create favorable conditions and a competitive regime for attracting highly qualified specialists, foreign investors and entrepreneurs in order to ensure technological and economic growth, I HEREBY DECREE:
1. Identify the key areas of migration policy to attract foreign investment and human capital:
the transition from a predominantly permissive quota to a stimulating model of migration policy aimed at attracting foreign investors and highly qualified specialists in demand;
creation of a competitive residency regime for long-term residence and activities of foreign citizens contributing to the development of the country's economy;
simplification and digitalization of immigration procedures, including through the "one-stop shop" principle;
positioning Kazakhstan as a regional hub for attracting foreign investors, qualified personnel and talents.
2. By December 31, 2026, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan will ensure the implementation of reforms to improve the investment climate and attract highly qualified foreign specialists, including:
1) simplification of the conditions of entry and stay in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan for foreign citizens by unifying the following valid visas:
business visa - for investors, entrepreneurs, members of boards of directors and persons involved in work in the public administration system;
A qualified worker's visa is for specialists who have a job offer that meets the established criteria in terms of salary and vacancy profile, as well as for scientific and medical workers, cultural and artistic figures, graduates of leading foreign higher educational institutions, and specialists in sought-after professions according to the list approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.;
temporary worker visa - for employment within the framework of specific investment projects approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
2) the introduction of the Altyn visa with legislative regulation of the procedure and conditions for its receipt by participants of the investment tax residency program of the Astana International Financial Center (hereinafter referred to as the AIFC), holders of a business visa - after the first month of stay, holders of a skilled worker visa - after six months, except for IT specialists, for whom the term is one month, for holders of a temporary worker's visa - after one year.;
3) providing Altyn Visa holders with the following preferences:
exemption from payment of individual income tax, property and land taxes;
exemption from universal declaration of income and property;
equal access to public and financial services with citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
carrying out work and (or) professional activities in accordance with qualifications outside the quota and without the need for a permit;
distribution of preferences provided by Altyn Visa to all family members of its holder;
4) the introduction of a single digital platform "QazETA" with the "e-Residency" module for submitting, receiving and processing applications from foreign citizens, providing centralized consideration of applications, consulting and language support, transparent status control, fixed review dates and automatic verification of documents adapted to the specifics of the legal systems of the countries of origin (donor countries), as well as ensuring its service integration with Astana Hub and other information systems to provide registration, identification and related services to foreign specialists and companies in a "One-Stop Shop" mode;
5) implementation of the e-Residency Invest program, which provides for the voluntary participation of electronic residents in placing free cash balances in accounts with partner banks of the program and investing in financial instruments and projects in the Republic of Kazakhstan and in the jurisdiction of the AIFC through banks, brokers, investment portfolio managers, investment platform operators and other authorized participants in the financial the market;
6) the introduction of a resident identification document (ID), a single digital document equivalent in functionality to an identity card of a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the access of an Altyn Visa holder to government and financial services;
7) the introduction of automatic recognition of diplomas from leading foreign universities without the nostrification procedure;
8) development of a simplified procedure for admission to licensed activities for foreign investors and highly qualified specialists who have valid foreign certificates and have been trained in recognized educational centers, including retraining and testing programs for knowledge of national standards;
9) establishment of duty-free import of personal property for foreign investors and highly qualified specialists;
10) the formation of a social package providing access to medical and educational services for foreign investors and highly qualified specialists, as well as their family members, on terms determined by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
11) development of a simplified procedure for the legal and methodological design of hybrid cross-border employment models for foreign IT specialists, providing for their residence in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan while simultaneously performing work (rendering services) in favor of foreign organizations, combining several contractual relationships, advising foreign teams and generating income from mixed sources.
3. To the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
1) to develop and approve an action plan for the positioning of the Republic of Kazakhstan as a regional hub by October 1, 2026, defining:
key donor countries of foreign investments and qualified personnel;
targeted marketing and promotion tools for immigration programs abroad;
non-financial incentives to secure temporary foreign investors and highly qualified personnel in the country on a permanent basis;
promising measures to develop a barrier-free environment for movement and business within the framework of integration associations with the participation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including the issue of mutual recognition of resident status;
2) by December 31, 2026, take measures to promote the 1T ecosystem of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the international level, attract foreign IT specialists and companies, as well as create competitive conditions for the development and localization of technology business, including:
development and institutionalization of partnerships with international technology companies, including the conclusion of cooperation agreements, the opening of joint programs, R&D centers and acceleration initiatives;
using digital platforms targeting investors, entrepreneurs, and 1T specialists;
The pilot projects are being put into commercial operation: "Digital Nomad Residency" - for the provision of public services "Issuing permits to foreigners and stateless persons for permanent residence in the Republic of Kazakhstan" for specialists in the field of information and communication services, as well as "e-Residency" - for granting foreigners and stateless persons the status of electronic resident and remote provision of public services and services to them through the mobile application of the e-Residency platform;
The launch of the Almaty AI Hub in Almaty as a specialized platform for the development of artificial intelligence and digital solutions, ensuring its service integration with the state-owned e-Residency platform to attract and service foreign developers, researchers and technology companies;
improvement of the regulatory framework, including the implementation of the principles of "Cloud First Policy" and "Data Embassy";
The formation of zones in Astana and Almaty with mandatory English-language services for foreign IT specialists and their family members, including the provision of services in medical organizations, educational organizations, front offices of public services, police units, public utilities, urban navigation, digital urban services, as well as in the emergency notification and response system.;
3) by December 31, 2026, together with the AIFC, take measures to improve the Center's activities to attract investors and foreign specialists, including:
The introduction of a separate mechanism for the prompt consideration of pre-trial disputes by mutual agreement of the parties with the participation of foreign IT specialists and their family members, including labor, rental, banking, educational and consumer disputes, with the provision of English-language support and the establishment of regulated deadlines for consideration of appeals.;
creating conditions for participants of the AIFC investment tax residency program and foreign highly qualified specialists, as well as their family members, including those providing for amendments and additions to the current legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including:
definition of criteria for tax residency in terms of reducing the minimum period of actual stay of an individual in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 90 to 30 calendar days during the tax period, which will increase the attractiveness of the AIFC jurisdiction for mobile investors and highly qualified specialists, taking into account international practice;
cancellation of the fixed fee for issuing a certificate of AIFC tax residency;
4) to ensure the adoption of regulatory legal acts necessary for the implementation of this Decree by December 31, 2026.
4. The National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan jointly with the agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan for regulation and development of the financial market, financial monitoring:
1) take the necessary measures to create a favorable financial regime for foreign investors, highly qualified specialists and electronic residents who contribute to the development of the country's economy;
2) ensure that the operator of the e-Residency program issues payment cards for electronic residents through the regulatory sandbox of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, followed by access to a permanent licensed regime as a payment organization of the first category.
5. To the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
1) ensure that reporting information on the results of the year's work is submitted to the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan by February 1, 2027;
2) take other measures resulting from this Decree.
6. Control over the implementation of this Decree is entrusted to the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
7. This Decree shall enter into force from the date of its signing.
President
Republic of Kazakhstan
Constitution Law Code Standard Decree Order Decision Resolution Lawyer Almaty Lawyer Legal service Legal advice Civil Criminal Administrative cases Disputes Defense Arbitration Law Company Kazakhstan Law Firm Court Cases
