Qualified Self-Employment Visa (C4) in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's C4 visa is the official self-employment route, but it is not an open freelancer visa.

January 2025 snapshot

MFA guidance limits C4 to foreigners seeking independent employment in professions that are in demand in priority sectors of the economy. The applicant needs a certificate of compliance with qualifications for self-employment. Kazakhstan's government service portal separately provides the qualification-certificate process.

Freelancers need to distinguish two situations

A person earning foreign-source remote income without local Kazakhstan employment may fit the Neo Nomad Visa B12-1. A person seeking local independent employment must meet the restricted C4 qualification framework.

Founders carrying on entrepreneurial activity should review C5, not assume C4 applies automatically.

See the Kazakhstan hub, work visas, Asia, methodology, and legal disclaimer.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Kazakhstan