number of legitimate foreign workers in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is witnessing a surge in foreign labor and an influx of international IT companies, as reported by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. As of July 1, more than 16,000 foreigners are legally employed in Kazakhstan, a number that has increased since the previous report.
The countries with the highest number of labor migrants in Kazakhstan are China, Turkey, India, Uzbekistan, and the United Kingdom. The number of Chinese, Turkish, Indian, and British labor migrants has increased since the previous report, with China leading the pack at 3,587, followed by Turkey with 1,820, India with 1,691, Uzbekistan with 1,563, and the United Kingdom with 1,123.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population sets and distributes quotas for attracting foreign specialists annually. This year, the quota was issued in the following categories: managers and their deputies - 603, heads of structural units - 3,131, specialists - 7,970, qualified workers - 1,021, seasonal work - 1,430, corporate translation - 1,906. However, the total number of foreign citizens engaged in labor activities in Kazakhstan, as of July 1, is higher than the annual quota for attracting foreign labor set by the Ministry.
Following a president's instruction, the ministry reduced the quota for attracting foreign labor from 28,352 to 23,560 units, a reduction of 16%.
The increasing interest from international IT companies is noteworthy. While specific top foreign IT companies by name are not explicitly listed in available recent sources, the trend is supported by government infrastructure projects, incentives, and strategic positioning. Kazakhstan is actively developing its digital economy infrastructure, notably with the launch of a national supercomputer project supported by international hardware like NVIDIA. This computing power, coupled with favorable regulations such as customs duty exemptions and VAT offsets on imported computing equipment, is attracting foreign tech firms.
The government’s initiatives aim to attract established technology firms that hire local talent and focus on exports, creating an appealing environment for foreign IT companies. Additionally, Kazakhstan has recently introduced business-friendly programs such as the Golden Visa for foreign investors, facilitating residence and business operations. Despite some tightening around registration and migrant employment compliance, foreign business interest persists amid geopolitical shifts.
In conclusion, while the general profile of foreign IT companies relocating to Kazakhstan involves those working with high-performance computing, AI, and export-driven technology, specific top companies have not been named publicly in recent 2025 reports. However, the trend is clear: Kazakhstan is an emerging tech destination for foreign IT firms.
It is also worth noting that over 397,000 Kazakhstani citizens are employed by these employers, accounting for 96% of the total workforce. This suggests a growing symbiotic relationship between Kazakhstani and foreign labor, driving economic growth and development in the country.
- The influx of international IT companies in Kazakhstan not only includes those specialized in high-performance computing, AI, and export-driven technology but also extends to the finance and business sectors, as evidenced by the government's incentives and attractive regulations.
- In addition to the surge in foreign labor from countries like China, Turkey, India, Uzbekistan, and the United Kingdom, the finance and business sectors of Kazakhstan are witnessing an increase in the presence of international companies, contributing to the nation's economic growth and development.
