Kazakhstan: Digital Nomad Visa Introduced

• Validity. The visa is valid for one year, with the possibility of three renewals (each for one year).
• Other criteria. The applicant must earn sufficient minimum income according to government regulations and must submit a tax report and a police clearance certificate, among other documentation.
• Application details. Applicants must submit their documentation at a Kazakh consular post. Government processing usually takes up to seven business days but can take longer based on the circumstances.
• Dependents. Dependents can be sponsored under the visa, but they cannot work under their dependent status.
• Local work. Local work is not allowed under this visa.

This new category provides an immigration pathway for remote workers, which was previously not available.

• Continuing trend. Although digital nomad visas and permits are not being introduced as rapidly as when the trend first started, we still see such tailored digital nomad statuses being introduced over the past months, with more in the pipeline.

• Remote work visa warning. In countries where remote work is unregulated, workers and employers may unknowingly put themselves at risk of noncompliance with many aspects of the law, exposing them to possible fines or other penalties, depending on the country. Importantly, noncompliance with regulations could result in employers losing their rights to hire foreign labor. Additionally, this type of work arrangement may have employment or tax law impacts. It will become increasingly important as such policies are developed (and in many countries where remote work is unregulated) for employers to analyze strategies and assess risks associated with implementing and/or continuing remote work policies with a trusted immigration partner.

Remote work and non-traditional non-sponsored statuses remain of high interest to corporate and public stakeholders globally as talent shortages affect employers worldwide. Fragomen will report on related developments.