For the owner or director of a company with foreign participation in Kazakhstan, two visa categories usually fit: C5 and C3. The wrong choice affects company registration, employment relations and taxes, so the category is determined before documents are filed.
The difference between C5 and C3
C5 relates to the entrepreneurial activity of a business immigrant, while C3 relates to the work of a foreign employee or manager. The suitable category is determined by the actual purpose.
| Criterion | C5 visa | C3 visa |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Entrepreneurial activity of a business immigrant | Work of an employee or manager |
| Who it fits | Founder, participant, business owner | Director, deputy, foreign specialist |
| Grounds | Setting up, acquiring or running a business | Employment contract with a Kazakhstani company |
Who the C5 visa fits
Support for a foreign entrepreneur for lawful entry, registration or acquisition of a business and further activity in Kazakhstan.
- Foreign nationals from visa-regime countries who plan to set up an LLP or join the participants of a company.
- Entrepreneurs who need to extend their status after registering a business.
- Foreign owners who need a single scheme covering visa, company, director and taxes.
Important
C5 is not a formality. Before the procedure starts, the purpose of entry, the documents of the foreign national and the reality of the planned business have to be checked.
Who the C3 visa fits
Arranging lawful grounds for the work of the first executive, a deputy or another foreign manager in a Kazakhstani company.
- Foreign directors of LLPs with foreign participation.
- Heads of branches and representative offices of foreign companies.
- Companies changing a director or moving a manager to a new migration status.
Does a director need a work permit
No, the law provides for separate cases and exceptions. The answer depends on the ownership structure, the position, the employer and the status of the foreign national.
This is a work permit for employers to bring in foreign labour in the cases provided by law. It is not the same as a work visa and is usually a separate stage.
In what order to act
The sequence depends on citizenship and the chosen grounds. The wrong order can create a risk for registration and further activity, so the route is determined before documents are filed.
I do not simply arrange a visa or a single document: I build a lawful migration and business route for the client, from entry into Kazakhstan to company registration, permits and tax support.
Altynay Marat
Timelines
The timeline depends on the service, the country of filing, the readiness of the documents and the state review. A standard C3 or C5 package we prepare within 5 working days after receiving the full set of documents.
This material is for information only. Every applicant's situation requires an individual review.
Immigration and business lawyer, director SUNNY GOLD Consult LLP. In practice since 2016, member of the Chamber of Legal Consultants since 2019, first-category tax consultant.
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