Kazakhstan Tightens Rules on Hiring Foreign Workers

New rules for attracting foreign labour in Kazakhstan take effect on 17 October 2026. Employers found to have illegally hired foreign workers will be barred for one year from obtaining permits to bring in such workers. The changes are set out in an order of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population.

The document also changes how the fee for attracting foreign labour is paid. If a permit is valid in several regions, employers must transfer the fee to the budget of each one. The deadline for the akimat apparatus to review complaints about decisions of local executive bodies in migration and employment has been cut to five working days.

Preliminary hearing of the applicant has been removed from the procedure for refusing permits to attract foreign labour. The changes also affect the regulations on public services provided by local executive bodies.