If category A is about the state and investment, then B covers business trips, tourism, private visits and digital nomads, while C is about long-term stay: work, study, family, treatment and residence.
Category B — business and short-term visas
- Business (B1, B2, B3) — conferences, forums, exhibitions; negotiations and contracts; equipment installation/repair; consulting and audit; lecturing; for founders and members of the board of directors. Single-entry — up to 90 days; multiple-entry B1 and B3 — up to 1 year, B2 — up to 180 days. The main visa for business visits.
- B4 — international road transport; B5 — ship crews and train crews; B6 — religious events (without missionary activity), up to 90 days.
- B7 — study practice/internship, including under Astana Hub programmes; single-entry up to 90 days, multiple-entry up to 180 days.
- B8 — for arranging permanent residence; B9 — for holders of in-demand professions planning permanent residence.
- B9-1 (Digital Nomad Visa) — an electronic visa for specialists in in-demand professions, up to 1 year.
- B10 — private trip; B11 — adoption; B12 — tourism (up to 90 days).
- B12-1 (Neo Nomad Visa) — for those working remotely with income from abroad. Requirements: a 6-month bank statement showing income above USD 3,000 per month, a tax return from the country of citizenship, a certificate of no criminal record, and medical insurance. Multiple-entry, up to 1 year.
Category C — long-term stay
- C1 — permanent residence for ethnic Kazakhs; C2 — family reunification (multiple-entry up to 1 year).
- Work (C3–C6). C3 — single-entry up to 90 days, multiple-entry up to 3 years (for AIFC participants and Astana Hub employees — up to 5 years); C4 — up to 3 years; C5 — up to 2 years (up to 3 for ethnic Kazakhs); C6 — up to 1 year. Employment usually requires the employer's foreign workforce permit (engaging foreign workforce).
- C7 — missionary activity; C8 — humanitarian/volunteer; C9 — education; C10 — private trip for ethnic Kazakhs; C11 — minors; C12 — medical treatment, up to 180 days.
How B and C visas are obtained — the stages
- Determine the purpose and subcategory — this drives the documents and the term.
- Invitation (for most B and C visas). Some visas (A3, B1, B3, B10, B12, B12-1) can be arranged by citizens of ~48 developed countries without an invitation.
- Approval via vmp.gov.kz.
- Filing — at a foreign mission or electronically (with an e-Visa, entry is only by air).
- For work visas (C3–C6) — a foreign workforce permit is arranged in parallel.
- After entry — registration; for long-term purposes — arranging a TRP/residence permit.
Timelines depend on the subcategory and the foreign mission; an e-Visa is usually faster. Check on vmp.gov.kz.
Related materials: Which visa to choose for business · Category A visas · Immigration: from visa to residence permit.
This material is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules, deadlines and rates change — before acting, verify against primary sources (egov.kz, adilet.zan.kz, vmp.gov.kz) or consult the lawyers of SHANYRAQ Legal.