Amends in rules of attracting foreign labor force in 2025

Acting Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population by his order dated March 28, 2025 amended the Rules and conditions for issuing or extending permits to employers to hire foreign labor, as well as for intra-corporate transfers. The Order comes into force on September 1, 2025.

The main changes worth paying attention to are:

Local Content Requirements For Human Resources

When applying for or renewing permits, employers must comply with the ratio between citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and foreign workers on work permits:

• The number of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan must be at least 70% of the total number of employees in Categories 1 and 2.
• The number of Republic of Kazakhstan citizens must be at least 90% of the total number of employees belonging to categories 3 and 4.

Previously, these requirements did not apply to a number of categories, including small businesses. However, according to the latest amendments, a clarification was introduced stating that the exemption now applies only to small businesses with no more than 20 employees.

New portal migration.enbek.kz

Applications for the issuance or renewal of permits can now be submitted not only through the e-license.kz portal, but also through the new migration.enbek.kz portal, which is part of the enbek.kz system.

In addition, on the migration.enbek.kz portal (also available in english), employers need to enter information on the replacement of foreign workers with Kazakh citizens, on special conditions and the foreign labor force attracted.

Searching the local labor market

In accordance with the new rules, before applying for a permit, employers are required to conduct a search for candidates in the domestic labor market. For this purpose, it is necessary to post information on the availability of vacancies on the electronic labor exchange (www.enbek.kz). After 15 calendar days from the date of posting vacancies on the labor exchange, it is possible to apply for a permit to hire foreign workers.

Employers’ obligations

Employers are required to:

1) Enter information on employment contracts and letters or agreements related to intra-corporate transfer of employees.

2) Ensure that foreign workers receive individual identification numbers.

Verification of the authenticity of stamps on documents.

The local executive body, in order to confirm the authenticity of legalization or apostille stamps on educational documents, will send requests to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. However, it is not yet specified whether such checks will be conducted for all applications or only selectively.