Can You Get a Residence Permit by Buying an Apartment?
No. In Kazakhstan buying an apartment or a house is not a ground for a residence permit. It works the other way round: to register housing in their name, a foreigner needs a residence permit first — Article 9 of the Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners" does not allow temporarily staying foreigners to own housing.
Without a residence permit a foreigner can buy non-residential (commercial) property or buy through a legal entity registered in Kazakhstan. Deal details: "How a Foreigner Can Buy Property in Kazakhstan".
The popular "buy an apartment, get residency" formula belongs to other countries. Kazakhstan offers investors a separate track, but it is tied to investments in company capital and securities, not to buying a home for yourself.
Temporary Residence Permit vs Residence Permit
| RVP (temporary residence permit) | VNZh (residence permit) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Temporarily residing foreigner | Permanently residing foreigner |
| Grounds | Work, business, study, medical treatment, family reunification | 2026 pilot requirements or special tracks (e.g. investor) |
| Where to apply | Migration service or the eGov portal | Migration service under the established procedure |
| Buying housing in your name | Not in practice | Yes, housing rights on a par with citizens |
Based on mybuh.kz and the law. A work-based RVP is tied to the term of the employment contract.
An RVP solves lawful stay beyond the visa-free period. Citizens of Russia and other EAEU countries may stay in Kazakhstan without obtaining a status for up to 90 days within 180 days; after that an RVP or a residence permit is required. Overstays are punished with fines and deportation (Art. 517 of the Administrative Code).
Residence Permit Rules in 2026
Until December 31, 2026 a pilot project applies that has made residence permits noticeably harder to get. Requirements, as reported by Tengrinews (09.07.2026):
- KAZTEST — at least 70% in each section: reading, listening, writing, vocabulary and grammar.
- Money in an account — at least 1,320 MCI (about KZT 5.7 million), confirmed every year for five years after obtaining the permit.
- Living in a region — at least a year in East Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar or North Kazakhstan region. For most applicants this means the path cannot start from Astana or Almaty.
- Immigration potential — education, work experience, languages and in-demand professions are assessed.
Who is exempt from the regional requirement: minors, investors, foreigners with in-demand professions and people who made a significant contribution to the economy (on a government agency's petition). According to Tengrinews, kandas (ethnic Kazakh returnees) are not exempt from the pilot requirements.
The pilot runs until the end of 2026, so check the current rules on egov.kz before applying — requirements may be adjusted after it ends.
The Investor Track: Visa and a Residence Permit of up to 10 Years
Kazakhstan offers foreign investors a separate route. According to Kazakh Invest (30.04.2025), investing at least USD 300,000 in the charter capital of Kazakh companies or in local securities qualifies for an investor visa and a residence permit of up to 10 years; the petition is filed electronically.
For companies registered at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), according to Kursiv (19.08.2025), USD 60,000 in capital gives an investor visa of up to 5 years, and USD 300,000 gives a residence permit.
An apartment for yourself is not an investment for residency purposes. The track is tied to company capital and securities. If you see offers of "a residence permit for buying an apartment in Astana", have them checked by a lawyer.
Step-by-Step Plan: From Arrival to Buying an Apartment
- Entry. Check your visa-free period: for EAEU citizens — up to 90 days within 180 days.
- IIN. Get it at a Public Service Center in Kazakhstan — you need it for work, banking and deals. Details: "IIN for Foreigners".
- A ground for an RVP. Work, business, study or family — obtain an RVP before the visa-free period ends.
- Housing meanwhile. Rent an apartment; price benchmarks are in the Astana price index.
- Residence permit. Apply under the pilot requirements or through the investor track.
- Purchase. With a residence permit, register the apartment in your name under the standard procedure and plan ahead for tax on a future sale.
What You Can Buy Before Getting a Residence Permit
- Commercial property — offices, retail units, warehouses: no migration-status restrictions. Segment review: Astana commercial real estate.
- Property owned by a Kazakh legal entity — with accounting, corporate taxes and legal support.
- For CIS citizens there are no separate exceptions — see "Property in Kazakhstan for CIS Citizens".
Frequently Asked Questions
Does buying property in Kazakhstan give a residence permit?
No. Buying an apartment or a house is not a ground for a residence permit. The investor residence permit of up to 10 years is tied to investing at least USD 300,000 in the charter capital of Kazakh companies or local securities.
Can I buy an apartment with a temporary residence permit (RVP)?
In practice, no: a residence permit is required to register housing to an individual. With an RVP you can buy non-residential property or buy through a Kazakh legal entity.
What are the residence permit requirements in Kazakhstan in 2026?
Under the pilot project until 31.12.2026: KAZTEST of at least 70% in each section, at least 1,320 MCI (about KZT 5.7 million) in an account every year for five years, and at least a year of residence in East Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar or North Kazakhstan region. Minors, investors and in-demand specialists, among others, are exempt from the regional requirement.
Can I get a residence permit while living in Astana?
For most applicants the 2026 pilot rules require living for at least a year in one of four regions first, so Astana and Almaty are effectively closed as a starting point. Exceptions apply to investors, in-demand specialists and some other categories.
How much do I need to invest for an investor residence permit?
At least USD 300,000 in the charter capital of Kazakh companies or local securities — this qualifies for an investor visa and a residence permit of up to 10 years.
Sources
- Tengrinews, 09.07.2026: tighter residence permit rules (in Russian) — tengrinews.kz
- Kazakh Invest, 30.04.2025: 10-year residence permit for investors (in Russian) — invest.gov.kz
- Kursiv, 19.08.2025: investor visa and residence via AIFC (in Russian) — kz.kursiv.media
- Mybuh.kz: temporary residence permits and stay limits (in Russian) — mybuh.kz
- eGov: temporary residence permit service (in Russian) — egov.kz
- Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners" (in Russian) — adilet.zan.kz