In Brief: How Long You Can Live in Kazakhstan Without a Residence Permit
Citizens of Russia and other EAEU countries without a residence permit or temporary residence permit may stay in Kazakhstan up to 90 days from the date of entry and no more than 90 days in any 180 days. Citizens of countries with 30-day visa-free entry (the US, EU countries, the UK, the UAE, Japan, Korea and others) may stay up to 30 days per entry and also no more than 90 days in 180.
Citizens of Russia and other countries with a visa-free period of up to 90 days must register no later than the 30th day after entry. Staying longer than 90 days requires a temporary residence permit (TRP) or a residence permit. Without a residence permit you can rent an apartment but cannot register one as your property.
How Many Days You Can Stay: the 90-in-180 Rule
Stay periods are set by the Rules of Entry and Stay of Immigrants — Government Resolution No. 148 in the new edition of October 10, 2026 (Resolution No. 890, in force since October 24, 2026).
| Who | Per entry | In total |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan (EAEU) | up to 90 days | 90 days in any 180 |
| Citizens of the US, EU countries, the UK, the UAE, Japan, Korea, Singapore and other countries in para. 24 of the Rules | up to 30 days | 90 days in any 180 |
| Citizens of Turkey | up to 90 days | 90 days in any 180 |
| Citizens of India and Iran | up to 14 days | 42 days in any 180 |
| Citizens of other countries entering visa-free | 30 days unless an agreement provides otherwise | 90 days in any 180 |
| Entered on a visa | visa term | — |
| Holders of a TRP | permit term | the 90-in-180 rule does not apply |
Source: paragraphs 14 and 24 of the Rules of Entry and Stay of Immigrants as amended on 10.10.2026.
How the 90 days are counted. From the day of a check — entry, exit or any other day — 180 days are counted back: within that window you may have no more than 90 days of stay. If the limit is already used up when you arrive, entry is refused. Leaving the country does not reset the count.
Example. A Russian citizen spent 60 days in Kazakhstan — from March 1 to April 29 — and left. Returning on June 1, they may stay until June 30 inclusive: the 180 days before that date then contain exactly 90 days. After that the limit frees up one day for each day that drops out of the 180-day window. To be safe, count the days of entry and exit as days of stay.
Registration Since July 1, 2026: by Day 30
Registration is governed by Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs No. 923 of November 17, 2025, in force since July 1, 2026. Foreigners from countries whose citizens may stay up to 90 days — including citizens of Russia and other EAEU countries — register no later than the 30th calendar day after entry, unless an international treaty provides otherwise.
- The foreigner enters their own details in the migration police information system: full name, date of birth, passport, address and the details of the person providing the accommodation.
- The owner of the accommodation receives a notification in a mobile app and confirms or rejects the registration.
- Once confirmed, a registration certificate with a QR code appears in the foreigner's personal account.
If you move, you must register at the new address within five working days; the old registration is removed automatically. You can register in an apartment, house, dormitory, hotel or sanatorium. Registration is refused if the details are false, the stay period has already been violated or the owner did not confirm the address.
In addition, the host — the apartment owner, hotel or employer — must notify the internal affairs bodies of the foreigner's arrival within three working days (para. 17 of the Rules of Entry and Stay). Under the EAEU Treaty, workers from EAEU countries and their family members are exempt from registration for 30 days from entry.
The QazETA Electronic Entry Permit: from November 1, 2026
The new edition of the Rules introduced an electronic entry permit (ETA) for citizens of EAEU countries, visa-free countries and the countries in para. 24 of the Rules — according to Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, citizens of 85 countries, including the US, EU countries, the UK and Russia. It is issued on the government platform for foreigners QazETA — at qazeta.kz or in the QazETA mobile app, which also handles e-visa applications. According to the Kazakh embassy in Moscow (January 26, 2026), the platform operates in pilot mode.
Apply at least 72 hours before entry; the permit is free and valid for 180 days. At the border you must present the same passport or document you applied with (para. 10 of the Rules): Russian citizens entering on an internal passport should apply with that passport. The permit does not extend your stay — the 30- and 90-day limits still apply — and does not guarantee entry: the Border Service makes the decision.
| From | Where it is checked | Without a permit |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Aktau airport and the Urlyutobe, Aukhatty, Atameken and Nurly Zhol road checkpoints | Entry allowed with an explanation that the permit is required |
| January 1, 2027 | Astana and Almaty airports | Entry allowed with an explanation |
| March 1, 2027 | All other checkpoints | Entry allowed with an explanation |
| July 1, 2027 | All checkpoints | Entry refused |
Source: paragraphs 6–13 of the Rules of Entry and Stay of Immigrants as amended on 10.10.2026; ground for refusal — subpara. 10-3) of Article 48 of the Law "On Population Migration".
The permit is not required for children under 16, people aged 65 and over, holders of a valid Kazakh visa, TRP or residence permit, refugees and several other categories — diplomats, crews, drivers of international freight and bus services.
There is no separate exemption for EAEU citizens. Responding to Russia's Foreign Ministry, which asked how the rules would apply to EAEU citizens, Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry said on October 21, 2026 that detailed information on QazETA had been passed to all 85 countries through diplomatic channels. The Interior Ministry denied reports of a KZT 3,900 or KZT 7,800 fee: the Rules set the fee at zero tenge.
What You Can and Cannot Do Without a Residence Permit
| Action | Without a residence permit | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rent an apartment | Yes | The owner confirms your registration at the address |
| Buy an apartment or house in your name | No | Under Art. 9 of the Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens", temporarily staying foreigners cannot own housing |
| Buy an office, shop or warehouse | Yes | No restrictions based on migration status |
| Get an IIN and open a bank account | Yes | The IIN is issued in person at a Public Service Center (TsON) in Kazakhstan |
| Work | EAEU citizens — yes | Others need permits or a qualification certificate |
| Live more than 90 days in 180 | No | A TRP or residence permit is required |
How to get an IIN: "IIN for Foreigners"; a bank account: "Bank Account for Non-Residents". Legal ways to buy property and the deal procedure: "How to Buy Property in Kazakhstan as a Foreigner"; office and retail yields: Astana commercial property review.
If You Rent Out an Apartment to a Foreigner
An apartment owner with a foreign tenant is the host. They confirm the tenant's registration in the app and are responsible for the internal affairs bodies learning of the foreigner's arrival on time.
- Check the passport and entry date — they show how many days the tenant may stay in the country.
- Confirm the registration when the notification arrives, and ask the tenant to show the registration certificate.
- Fines: an individual who notifies the police late gets a warning; providing housing to a foreigner who has violated the stay period costs 25 MCI (KZT 108,125), or 30 MCI (KZT 129,750) for a repeat within a year. Art. 518 of the Administrative Code.
- Invitations: if a host has been penalized for such violations twice or more within 12 months, their applications to invite foreigners are not considered (Art. 48 of the Law "On Population Migration").
How much renting out an apartment in Astana earns: "Rental Business in Astana".
What Happens If You Overstay
| Violation | Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to leave on time: up to 3 days | Warning | — |
| 3 to 5 days | 10 MCI fine | KZT 43,250 |
| 5 to 10 days | 15 MCI fine | KZT 64,875 |
| More than 10 days | 25 MCI fine or expulsion | KZT 108,125 |
| Working without the required permit | 25 MCI fine, arrest up to 10 days or expulsion | KZT 108,125 |
| Rented housing to an overstayer (individual) | 25 MCI fine | KZT 108,125 |
Articles 517 and 518 of the Code of Administrative Offenses; the 2026 MCI is KZT 4,325.
After a penalty for an overstay, the foreigner must leave within 15 days (para. 14 of the Rules). Expelled persons are banned from entering Kazakhstan for five years, and an unpaid fine from a previous visit is a ground for refusing entry next time (Art. 48 of the Law "On Population Migration").
How to Stay Longer: TRP and Residence Permit
To live in Kazakhstan legally for more than 90 days you need a temporary residence permit (TRP) or a residence permit. A TRP is issued at the request of whoever you came to: an employer, an educational institution, relatives for family reunification, a clinic for inpatient treatment; business immigrants have separate grounds (para. 18 of the Rules). While a residence permit application is under review, a TRP of up to 90 days is issued (para. 19).
For EAEU citizens working under an employment or civil-law contract, the stay period is determined by the term of the contract (EAEU Treaty, as explained by the Eurasian Economic Commission).
How to get a residence permit in 2026 and what you can buy before it: "Kazakhstan Residence Permit and Buying Property"; salaries, rent and districts: "Moving to Astana".
Important: this article is based on the texts of the rules and laws as of November 4, 2026. Migration rules change often — check the current edition on adilet.zan.kz or with the migration service before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a Russian citizen stay in Kazakhstan without a residence permit?
Up to 90 days from the date of entry and no more than 90 days in any 180 days. If you stay longer than 30 days, you must register no later than the 30th day after entry. Longer than 90 days only with a TRP or residence permit.
Can you "reset" the 90 days by leaving and re-entering?
No. The period is counted 180 days back from the day of entry, exit or a check, and leaving does not reset it. If the limit is used up, entry is refused.
Does a Russian citizen need to register in 2026?
Yes, if you stay in Kazakhstan longer than 30 days: since July 1, 2026 you must register no later than the 30th day after entry. The foreigner enters the details; the accommodation owner confirms them in an app.
What is QazETA and how do I apply?
QazETA is Kazakhstan's government platform for foreigners: the electronic entry permit (ETA) and e-visas are issued at qazeta.kz or in the QazETA app. Apply for the permit at least 72 hours before travel; it is free, valid for 180 days, and you must cross the border with the same passport you applied with.
Do I need QazETA to visit Kazakhstan?
Yes, if you are a citizen of a visa-free country — including the US, EU countries, the UK and EAEU members such as Russia. Until July 1, 2027 travelers without it are let in with an explanation; from July 1, 2027 entry without it is refused. Children under 16, people aged 65 and over and holders of a Kazakh visa, TRP or residence permit do not need it.
Can you buy an apartment in Kazakhstan without a residence permit?
You cannot register an apartment or house as your property without a residence permit: under Article 9 of the Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens", temporarily staying foreigners cannot own housing. Commercial property can be bought.
Can you rent an apartment without a residence permit?
Yes. The apartment owner confirms your registration at the address; an owner who rents housing to a foreigner who has violated the stay period faces a 25 MCI fine (KZT 108,125).
What is the fine for overstaying?
Up to 3 days — a warning; 3 to 5 days — 10 MCI (KZT 43,250); 5 to 10 days — 15 MCI (KZT 64,875); more than 10 days — 25 MCI (KZT 108,125) or expulsion with a five-year entry ban.
Can you work in Kazakhstan without a residence permit?
EAEU citizens can: they do not need a work permit, and their stay is determined by the employment contract. Foreigners from other countries need permits or a qualification certificate; working without them means a 25 MCI fine, arrest or expulsion.
Sources
- Government Resolution No. 890 of 10.10.2026: new edition of the Rules of Entry and Stay of Immigrants (in Russian) — adilet.zan.kz
- Government Resolution No. 148 of 21.01.2012: Rules of Entry and Stay of Immigrants (in Russian) — adilet.zan.kz
- Order of the Minister of Internal Affairs No. 923 of 17.11.2025: Rules for Registration of Immigrants (in Russian) — adilet.zan.kz
- Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens", Art. 9 (in Russian) — adilet.zan.kz
- Law "On Population Migration", Art. 48 (in Russian) — adilet.zan.kz
- Code of Administrative Offenses, Arts. 517–518 (in Russian) — adilet.zan.kz
- Eurasian Economic Commission: labor migration in the EAEU, Q&A (in Russian) — eec.eaeunion.org
- Kazakh Embassy in Russia, 26.01.2026: the QazETA pilot digital platform for foreign citizens (in Russian) — gov.kz
- Zakon.kz, 14.10.2026: the electronic entry permit — who needs it and how to apply (in Russian) — zakon.kz
- Tengrinews, 21.10.2026: Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry responds to Russia's request on new entry rules — en.tengrinews.kz
- Kazakhstan Today, 16.10.2026: electronic entry permits for EAEU citizens from July 2027 — kt.kz
- Mybuh.kz, 09.12.2025: MCI, minimum wage and subsistence minimum for 2026 (in Russian) — mybuh.kz