Kazakhstan has unveiled a pilot «Digital Nomad Residency» project that opens up new opportunities for foreign IT professionals. The project aims to attract global IT talent to work and live in the country and become part of its rapidly developing digital economy.

The Digital Nomad Residency program is designed to attract foreign IT professionals. It offers a simplified way to obtain permanent residence permit in Kazakhstan.

Subject to the availability of an individual identification number (IIN) and a digital signature (DS), a foreign IT specialist submits an application on the Astana Hub portal in order to receive a petition from a government agency on compliance with the list of required professions. The candidate submits a copy of his/her passport, CV, portfolio, letter of motivation, criminal record certificate and a 3.5*4.5 colour photo. As a result, the candidate receives a petition from the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan confirming his or her qualifications and status as an IT specialist. To obtain prior approval for a permanent residence permit, the foreign IT specialist must then register the service on the eGov.kz portal.

To get the service, the user needs to:

• log in to the eGov.kz portal and go to the «For Citizenry» - «Citizenship, migration and immigration» – «For foreigners: entrance to the Republic of Kazakhstan and citizenship» section;
• select the service «Issuance of permit to foreign IT specialists for permanent residence in the Republic of Kazakhstan» and click «Request Online» button;
• select the Migration Police Department;
• attach a copy of the passport (the validity of the passport on the day of application must be more than 180 calendar days), with a translation certified by the Consul of the Foreign Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a digital photo size 35x45 mm;
• attach the MDDIAI petition on compliance with the list of required professions;
• attach a legalized document issued by the competent authority of the country of citizenship and/or permanent residence certifying that you have no criminal record in the country of citizenship and/or permanent residence and click «Next»;
• fill-in the required fields;
• - sign the service using a DS;
• download and familiarize with the application;
• grant your consent to the use of information that constitutes a legally protected secret contained in the information systems;
• attach the uploaded and completed application form;
• submit a request;
• service delivery result will be available in the personal account – «History of Services Received»

The application review period is 45 calendar days. After that, specialists can come to Kazakhstan and complete the registration process at the offices of the Citizen Service Center.

For more information, visit the official Astana Hub website.

The project was implemented thanks to the joint work of the Public Services Committee under the MDDIAI RK, Artificial Intelligence and Innovations Development Committee under the MDDIAI RK, National Information Technologies JSC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Migration Service Committee under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Security Committee and the autonomous cluster fund «Park of Innovative Technologies».