Published: 28.09.2026
A foreign employee must obtain an approved work permit before applying for the M1 work visa, also referred to as C3. The visa is generally multiple-entry and valid for up to one year, while spouses and children require separate M2 visas that do not authorize employment.
For a relocation for employment, the process runs in sequence: the employer secures the work permit, the employee obtains the work visa, and registration is completed after arrival. The work status is linked to the employer and the permit, so entering Kazakhstan alone does not authorize employment. Families should also account for the fact that an M2 dependent visa permits residence but does not automatically grant the spouse a right to work. According to the source, employers may also face a local labor-market test and staffing-ratio requirements, making this particularly relevant to foreign workers and sponsoring employers.