Published: 17.09.2026
Kazakhstan provides residence-permit routes for people seeking political or humanitarian protection and for family reunification, among other grounds. For the family-reunification route, citizens of non-EAEU countries generally need a C2 visa, while a relative’s residence permit is usually limited to the sponsor’s permit period and capped at 12 months.
According to the source, the chosen legal basis directly determines the documents and duration of lawful residence in Kazakhstan. Family members of residents should check the visa route in advance and be prepared for annual renewal of a temporary residence permit when the sponsor’s permit is also temporary. Applicants for protection follow a separate visa-free entry route and may request a one-year residence permit with subsequent renewal. The information is most relevant to families, protection applicants, and citizens of non-EAEU countries; for other newcomers, it is useful as a framework for choosing a residence route.