Skip to main content

Visa and migration issues (for CIS countries)

Students coming from CIS countries receive a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) upon their arrival in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Documents required from a foreign student:

The original of the passport used to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan (which must not expire earlier than 3 months from the date of visa expiry and must contain at least 2 blank pages for visa and stamps);

Dactyloscopy certificate; (Adress: Orynbor 9)

IIN; (Adress: nearest Public Service Center)

Notarised agreement from the landlord for accommodation, in case of not staying in the APEMS hostel (if the agreement is for the student’s parent, a birth certificate will be required);

Residential Address Code (RKA)

Student Visa: C9

The C9 multiple entry visa is issued for one year with the possibility of multiple entries/exits to/from the Republic of Kazakhstan, and is subject to renewal every year.

Visa issuance in the Republic of Kazakhstan:

Documents required from a foreign student:

Original passport used to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan (which must not expire earlier than 3 months from the date of visa expiry and must contain at least 2 blank pages for visa and stamps);

Consular fee (payment for Visa 30 INR to MNU account);

Ethnic Kazakhs are exempt from paying the consular fee. To do this, they need to provide a certificate from the consular service confirming their Kazakh origin.

Completed visa application form with photo;

Dactyloscopy certificate;

RCA code of residential address.

Foreign nationals studying at KNUS under a C9 visa are strictly prohibited from engaging in any form of employment within the Republic of Kazakhstan.
All international students are required to undergo an annual medical examination and submit medical certificate Form 086 along with a chest X-ray report to the Dean’s Office, in accordance with national healthcare regulations.
Upon completing the academic year, students must depart from the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Any loss or replacement of a national passport, as well as changes in contact information, must be reported immediately to the Department of International Cooperation at KNUS.
  1. Upon crossing the state border, foreign citizens must report to the Department of International Cooperation at APEMS on the day of arrival in the Republic of Kazakhstan (including weekends and holidays)
  1. Documents required for passport registration:

For visa-required countries:

  • Passport and a copy of the passport with border crossing and visa stamps
  • Migration card issued at the border
  • Notarized consent from the property owner or a dormitory residency certificate

For visa-exempt countries:

  • Passport and a copy of the passport with border crossing stamps
  • Migration card issued at the border

Enrollment or transfer order;

  • Notarized consent from the property owner or a dormitory residency certificate
  1. The Department of International Cooperation registers passports with the migration police within three working days after each border crossing. The countdown starts at 00:01 on the day of arrival
  1. Foreign citizens must enter Kazakhstan no earlier than the start date of their student visa. If entering with other visa types (e.g., tourist or private), they must leave the country before the start date of the student visa and re-enter on or after its activation
  1. Every foreign citizen must reside at their registered address. Living at a location different from the registered address violates migration laws
  1. The Department of International Cooperation and faculty deans have the right to conduct scheduled and unscheduled inspections of foreign students living in APEMS dormitories. If a student is found living outside their registered address, a report will be filed, and the student may face expulsion for violating migration laws
  1. When changing residences, foreign citizens must provide the Department of International Cooperation with:
  • Original and copy of their passport and visa
  • Copy of the property owner's ID and notarized consent for temporary residence

Only after submitting these documents can they relocate.

  1. If temporarily absent from the dormitory, foreign citizens must notify the Department of International Cooperation in writing about their location and the period of absence, with confirmation from the dormitory warden
  1. Before leaving Kazakhstan during the academic year, foreign citizens must obtain travel authorization

* Leaving the country without notifying the Department of International Cooperation and the faculty dean may result in expulsion from APEMS.

  1. Foreign nationals requiring a C9 student visa must obtain an invitation letter issued through the Department of International Cooperation at APEMS
  1. To apply for an invitation letter for a multiple-entry (over 90 days) or single-entry (under 90 days) C9 visa (education purpose), the following documents must be provided:
  • Copy of the passport
  • Extract from the rector's order on enrollment or transfer
  • Copy of the educational service agreement (if applicable)
  • Completed application form
  • Notarized consent from the property owner or a dormitory residency certificate issued by APEMS (for the temporary residence)
  1. The invitation letter is processed by the Migration Police of Astana within five working days, although the review period may be extended up to 30 days
  1. Visa extensions must be initiated through the Department of International Cooperation at APEMS at least 15 calendar days before the visa expiration date. A student visa can be extended for one year
  1. If the passport is nearing its expiration date, it must be renewed in advance at the consular service department (at least 120 days before the visa expiration)
  1. To extend a student visa, international students must submit the following documents at least 15 days before the visa expiration:
  • Passport (valid for at least three months beyond the visa expiration date)
  • Consular fee
  • Completed visa application form with a photo
  • Fingerprint clearance certificate from the Police Department of Astana
  • RKA code of the registered address
  1. Foreign nationals are required to extend their visa in a timely manner through the Department of International Cooperation at APEMS or leave the Republic of Kazakhstan no later than 10 days before the visa expiration date

Foreign nationals bear personal responsibility for maintaining valid passports and visas.