A Kazakhstan permanent residence permit is issued by the internal affairs bodies for an indefinite term, but since February 2026 most applicants pass through a pilot project that scores immigration potential: the pass mark is 600 points and the sum to be shown in a bank account is 1,320 MCI. The “Altyn Visa” that has dominated coverage since the spring of 2026 does not exist in law as at the date of publication: it is a task set by Presidential decree, to be created by 31 December 2026. Digital Nomad Residency is not a visa at all — it is a separate pilot that issues the same permanent residence permit to IT specialists through Astana Hub. The real fork is not which visa looks best but what status you end up holding: a visa, a temporary residence permit, or a permanent residence permit.