Opening a company in Kazakhstan and appointing foreign executives? Support Agency helps foreign entrepreneurs and international companies arrange C3 work visas for their management team.

For eligible first executives and deputy first executives of Kazakhstan companies with 100% foreign ownership, a C3 visa may be obtained without the employer securing a separate permit to employ foreign labour.

Our C3 visa assistance starts from KZT 450,000. We assess eligibility, review corporate and employment documents, assist with the invitation and guide the applicant through the visa procedure.

Opening a Kazakhstan company and bringing in foreign executives

A common situation is a foreign entrepreneur or international company establishing a subsidiary in Kazakhstan and appointing foreign nationals to lead the local business.

The founder may become the company’s first executive, or the foreign parent company may appoint a general director and deputy first executive from abroad. Before they begin working in Kazakhstan, the company needs to determine the appropriate visa and work permit procedure.

Where the company and appointments meet the legal conditions, we help arrange C3 visas under the applicable foreign labour permit exemption.

Who may qualify without a foreign labour permit?

Relevant categories include:

• The first executive of a Kazakhstan legal entity with 100% foreign participation in its charter capital.
• The deputy first executive of such a company, subject to the applicable conditions and staffing limits.
• The first executive of a branch or representative office of a foreign legal entity, where the relevant exemption applies.

The exemption does not cover every managerial position. A commercial director, department head, project manager or other manager does not automatically qualify simply because the company is foreign-owned.

We check the ownership structure, exact position, appointment documents and applicable legal limits before recommending this route.

Examples of situations we assist with

A foreign entrepreneur becomes the director of a new company

A foreign entrepreneur establishes a Kazakhstan company with 100% foreign ownership and plans to manage the business personally as its first executive.

We review the company registration, ownership documents, founder’s decision and employment arrangements. If the conditions are met, we assist with the invitation and C3 visa application without a separate foreign labour permit.

An international company appoints executives to its Kazakhstan subsidiary

A foreign company opens a wholly owned subsidiary in Kazakhstan and appoints a foreign general director and deputy first executive to oversee the local business.

We assess each appointment separately, check the applicable exemption and staffing limits, and coordinate the corporate, employment and visa documents with the company’s HR or legal team.

A foreign company appoints the head of a branch

An international business establishes a branch or representative office in Kazakhstan and sends a foreign national to act as its first executive.

We review the registration and appointment documents, assess the relevant exemption and assist with the appropriate C3 visa procedure.

What our C3 visa service includes

• Initial assessment of the company and foreign executive.
• Review of the ownership structure and proposed position.
• Assessment of eligibility for the foreign labour permit exemption.
• A personalized checklist for the company and applicant.
• Review of appointment and employment documents.
• Preparation and submission assistance for the invitation, where required.
• Guidance on the visa application procedure and place of submission.
• Assistance with additional document requests during the agreed process.

Documents required for a C3 visa

The exact checklist depends on the company, appointment and applicant’s circumstances. It may include:

• A valid passport.
• A completed visa application form and photograph.
• Registration documents of the Kazakhstan company, branch or representative office.
• Documents confirming 100% foreign ownership, where relevant.
• A founder’s decision, shareholders’ resolution or appointment order.
• An employment contract.
• An application from the inviting organization.
• Invitation and visa support documents.
• Documents confirming the applicable work permit exemption.
• Confirmation of payment of the applicable visa fee.

We explain any translation, notarization or other certification requirements after reviewing the documents.

How the process works

1. Tell us about the company. Send the ownership structure, proposed position, applicant’s nationality and current location.
2. Receive an eligibility assessment. We check whether the appointment qualifies for the foreign labour permit exemption.
3. Prepare the documents. We coordinate the corporate, employment and visa checklist with the company and applicant.
4. Arrange the invitation. Where required, we assist with preparation and submission of the invitation documents.
5. Apply for the C3 visa. We guide the applicant through the appropriate submission procedure and assist with additional requests.

C3 visa assistance from KZT 450,000

Our service fee starts from KZT 450,000. The final quotation depends on the applicant’s circumstances, document readiness and agreed scope of assistance.

Before proceeding, we provide a quotation explaining which services are included and identifying any separate government, consular, translation, notarization or other third-party charges.

How long does the process take?

The overall timeline depends on document preparation, invitation processing, the applicant’s current immigration status and the place of visa application.

We provide an estimated schedule after the initial assessment. Invitation approval and visa consideration are separate stages, and additional checks may affect the timeline.

Frequently asked questions

Does every foreign-owned company qualify?

The company must meet the requirements of the relevant exemption. For the route described here, we check 100% foreign participation in the charter capital, the executive appointment and applicable staffing limits.

Can we use this route for the entire management team?

Not automatically. The exemption applies to specific executive positions and is subject to legal limits. Each person’s position and circumstances must be assessed separately.

Does the exemption remove the need for a visa?

No. Exemption from the employer’s foreign labour permit requirement does not automatically remove visa or other immigration obligations. These depend on the applicant’s nationality and circumstances.

What if a work permit is required?

We can assess the standard permit to employ foreign labour procedure and explain the appropriate next steps.

Can a foreign shareholder also work as the director?

Yes, where the applicable requirements are met. Share ownership and employment are separate legal roles, so the appointment, employment documents and immigration status must be reviewed together.

Can you assist with renewal?

Yes. We review the existing visa, continued employment and supporting grounds before determining the appropriate renewal procedure.

Check your company’s eligibility

Planning to appoint a foreign executive to your Kazakhstan company? Send us the company’s ownership details, proposed position, applicant’s nationality and current location.

We will assess whether the C3 visa route without a separate foreign labour permit is available and provide a document checklist and quotation.

Service fee: from KZT 450,000.

Discuss your C3 visa application with Support Agency on WhatsApp.