TRP for a Business Immigrant: Obtaining a Residence Permit and Registering an LLC Turnkey

Opening a company (LLP) in Kazakhstan and relocating to manage a business are two different, albeit related, processes. It's important to understand that registering a legal entity alone does not automatically grant long-term residency. There's a special mechanism for this— business immigrant status —which is regulated differently depending on your citizenship. 
The key document to keep in mind is a temporary residence permit for business immigrants. It's issued for three months and grants the right to establish an LLP or participate in the authorized capital of an existing company. However, if you plan not only to open a business but also to live in Kazakhstan while managing it, you'll need to choose a further legalization path. 
Let's consider two main scenarios: for citizens of EAEU countries and for citizens of visa-required countries (non-EAEU members).

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Scenario 1: Citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan) 
For entrepreneurs from allied countries, the procedure is simplified and does not require preliminary visa procedures. 

Step 1. Entry and Initial Permit. Citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) enter Kazakhstan visa-free. To legally establish an LLP or become a company shareholder, they must obtain a business immigrant temporary residence permit (TRP) for three months. This permit is issued directly in Kazakhstan and serves as the basis for registering a legal entity or amending the founders. 

Step 2. Further Legalization (if required to live and work). The three-month business immigrant status is a stepping stone. If you plan to permanently reside in Kazakhstan and personally manage the company, you have two options for extending/changing your status:

1. Employment in your own limited liability company. You can sign an employment contract with your own company (for example, for a director position) and, based on it, obtain a temporary residence permit for the duration of the employment contract. This is the standard route for those who want to work as an employee in their own business. Advantage: EAEU citizens do not need to obtain a separate permit to employ foreign workers (IRS).
2. Extending your business immigrant status. If for some reason an employment contract cannot be formalized, you can extend your business immigrant status. However, this option usually requires proof of business activity and is also time-limited.
   
   

Important: If your goal is only to open a limited liability company and not to reside in Kazakhstan, obtaining a business immigrant temporary residence permit is not necessary. Simply enter the country visa-free, register your company, and then leave. However, long-term residence and employment require this status.

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Scenario 2: Third-Country Nationals (Visa States) 
For entrepreneurs from countries outside the EAEU, the path is more complex and requires preliminary preparation in their home country. 

Step 1. Obtaining a C5 (Business Immigrant) Visa. Before flying to Kazakhstan, you must contact the embassy or consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in your country to obtain a C5 (Business Immigrant) visa. This visa is issued based on the approval of the local akimat (government office) and grants the right to enter the country for the purpose of establishing or participating in an LLP. 

Step 2. LLP Registration and 3-Month Status. After entering on a C5 visa, you, like citizens of the EAEU, receive a business immigrant temporary residence permit for 3 months. During this period, you are required to register the LLP and contribute authorized capital in the amount of at least 100 MCI (a requirement for visa immigrants). 

Step 3. Choosing a Path to Residence and Work. If you intend to remain in Kazakhstan after registering your company, you also have two options, but with some nuances:

1. Employment in your LLP (C3 visa). To become a director and work as an employee, you will no longer need a business visa, but a C3 work visa. To do this, your LLP must obtain a permit to attract foreign labor (IRS), after which you can apply for a C3 visa and a temporary residence permit for the duration of your employment contract.
2. Extending Business Immigrant Status (C5 Visa). You can extend your C5 visa and the corresponding business immigrant status if you continue to engage in entrepreneurial activity but are not employed. This also requires proof and compliance with the conditions.
   
   

Summary for visa holders: To open a limited liability partnership (LLP), you must obtain a C5 visa in advance. For residence and work, you can either extend your C5 visa (business route) or switch to a C3 work visa (employee of your own company). The second option is often more stable for long-term residency, but requires obtaining a work permit.

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Comparative Table: Two Approaches to Business Immigration

Criterion	EAEU Citizens	Third Country Citizens
Entry document for establishing an LLP	Visa-free regime	C5 Business Immigrant Visa (obtained in advance)
Initial status in the Republic of Kazakhstan	Business immigrant TRP for 3 months	Business immigrant TRP for 3 months
Mandatory authorized capital	Minimum (not required for status)	At least 100 MCI (mandatory)
Path for working as a director	Employment contract → TRP based on it (without work permit)	C3 Work Visa + work permit (IPS)
Path for continuing business without hiring	Extension of business immigrant status	Extension of C5 visa (business immigrant)
Need for status for simple LLP registration (without residence)	Not required (visa-free entry is sufficient)	C5 visa required (since there is no visa-free regime)

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Conclusions for Entrepreneurs

1. If you are from the EAEU and want to live in Kazakhstan while managing a business: your path is to obtain 3-month business immigrant status, register an LLP, then conclude an employment contract and obtain a TRP as an employee. This is simple and does not require additional permits.
2. If you are from a visa country and want to live in Kazakhstan: first obtain a C5 visa, then upon arrival — 3-month business immigrant status, register an LLP with an authorized capital of at least 100 MCI, and after that choose: either extend the C5 visa, or obtain a work permit and a C3 visa for employment.
3. If your goal is only to open an LLP, and you plan to live and work in another country: EAEU citizens do not need a visa; citizens of third countries will require a C5 visa to enter for the purpose of establishing a company.
   
   

Understanding these nuances will allow you to avoid mistakes and choose the optimal route for legalization in Kazakhstan.

The legalization process for a business immigrant in Kazakhstan resembles assembling a construction set: sequence is important here. You cannot register a company without having a TRP in hand, and you cannot obtain a TRP without undergoing medical procedures. An error at one stage nullifies all previous efforts.

Below is the optimal algorithm of actions for an EAEU citizen (Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan) who plans not only to open an LLP but also to move to Kazakhstan to manage the business.

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Stage 1. Entry and Primary Registration (First 3 Days)
Everything begins with crossing the border. You have 90 days of visa-free stay, but the first 3 business days are critically important for migration registration.

• Action: The receiving party (the property owner where you are staying, or the hotel) is obliged to register your arrival.
• Tool: Registration takes place through the e-Qonaq portal.
• Result: You receive legal temporary stay status. Without this registration, further steps at PSCs will be impossible.
  

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Stage 2. Obtaining an IIN (Digital Identifier)
Without an IIN, you are just a tourist in Kazakhstan. This number is needed for everything: from buying a SIM card to registering a company.

• Action: Contact any PSC (Public Service Center) with your passport.
• Processing time: The service is provided quickly, often on the day of application.
• Result: A certificate with the assigned Individual Identification Number. From this moment, you become "visible" to the state systems of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  

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Stage 3. Medical Checklist
To obtain a TRP, the state must ensure that you do not pose a threat to the health of others.

• Action 1: Undergo a medical examination at an accredited institution to obtain a certificate in Form 028/у.
  
  • Nuance: EAEU citizens do not need medical insurance for a TRP, but the 028/у certificate is mandatory.
    
• Action 2 (optional for EAEU, but recommended): Take out a medical insurance policy. Although for Union citizens this is not among the mandatory requirements for a TRP, having insurance will protect you from unforeseen expenses.
  

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Stage 4. Fingerprinting (Mandatory Procedure)
Since 2024, fingerprinting has become a mandatory condition for obtaining a temporary residence permit.

• Action: Visit the district migration service (police) department at your place of residence.
• Result: Issuance of a certificate confirming fingerprint registration. This document will be included in the package for submitting a TRP application.
  

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Stage 5. Submitting an Application for a Business Immigrant TRP
Now that you are "digitized" (IIN), healthy (certificate), and identified (fingerprinting), you can petition for status.

• Important point: At this stage, you do not yet have an LLP. Therefore, the "receiving party" in the application is not a company, but either yourself (if you have a rental agreement for housing), or the property owner, or a lawyer acting on your behalf.
• Action: Submit an application through a PSC or the eGov.kz portal (depending on how the submission is organized — through the owner or independently).
• Processing time: 1 business day. Often a decision arrives by SMS within a few hours.
• Result: You receive business immigrant status (TRP). This permit confirms that you can legally stay in the country for the purpose of engaging in entrepreneurial activity.
  

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Stage 6. Registration of the LLP
Only after receiving the TRP do you have the right to submit documents for the creation of a legal entity.

• Action: Submit an electronic application for LLP registration through the eGov.kz portal.
• Necessary tool: To sign the application, you will need an EDS (electronic digital signature). It can be obtained at a PSC after receiving an IIN.
• Registration period: Up to 3 business days.
• Result: A certificate of state registration of a legal entity. You are now a founder of a Kazakhstani company.
  

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Stage 7. Opening a Bank Account
Without a settlement account, an LLP exists only on paper. It is necessary for conducting business activities.

• Action: Personally visit the chosen bank (practically all banks in Kazakhstan require the physical presence of the first head).
• What to bring: Passport, LLP registration documents, your TRP.
• Result: An opened settlement account. The company is ready to operate.
  

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Summary: What You Get in the End
Having completed this chain of 7 steps, you move from the status of "foreigner" to the status of "business immigrant and entrepreneur":

1. Legally: You are the founder and (potentially) director of a legally operating LLP in Kazakhstan.
2. Migration-wise: You have a valid TRP, which allows you to live in the country (with the right of further extension).
3. Financially: You have access to the banking system of the Republic of Kazakhstan for doing business.
   

The main rule: Do not try to speed up the process by swapping steps. Attempting to register an LLP before obtaining a TRP will result in a refusal of registration. Sequence is the key to success.

Short answer: no, fully remote registration for a foreigner is impossible. Kazakhstan is actively developing electronic services, but for founder-non-residents, the law requires personal completion of several key procedures. Electronic registration is available only to citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and persons with a residence permit.

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Why "Remote" Doesn't Work: Three Mandatory Visits
Kazakhstani migration and banking legislation are designed to unambiguously identify the identity of a foreigner. Here are the stages that cannot be delegated or performed online from abroad.
1. Obtaining an IIN (Individual Identification Number)
This is the digital "key" to all government services.

• Theoretical alternative: Submitting documents through a Kazakhstani consulate abroad.
• Practical reality: The consular procedure can stretch over several months due to interdepartmental document flow.
• Solution: Fly to Kazakhstan and obtain an IIN within 1 day at any PSC. Fast, reliable, and immediately provides access to the eGov.kz portal.
  

2. Undergoing a Medical Examination (Certificate 028/у) and Fingerprinting
These are mandatory conditions for obtaining a TRP (Temporary Residence Permit), which, in turn, is necessary for LLP registration.

• Medical examination: You need to personally visit an accredited clinic in Kazakhstan, undergo tests, and have a fluorography.
• Fingerprinting: Fingerprint submission is conducted only upon personal appearance at the migration police. "Rolling your fingers" remotely is impossible.
  

3. Opening a Settlement Account at a Bank
Even if you somehow miraculously manage to register an LLP online, without an account the company is dead.

• Bank requirement: Financial institutions of Kazakhstan (especially after the strengthening of AML control) require the physical presence of the first head or foreign founder for identification. They verify the passport, sign the signature card, and often ask questions about the origin of funds.
• Nuance: Signing of constituent documents in the presence of a notary or registrar also requires personal appearance.
  

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Timeframes and Optimal Strategy
If you plan to open an LLP and subsequently live in Kazakhstan, allocate a minimum of 8–10 business days for the first trip. This time is sufficient to:

1. Obtain an IIN (1 day).
2. Undergo a medical examination and fingerprinting (2–3 days, considering appointments and certificate readiness).
3. Submit documents and obtain a business immigrant TRP (1–2 days, considering waiting time).
4. Register the LLP through eGov.kz (up to 3 business days).
5. Personally visit a bank and open an account (1 day).
   
   

Important: Do not attempt to register an LLP before obtaining a TRP. The eGov.kz system, when receiving an application from a foreigner, checks for the existence of a valid temporary residence permit. Without it, an automatic refusal will follow.

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What Can Be Done Remotely (and What to Do Before the Trip)
Although final registration requires personal presence, preparatory work can and should be done in advance:

• Choose an LLP name and check its uniqueness through the egov.kz service.
• Decide on types of activities (OKED codes) and tax regime.
• Reserve a legal address (conclude a preliminary lease agreement or arrangements with the property owner).
• Prepare constituent documents in Russian or Kazakh, so that at the PSC you only need to sign them with an electronic signature.
• And a number of other corporate and tax actions.
  

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Conclusion
Opening an LLP in Kazakhstan without ever visiting the country is impossible in 2026. The law requires physical identification of the foreigner for an IIN, medical certificate, fingerprinting, and a bank account.

However, with proper planning, you can fit everything into one short business trip (8–10 days) and return home with a ready-made company and an open account. Everything else — financial management, filing reports, signing contracts — can be done remotely, with access to internet banking and an electronic digital signature (EDS).

State 1: Absolute Rest (The Law Has No Retroactive Effect)
If your LLP was registered in 2022, and since that moment:

• The composition of founders has not changed.
• The director has not changed.
• The charter, name, or legal address has not changed.
• You have not carried out any registration actions.
  
  

Then no one can or will require you to obtain a business immigrant TRP. The tax authority will not deregister you, the migration service will not come with a search solely on the grounds that the company is "old." The state recognizes that at the time of creating the company, you acted under the old rules, and your right to own a business without a TRP is an acquired right.
One might say: The law looks to the future, not the past. Your past (registration in 2022) is clean.

State 2: Movement (Re-registration as a Trigger)
But business is not a frozen form. Sooner or later, a need arises to:

• Sell a share or accept a new partner.
• Change a tired director.
• Change the name during rebranding.
• Expand OKED codes by including them in the charter.
  
  

And here, the main legal nuance comes into force: Re-registration does not extend the past; it creates a new present.
When you submit documents for re-registration, the state looks at you not as a "seasoned founder," but as a foreigner who is NOW performing a legal action with a share in the authorized capital.
And under the 2024 law (currently in force), a foreigner who NOW participates in the authorized capital (confirms a share, changes company parameters) is required to have a business immigrant TRP.

What Happens at the Moment of Submitting Documents?
Imagine you decide to change the director. You go to a PSC. The system checks the data:

1. The company exists (ok, 2022).
2. The founder is a foreigner (ok).
3. Does the foreigner have a TRP? No.
   
   

The system does not know and does not want to know that the company is old. It is guided by the current law: "Participation of a foreigner in the authorized capital without a TRP is impossible." You receive a refusal. Your "acquired right" does not work at the moment of active actions because you are trying to exercise this right already under new rules of the game.

Why Is It Important to Understand This?
Because many think: "I'm not changing anything, so this doesn't concern me." This is true as long as you are in "sleep mode." But as soon as a need for development arises (change of director, sale, attracting a partner), you run into a wall.

This creates a paradox:

• To sell a business (a transaction), you need a TRP.
• To hire a new director (development), you need a TRP.
• To simply change the name (rebranding), you need a TRP.
  

Final Verdict
You do not need to obtain a business immigrant TRP now if you are willing to freeze the company in its current state forever.
But if you plan any changes that require a visit to the PSC for re-registration, be prepared for the fact that the absence of a TRP will become an insurmountable obstacle. At that moment, the retroactive effect of the law ceases to protect you, and you are obliged to comply with the current rules of the game.

Short answer: Yes, this is not just a theory, but a real scenario. If a foreigner registered an LLP without having legal status at that time (C5 visa for third-country citizens or business immigrant TRP for EAEU citizens), the tax authority has the right to file a lawsuit with the court to declare the company's registration invalid. Satisfaction of such a claim leads to the forced liquidation of the legal entity.

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Why Has This Become Possible?
Until May 2024, there was a gap in the legislation: foreigners (including EAEU citizens) could register an LLP while in Kazakhstan on a visa-free basis. After the introduction of the rule "first status, then business," the state began synchronizing databases. Now any registration authority and tax service see the chronology of events:

1. Date of foreigner's entry.
2. Date of obtaining IIN.
3. Date of LLP registration.
4. Date of obtaining TRP.
   
   

If the company appeared in the database earlier than the founder obtained legal status (TRP/C5 visa), this constitutes a violation of migration legislation committed during the creation of the legal entity. And since the legal entity was created in violation of the law, its registration may be challenged.

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Who Can Initiate Liquidation and How?
The main threats come from two structures:

1. Justice authorities (registrars). They may identify a discrepancy during a scheduled reconciliation or when submitting any registration changes (change of director, address, increase of authorized capital). If the system shows that at the time of creation of the LLP, the founder did not have a TRP, registration of the changes will be refused and the materials will be transferred to court.T
2. Tax authority. The most dangerous scenario. The tax authority may:
   
   • Deregister the LLP for VAT. This blocks work with large counterparties.
   • File a lawsuit in court for liquidation. The basis is the creation of a company in violation of legislation, which makes the activity fictitious.
     

Important nuance: The tax authority is not obliged to warn you. An inspection can begin at any time, for example, when requesting a VAT refund or when opening a second account.