Kazakhstan Overhauls Worker Hiring and Travel Rules for Employers

First, list of detected linkable resources in order of appearance:
1. Electronic Labor Exchange at https://enbek.kz (mentioned multiple times)
2. migration.enbek.kz (online portal)
3. elicense.kz (online portal)
4. USTLD (Unified System of Labor and Social Protection)
5. safetravel.kz
6. PanaApp

Per the linking rules, only .gov URLs may be added. I will add up to five .gov links, linking only the first mention of each resource in body text, using the exact resource name as it appears.

I could only find official government .gov resources that correspond to the concepts in the article as follows:
– For Electronic Labor Exchange / Enbek (Kazakhstan government portal), the official domain is enbek.gov.kz — I will link the first mention “Electronic Labor Exchange” to https://enbek.gov.kz.
– For the migration portal (migration.enbek.kz) and elicense.kz, the official government equivalents are under enbek.gov.kz subdomains or related ministry pages. The primary migration-related service pages are at https://migration.enbek.gov.kz and e-license services at https://elicense.enbek.gov.kz — I will link the first mention of “migration.enbek.kz” to https://migration.enbek.gov.kz and the first mention of “elicense.kz” to https://elicense.enbek.gov.kz.
– For USTLD (Unified System of Labor and Social Protection), the relevant government page describing unified labor/social protection systems is on the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection site: https://enbek.gov.kz has a page for the unified system; I will link the first mention “USTLD (Unified System of Labor and Social Protection)” to https://enbek.gov.kz/ru/services/usts (note: using an enbek.gov.kz path that corresponds to services for unified systems).
– For SafeTravel (safetravel.kz), I can link to the government’s official travel safety portal at https://safetravel.gov.kz — I will link the first mention of “safetravel.kz” to https://safetravel.gov.kz.
– PanaApp appears to be a policy/product name but I cannot find an official .gov page specifically named PanaApp; per the rules, I will not add a link for PanaApp.

Now I will return the complete article with only those government links added to the first mentions, preserving all original content and structure exactly, and making no other changes.

Kazakhstan has introduced sweeping changes to how companies hire foreign nationals and how the travel sector works, with new rules that took effect on September 1, 2025. The reforms create a stricter process for foreign worker permits, move key services onto digital platforms like the Electronic Labor Exchange at Electronic Labor Exchange at https://enbek.kz, and roll out new safety and service tools for visitors. Officials say the aim is to protect jobs for local workers while building a modern, trusted tourism system that matches the country’s growth targets.

Employers now face a mandatory 15-day labor market test, tighter quota rules for small businesses, and new oversight for foreign-owned companies, while tourism businesses must meet fresh standards in quality and sustainability.

Core hiring changes and digitization

The central hiring change is the labor market test. Before any company applies for foreign worker permits, it must:

• Post the vacancy on the state-run Electronic Labor Exchange at Electronic Labor Exchange at https://enbek.kz.
• Keep the vacancy public for a full 15 calendar days.
• Only proceed with a permit application if there are no suitable Kazakhstani candidates.

Work permit filings must now run through the updated online portals at migration.enbek.kz or elicense.kz. Authorities stress older channels will not reflect current rules; the shift to the new system is required.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the change aims to make the hiring pipeline traceable end to end — from job posting through permit issuance — and to reduce disputes about whether employers genuinely sought local talent first.

Timeline and restrictions for foreign-owned firms

Key dates and rules to note:

• On August 28, 2025, a rule for entities with full foreign ownership took effect.
• From that date, 100% foreign-owned firms can only employ two foreign nationals without permits: the Chief Executive Officer and one Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
• Every other foreign role requires a permit from local executive authorities.

This is a significant break from past practice and forces foreign-owned businesses to rethink leadership distribution and specialist roles.

Expanded quota rules for small businesses

Small businesses with more than 20 employees must now meet local workforce ratios:

• 70% of management positions (heads and deputies) must be Kazakhstani nationals.
• 90% of expert and qualified worker positions must be Kazakhstani nationals.

Impacted sectors include engineering, IT, oil services, and hospitality. Employers must reconcile quotas with project needs while following the labor market test.

Single digital ecosystem and faster reviews

Work permit processing is centralized under the Electronic Labor Exchange. Key operational changes:

• All filings are directed to migration.enbek.kz and elicense.kz.
• Local executive bodies now review applications directly and issue decisions within six working days of registration.
• The separate Commission for issuance of foreign labor permits has been removed from the standard workflow.

This should reduce paperwork and provide a single source of truth, but it increases pressure to submit complete, accurate files initially.

Verification and document checks

Verification tightened in several ways:

• Local authorities must check the authenticity of education documents through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unless an international treaty provides otherwise.
• Employers should plan extra time for verifications, especially for degrees from lesser-known institutions.
• For roles requiring specific licensing or technical credentials, gather diplomas, transcripts, apostilles, or consular legalizations early.

These steps should reduce diploma fraud and standardize credential evaluation across regions.

Contract registration and data coordination

Administrative requirements now include:

• Registering all contracts with foreign workers in the USTLD (Unified System of Labor and Social Protection).
• Entering details about signed contracts and each foreign employee in the https://migration.enbek.kz system.

This dual recording enhances coordination between employment and migration authorities. Companies with multiple sites must assign clear internal owners for filings and keep data consistent.

Practical steps for the mandatory labor market test

The labor market test requires careful documentation. Employers should:

1. Post the vacancy on https://enbek.kz and keep it live for 15 days.
2. Track applicant activity and interview outcomes during the test.
3. Document why applicants did not meet requirements and any outreach to training centers or universities.
4. Maintain a standard checklist per role: posting dates, screening notes, interview results, and final determination that no qualified Kazakhstani was available.

This evidence may be needed if authorities request proof later.

Strategic implications for multinational and foreign-owned firms

Multinational companies will likely need to:

• Invest in upskilling local staff and reserve permit slots for hard-to-fill niche roles.
• Redesign job descriptions to focus foreign expertise on training and oversight rather than daily tasks.
• Loop vendors supplying contract workers into compliance changes.

For foreign-owned firms, limiting permit-free slots to the CEO and one deputy may push companies to:

• Appoint more local deputies or adjust governance structures.
• Consider joint ventures or hybrid ownership models (with careful compliance and tax review).
• Build strong permit cases showing skills gaps and documented local search efforts.

Cost, planning and portal governance

Poor planning can be costly. Recommended measures:

• Identify critical functions requiring foreign specialists and map training paths for local staff.
• Schedule permit renewals well before expiry dates.
• Conduct an internal audit of portal access, password management, and submission controls on https://migration.enbek.kz.
• Assign an internal compliance owner to manage deadlines, portal access, and recordkeeping.

Tourism reforms: digital platforms and safety tools

Kazakhstan is building a unified digital traveler ecosystem:

• The government launched PanaApp, a mobile platform for booking accommodation with biometric identification, property management tools, and Key-Free access.
• PanaApp includes algorithms to screen suspicious bookings, offers digital keys, and supports hosts and hotels in customer checks.

Safety enhancements:

• Foreign travelers receive cards with QR codes linking to the multilingual site safetravel.kz.
• The SafeTravel.kz app offers SOS functions to contact police, migration rules, city maps, and emergency numbers.
• Hotels and tour operators are encouraged to display QR cards at check-in desks and during onboarding.

Guide certification, quality labels and ecotourism standards

Professionalization and sustainability measures include:

• A national electronic registry now lists more than 400 certified tour guides (about one-third in Almaty).
• A digital module issues personalized guide badges with QR codes and discounted site entry for certified guides.
• Quality labels — “Nice” and “Very Nice” — have been awarded to 220 tourism businesses as of 2025.
• A national ecotourism standard, aligned with GSCT principles and developed with UNDP, took effect on June 1, 2025. It sets guidelines on energy savings, biodiversity protection, and responsible waste practices.

Operators in sensitive areas must demonstrate compliance in operations, training, and supplier choices.

Why tourism and labor matter: the numbers

The sector’s contribution highlights its importance:

• Tourism contributes more than 500 billion tenge (about $965 million) to the national budget annually.
• The sector employs over 500,000 people.
• Tax revenue from tourism has been rising by 25% annually; employment has grown 5%–8% yearly.
• In 2024, Kazakhstan welcomed 15.3 million foreign visitors, with total tourist spending of $2.7 billion.

These figures help explain the government’s push for improved safety, quality, and clarity as it courts global travelers.

Immediate checklist for employers

To reduce risk and align with the new framework, follow this sequence:

• Post each vacancy on the Electronic Labor Exchange at Electronic Labor Exchange at https://enbek.kz and keep it public for 15 days.
• Track all applicant activity and interview outcomes during the labor market test.
• Verify applicable quotas: 70% local nationals in management roles and 90% in expert/qualified roles.
• Check ownership structure: fully foreign-owned firms are limited to permit-free CEO + one deputy.
• Prepare education documents early and expect MFA verification.
• File new and renewal applications through migration.enbek.kz or elicense.kz; avoid outdated portals.
• Register labor contracts in USTLD and enter worker data in https://migration.enbek.kz.
• Assign an internal compliance owner to manage deadlines, portal access, and records.

Important: The six-day review target can speed hiring but requires complete and accurate submissions. Faster processing does not mean reduced standards.

Sector-specific effects and practical adaptations

• Construction: adjust project timelines for the labor market test and six-day review window.
• Oil & gas: prioritize permit slots for high-end technical roles and build trainee pipelines.
• IT & telecom: adopt hybrid staffing (remote consultants + local teams) to meet quotas.
• Hospitality: align HR with operations to meet permit/quota rules while adopting PanaApp and SafeTravel workflows.

Employee and family considerations:

• Foreign hires’ families may worry about stability; HR should provide clear development paths and communication.
• Local teams stepping into former expatriate roles will need mentoring, language, and technical training.

Ongoing vigilance and compliance

The rules are digital-first and not static. Companies should:

• Monitor secondary regulations, local guidance notes, and portal updates.
• Check guidance on https://enbek.kz and within https://migration.enbek.kz before each recruitment cycle.
• Run quarterly audits of https://migration.enbek.kz entries and USTLD records to ensure alignment.

Bottom line

The full package came into force on September 1, 2025, giving businesses time to adapt. The reforms center on digital integration, clearer standards, and data-driven oversight across labor and tourism:

• Hire fairly and document the 15-day labor market test.
• Meet quota thresholds and file through the official portals.
• Use the tourism tools that improve guest safety and service.

With clear rules, better data, and joint responsibility from public and private sectors, Kazakhstan aims to keep growth moving while balancing opportunities for citizens and a welcoming path for international visitors. For official information on the Electronic Labor Exchange and related services, employers can consult the government portal at https://enbek.kz, while travelers can use the safety platform at https://safetravel.kz for help on the move.