How to Get a Single Permit to Hire Foreign Workers in Kyrgyzstan (2026)
The single permit covers both stay and work. Transitional rules run from 1 May to 31 December 2026.
Updated: 2 September 2026
The single permit is one document that lets a foreign worker stay in Kyrgyzstan and work for a named employer. The employer files the application; the documents for employing foreigners are processed and issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until the end of 2026. Review takes up to 7 working days. For a legal entity the state payments are 75 USD at the NBKR rate, 20,000 KGS and 5,000 KGS. EAEU citizens are exempt; Pakistani nationals need the permit.
Up to 7 working days
Application review (as of July 2026)
75 USD + 20,000 KGS
Review fee and state duty for a legal entity
100,000
2026 quota
2026 foreign worker quota
Total quota: 100,000 workers
Cabinet of Ministers order of 30 April 2026: the quota was raised from 52,000 to 100,000. Companies from China, India, Türkiye and Pakistan request the most quota. The sector split is the 2025 allocation — no 2026 split has been published.
Step-by-Step Process
Employer registration
Employer registration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; confirm the filing route under the 2026 transitional rules with the MFA
Quota application
A place within the annual foreign labour quota
Single permit application
Application and document set filed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Document upload
Passport, qualification documents, medical certificate, police clearance
Review and decision
Up to 7 working days; the clock restarts if remarks are issued
Work visa issuance
At the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in Islamabad
Entry and registration
Registration within 5 working days of entry
Contract and start of work
Contract in Russian, safety briefing, start on site
Required Documents
Employer documents
- Single permit application
- Company state registration certificate
- Draft employment contract
- Labour market test confirmation (no suitable local candidates)
- Company financial statements
Worker documents
- Valid passport (at least 6 months)
- Photographs 3.5×4.5 cm
- Legalised qualification documents
- Medical certificate
- Police clearance certificate
- CV
- Protector stamp from Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE)
Confirm the exact document list with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: a consolidated official list under the transitional rules in force since 1 May 2026 has not been published yet.
State Payments
| Payment | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Application review fee | 75 USD at the NBKR rate | Employer — legal entity |
| State duty | 20,000 KGS | Employer — legal entity |
| Guarantee deposit | 5,000 KGS | Employer — legal entity |
| Rate for an individual entrepreneur | 50,000 KGS | Individual entrepreneur |
Legal entity: 75 USD + 20,000 KGS + 5,000 KGS
As of July 2026 (Cabinet of Ministers resolution No. 506 of 23 July 2026). Review takes up to 7 working days. Medical examination, translation and legalisation are paid separately. The rules run until 31 December 2026.
Timeline from document preparation to the first day on site
| Stage | Who | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation and labour market test | Employer | depends on the employer |
| Single permit application review | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | up to 7 working days |
| Work visa at the Kyrgyz embassy in Islamabad | Worker | by embassy appointment |
| Registration after entry | Worker and employer | 5 working days |
From the start of document preparation to permit issuance the usual timeline is 3-4 weeks.
Work visa and business visa
| Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Work visa W1 | Standard employment under a contract | up to 1 year |
| Work visa W2 | Work on a specific project or contract | contract duration |
| Business visa | Short business trips; working on it is not allowed | 30-90 days |
The W1 and W2 categories follow the rules in force before 1 May 2026; visa codes under the 2026 transitional rules are not officially confirmed. The right to stay and work comes from the single permit.
Who needs the single permit
- Pakistani nationals need the permit: Pakistan is not an EAEU member state.
- Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia work without a work permit.
- The permit is tied to one named employer and position.
- The application is filed by the employer — a legal entity or individual entrepreneur registered in Kyrgyzstan.
What changed in 2024-2026
- April 2024 — quota issuance was suspended and the "Nelegal" operation tightened document checks.
- 1 January 2025 — the single permit was introduced, merging the work permit and the work visa.
- July 2025 — the memorandum of understanding on labour cooperation between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan was signed.
- 30 April 2026 — a Cabinet of Ministers resolution made the single permit cover stay and work and transferred processing and issuance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until the end of 2026; the rules run from 1 May to 31 December 2026.
- 30 April 2026 — a Cabinet of Ministers order raised the 2026 quota from 52,000 to 100,000.
- 23 July 2026 — resolution No. 506 set the current review fee, state duty and guarantee deposit.
After the worker arrives
- Registration at the place of stay within 5 working days of entry; the employer usually arranges it.
- The employment contract is drawn up in Russian and in a language the worker understands.
- Workers carry their documents at all times: document checks are routine.
- The single permit is valid for up to one year; renewal is filed 30 days before expiry.
What the employer does and what IMP does
- The employer files the application, signs the employment contract and registers the worker: these are the employer’s legal obligations.
- IMP selects and tests candidates, runs a free Russian course to A2 level and prepares the Pakistan-side documents, including the BEOE Protector stamp.
- IMP guides the employer through every step and explains the requirements, but does not file the application on the employer’s behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
IMP supports the employer at every stage
We select and prepare the workers, handle the Pakistan-side documents and guide you through the single permit. You file the applications — we provide the support.