Kazakhstan increases the list of shortage professions from 51 to 174 specialties, including IT, biotechnology, and nuclear energy. The Ministry of Labor is preparing new mechanisms to attract foreign talent amid a severe shortage of skilled workers.

The Government of Kazakhstan is radically changing its approach to attracting foreign specialists. New amendments to the migration legislation provide for an expansion of the list of priority professions and the introduction of the Altyn Visa program for highly paid personnel. This decision is critical for the technological development of the country and solving the problem of the shortage of IT professionals.

Expansion of the List of Shortage Professions in Kazakhstan

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan has developed an ambitious plan to increase the list of in-demand professions from the current 51 to 174 specialties. This decision is in accordance with the presidential decree on the modernization of migration policy and the resolution of the labor shortage problem. The new expanded list includes specialists in the field of information technology, healthcare, education, and culture — sectors that are experiencing the most acute shortage of personnel. In addition, the list includes professions in nuclear energy, the oil and gas industry, biotechnology, genomic medicine, water resources management, and irrigation. This approach will allow Kazakh companies, including outsourcing firms like Alashed IT (it.alashed.kz), to attract the necessary specialists for the implementation of complex projects. The system will be based on the current needs of the domestic labor market and will allow employers to clearly understand which categories of foreign workers they can hire without additional coordination.

Foreign Workforce Quotas in 2026

For 2026, Kazakhstan has approved a foreign workforce quota of 0.25% of the country's total workforce. This quota is distributed as follows: 726 permits for senior managers and their deputies, 3,402 permits for heads of structural units, 5,893 permits for specialists, and 3,131 permits for skilled workers. An additional 4,994 permits have been allocated for seasonal workers. In total, this amounts to more than 18,000 work permits for foreigners in Kazakhstan. This volume of quotas reflects the growing demand for foreign talent amid the accelerated digitalization of the economy. For the IT sector, this means the possibility of attracting experienced developers, solution architects, and cloud technology specialists, who are in short supply in the local labor market.

Altyn Visa Program and Benefits for Foreign Specialists

A key element of the reform is the expansion of the Altyn (Gold) Visa program, which provides foreign specialists with the opportunity to obtain a resident status after a certain period of work in Kazakhstan. This status provides access to tax benefits, financial services, healthcare, and education, as well as the right to work outside the foreign workforce quota system. These benefits make Kazakhstan more attractive to highly paid personnel from the region and the world. The program is especially important for IT companies that need the stability and long-term presence of experienced specialists. The authorities emphasize that the reforms are aimed not only at solving the labor shortage problem but also at transferring knowledge and experience to local workers and accelerating the technological modernization of the national economy.

Transparent Procedures for Hiring Foreign Professionals

The new legislation establishes clearer and more transparent procedures for hiring foreign specialists at the request of employers. This means that companies will be able to obtain work permits for the personnel they need more quickly without bureaucratic delays. The system will be based on the targeted selection of specialists depending on the current needs of the labor market. Employers will be able to apply to government agencies with a clear justification for the need to attract a foreign specialist, and the review process will be standardized. This is especially important for fast-growing IT companies that often face unexpected needs for specialists when implementing large projects. Simplifying procedures will allow Kazakh outsourcing companies to compete in the global market, attracting the best talent and providing high-quality services to clients.

Impact of Reforms on Kazakhstan's Technology Sector

Migration policy reforms are of strategic importance for the development of Kazakhstan's IT sector. The country is actively investing in digital transformation, and this requires highly paid specialists in the fields of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and software development. Expanding the list of shortage professions to 174 specialties will make it easier for companies to find the right personnel. Officials emphasize that the goal of the reforms is not only to solve current labor shortage problems but also to accelerate the technological modernization of the economy. This creates favorable conditions for the development of IT outsourcing, which can become one of the key sources of export income for Kazakhstan. Companies operating in this sector will have the opportunity to attract the best specialists and scale their operations.

Что это значит для Казахстана

For Kazakhstan and the entire Central Asian region, these reforms are critical. Kazakhstan is a leader in digitalization among the countries of the region, and its success in attracting foreign IT specialists can serve as an example for Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and other neighboring countries. The expansion of foreign workforce quotas to 0.25% of the total workforce and the increase in the list of shortage professions from 51 to 174 specialties shows the seriousness of the government's intentions. This is especially important for Almaty and Nur-Sultan, where the main IT companies and technology startups are concentrated. According to local sources, the shortage of IT specialists in Kazakhstan is about 15-20% of market needs. New mechanisms for attracting foreign talent will help close this gap and make Kazakh companies more competitive in the global market for services.

Kazakhstan expands the list of shortage professions from 51 to 174 specialties, including IT, biotechnology, and nuclear energy, with a foreign workforce quota of 0.25% of the country's total workforce.

Kazakhstan's migration policy reforms open up new opportunities for the development of the IT sector and technological modernization of the economy. The expansion of the list of shortage professions and the introduction of the Altyn Visa program create favorable conditions for attracting highly paid specialists. These changes will allow Kazakh companies to compete in the global market and accelerate the digital transformation of the national economy.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

What professions are included in the new expanded list of shortage specialties?

The new list includes 174 specialties instead of the current 51. Main categories: information technology, healthcare, education, culture, nuclear energy, oil and gas industry, biotechnology, genomic medicine, water resources management, and irrigation. The exact list is approved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan.

How many work permits are allocated to foreigners in Kazakhstan for 2026?

A total of more than 18,000 permits have been allocated: 726 for senior managers, 3,402 for heads of departments, 5,893 for specialists, 3,131 for skilled workers, and 4,994 for seasonal workers. This constitutes 0.25% of the country's total workforce.

What is the Altyn Visa program and what benefits does it provide?

Altyn Visa allows foreign specialists to obtain a resident status after a certain period of work in Kazakhstan. The status provides access to tax benefits, financial services, healthcare, education, and the right to work outside the foreign workforce quota system.

How can employers hire a foreign specialist in Kazakhstan?

The new legislation establishes transparent hiring procedures. The employer must apply to government agencies with a justification for the need to attract a foreign specialist. The review process is standardized and accelerated compared to the previous system.

How do these reforms affect Kazakhstan's IT sector?

The reforms will allow IT companies to more easily attract highly paid specialists in the fields of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. This will accelerate technological modernization and increase the competitiveness of Kazakh companies in the global market.

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