Fingerprinting for foreigners when obtaining a residence permit and temporary residence permit

From January 1, 2024, foreigners, when applying for a temporary residence permit / residence permit, will be subject to a mandatory fingerprint registration procedure.

According to the Law (https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z2300000050) “On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the issues of the State Corporation “Government for Citizens”, the international technology park “Astana Hub” and fingerprint registration” dated December 23, 2023, № 50-VIII ZRC, from January 1, 2024, new rules will come into force.

If signed by the President, these rules will take effect on January 1, 2024.

According to the adopted Law, compulsory fingerprint registration will be subject to:

• citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, foreigners, and stateless persons in respect of whom a decision has been made to issue a seafarer’s identity card of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• foreigners and stateless persons when applying for a temporary or permanent residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• foreigners and stateless persons who applied for a foreigner’s residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan, a stateless person’s certificate for the first time or its restoration or replacement;
• foreigners and stateless persons applying for the status of an asylum seeker, applying to receive a refugee certificate and (or) travel document for the first time or their restoration or replacement;
• foreigners and stateless persons subject to deportation from the Republic of Kazakhstan or subject to international treaties on readmission ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• foreigners and stateless persons when receiving visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Action plan for dactyloscopic registration

1. Before the foreigner submits an application for a temporary residence permit (TRP), he/she applies to the Migration Service Department (MSD) at the place of temporary stay for dactyloscopic registration.
2. Provides the required documents to the Migration Service Department and undergoes dactyloscopic registration (fingerprinting and palmprinting).
3. After the dactyloscopy, the foreigner is issued a certificate of the established sample. The foreigner submits the certificate to the Population Service Center to obtain a Temporary Residence Permit or to the Migration Service Department to obtain a visa.

IMPORTANT: the applicant must not have open wounds and injuries on the fingers and palm.

List of documents: the applicant needs to provide the Individual Identification Number and a notarized translation of the passport, if the document is in a foreign language.

Processing time: when applying on working days, the certificate is issued within one hour.

Result: the certificate with the data of the foreign citizen, registration number, signature, and stamp of the authorized body is issued.

RED FLAGS: if during the dactoloscopic registration procedure, the MESA program reports the presence of identical fingerprints in the database, the service is suspended and an identity check is carried out. This fact indicates that there are already identical fingerprints in the database that were previously collected but under different identification data

FAQ:

What is fingerprint registration and why is it required?

Dactyloscopic registration is a procedure for taking fingerprints and palm prints. Changes in legislation were introduced as of January 1, 2024. All foreign nationals for the initial issuance of Temporary Residence Permit / Residence Permit and visas must submit fingerprints for inclusion in the unified data system.

Do I need to undergo fingerprint registration if I have a valid previously obtained Temporary Residence Permit / Residence Permit?

You need to be fingerprinted once to be entered into the system. If you have a valid temporary residence permit / residence permit / visa you do not need to undergo this here and now. It will be required when renewing / restoring / replacing the document.

Do I need to be fingerprinted every year to renew my Temporary Residence Permit?

It is enough to be fingerprinted once to be entered into the system. You will not need to submit fingerprints and palm prints again for renewal and reinstatement of documents, as the data will already be entered into the system.

How will it work if we apply for a temporary residence permit through egov?

It is necessary to take fingerprinting beforehand and attach a document confirming the fact of passing the procedure. In our case, a certificate of passing the procedure. Otherwise, the algorithm of actions has not changed.

So, no employer or a person under a power of attorney will ever be able to make a work permit without the personal presence of the employee?

The personal presence of a foreign citizen is required for fingerprint registration. Otherwise, the procedure of processing the temporary residence permit / residence permit and visas will not change. It is also possible to submit documents by power of attorney without the presence of a foreign citizen. It is enough to attach a certificate of registration.

What to do in a situation when a company is registered in one city, but employees are scattered across the country?

A foreign employee undergoes fingerprint registration in the city of actual residence and location. A certificate is obtained and sent to the employer. The employer attaches the confirmation of the fact of registration to the package of documents and issues a temporary residence permit / residence permit.

Will it be possible to take prints in advance to make a temporary residence permit through it, instead of going all the crowd to the Population Service Center?

Yes, it can be done in advance at the address of temporary registration at the Migration Service Offices. The addresses of the Migration Service Offices are given above.

How much does the service of fingerprint registration for obtaining a temporary residence permit / residence permit / visa cost?

The procedure is free of charge. It is enough to have a valid Individual Identification Number (IIN) in Kazakhstan and a certified copy of your passport to receive the service.

Is it possible to undergo dactyloscopic registration to obtain a temporary residence permit with an internal passport?

Yes, you can. At the same time, the registration should be done with the passport for which the temporary residence permit is issued and for which the IIN was issued.

How does the Migration Service Office find out where a foreigner lives and that he/she came to the address of temporary registration?

The information can be verified through the internal system. In rare cases, it is requested to provide a copy of the notification / Temporary Residence Permit to double-check the information.

Where do I have to undergo fingerprint registration to obtain a Temporary Residence Permit / Residence Permit?

Dactyloscopic registration will be carried out by internal affairs bodies at the address of temporary registration. Below are the addresses of the Migration Service Offices.

Addresses of MSD

ADDRESSES in Astana city

• Migration Service Department of the Police Department of Almaty district of Astana – Zhansuguruly str., 2.
• Migration Service Department of the Police Department of Baikonur district of Astana – Imanbaeva str., 16 a.
• MSD of the PD of Yessil district of Astana – Orynbor str, 9.
• MSD of the PD of Saryarka district of Astana – Auezova str., 40.

ADDRESSES in Almaty city

• MSD of the PD of Alatau district of Almaty – Darhan mkr., Khalifa-Altaya str., 2A.
• MPD of the PD of Almalinskiy district of Almaty –  Karasay Batyr str., 109.
• MPD of the PD of Auezovsky district of Almaty – Utegen Batyr str., 78.
• MSD of the PD of Bostandyk district of Almaty –  Mynbaeva str., 53.
• MPD of the PD of UP of Zhetysu district of Almaty – Rayymbek Ave., 158 A.
• MPD of the PD of Medeu district of Almaty – Kabanbai Batyr str., 93.
• MPD of the PD of Nauryzbay district of Almaty – Akzhar mkr., Taraz str., 17.
• MPD of the PD of Turksib district of Almaty – T. Sauranbaeva str., 3.

ADDRESSES in Shymkent city

• MSD of the PD of Shymkent city – Zheltoksan str., 3.
• MSD of the PD of Abay district of Shymkent city – Sh. Kaldayakov str., 5.
• MSD of the PD of Yenbeksha district of Shymkent city – Yelshibek Batyr str., 110 A.
• MSD of the PD of Karatau district of Shymkent city – Tulemetova str., 99.
• MSD of the PD of Turan district of Shymkent city – Kozhanova str., 1/15.

Atyrau region

• PD of Atyrau region – Nursaya mkr., Abylkhayyr-Khan str., 55.

Addresses for other regions see on the link: