Kazakhstan Overhauls Foreign Worker Hiring And Travel Sector Rules: Everything Employers Need To Know About The New Regulations

Published on October 6, 2025

Kazakhstan has introduced stricter hiring regulations for foreign workers and the travel industry, with new rules designed to prioritize local employment and control the influx of foreign labor. With immediate effect, employers must now deal with a more complicated process that includes increased local hiring quotas for small businesses, a new online application portal, and a mandatory 15-day labor market test. These adjustments represent a dramatic change in Kazakhstan’s labor and immigration laws as the government works to improve job security for Kazakh citizens and guarantee that foreign talent is only imported when required.

Effective September 1, 2025, Kazakhstan has overhauled its foreign worker hiring process with a series of new rules aimed at safeguarding domestic employment opportunities. Employers now face more rigorous requirements, including a mandatory 15-day labour market test, a centralized online portal for work permit applications, and expanded local hiring quotas. These changes are designed to control the growing influx of foreign workers and prioritize local talent in the workforce.

1. Mandatory Labour Market Test for Foreign Worker Hiring

Under the new regulations, employers in Kazakhstan are no longer permitted to apply directly for work permits for foreign nationals without first completing a mandatory labour market test. This step requires companies to post the job vacancy on Kazakhstan’s Electronic Labour Exchange for a minimum of 15 calendar days in the region where the position is based.

If, after this 15-day period, the employer is unable to find a suitable local candidate, they must include the vacancy registration code in the work permit application and notify the local employment office. This additional step ensures that local workers are given priority for available positions, and foreign workers are only considered when there is a genuine need for their expertise.

Implications for Employers:
This new requirement adds a minimum of 15 days to the hiring process, as employers can only proceed with the work permit application once the labour market test has been completed. Employers should now factor in this extended timeframe when planning for foreign workforce recruitment, ensuring they meet the testing requirements and avoid delays in the process.

2. New Online Platform for Streamlined Work Permit Applications

In line with the updated regulations, Kazakhstan has launched a new government portal called migration.enbek.kz. This platform centralizes the process for work permit applications and renewals, integrating the labour market test requirement into the procedure.

While the older platforms such as egov.kz and elicense.kz remain active, they have not been updated to accommodate the new rules. Employers are strongly encouraged to use the new portal to apply for fresh work permits and renewals, ensuring they are in compliance with the latest requirements.

What Employers Should Know:
The new portal offers a streamlined and digitalized process for employers, making it easier to apply for work permits. However, the shift to an updated platform also means that businesses must familiarize themselves with the new procedures and ensure they are using the correct portal to avoid issues or application delays.

3. Expanded Local Hiring Quotas for Small Businesses

Under previous rules, small businesses in Kazakhstan were exempt from local hiring quotas, regardless of their size. However, the latest changes now require small enterprises to adhere to the same hiring quotas as larger companies once they employ more than 20 staff members.

The new regulations stipulate that small businesses must meet the following quotas for local hiring:

• At least 70% of senior management roles (including heads and deputies) must be held by Kazakh nationals.
• At least 90% of experts and qualified workers in the company must be local employees.

Impact on Small Businesses:
These changes significantly increase the complexity for smaller employers who wish to hire foreign workers. To bring in foreign talent, businesses will now need to adjust their staffing ratios and ensure compliance with local workforce requirements. This adjustment may force small businesses to rethink their hiring strategies and find new ways to balance local and foreign employee representation within their workforce.

4. Why Kazakhstan Is Implementing These Changes

The revised hiring rules are part of Kazakhstan’s broader effort to protect local job markets while addressing the growing demand for foreign labor. The introduction of the labour market test is similar to systems employed by other countries, where employers must demonstrate a genuine need for foreign workers in order to justify hiring them over local candidates.

By placing an emphasis on local hiring, particularly in management and specialized roles, the Kazakh government aims to ensure that foreign workers are filling gaps in the labor market, rather than displacing local talent. Additionally, the introduction of quotas for small businesses reflects the government’s desire to maintain control over the local job market while offering some flexibility for small enterprises.

These reforms represent one of the most significant changes to Kazakhstan’s immigration and labor regulations in recent years, marking a clear shift toward prioritizing local employment while still accommodating the need for foreign expertise.

5. Key Takeaways for Employers

For employers in Kazakhstan, these new regulations mean that hiring foreign workers will no longer be as straightforward as before. Businesses must now account for:

• The 15-day labour market test: Employers must post job vacancies locally and await results before proceeding with a work permit application.
• A new online platform: Employers must navigate the migration.enbek.kz portal for all work permit and renewal applications, ensuring they follow the new procedures.
• Expanded quotas for small businesses: Employers with more than 20 employees must meet local hiring requirements, including a significant percentage of local employees in key roles.

These changes are part of Kazakhstan’s strategy to protect its workforce and maintain a healthy balance between domestic and foreign labor. Employers who are planning to hire foreign nationals must ensure they comply with the updated processes and plan ahead to avoid potential delays in recruitment.

Kazakhstan has implemented stricter hiring rules for foreign workers and the travel industry to prioritize local employment and regulate the influx of foreign labor. These changes aim to ensure that Kazakh nationals have greater access to job opportunities while still accommodating foreign expertise when needed.

Kazakhstan’s new hiring regulations signal a clear effort by the government to prioritize local employment while still accommodating foreign workers where necessary. The introduction of a labour market test, an updated online platform, and expanded hiring quotas for small businesses all contribute to a more controlled immigration and labor environment. Employers will need to adjust their strategies and timelines to comply with these changes, ensuring they meet the necessary requirements for foreign recruitment without facing delays or rejections.