One of the most affordable ways to emigrate to Central Asia is to work in a local company. The standard of living in Kyrgyzstan is not the highest in the region, but there is still an opportunity to get a job there. Moreover, this country is the only one among the Central Asian countries that is considered to be striving for democracy, and not for authoritarianism. Accordingly, specialists from European countries are especially welcome here. Although, foreigners who want to get a job abroad can get a seasonal job, which is quite abundant in Kyrgyzstan due to developed agriculture.

Features of employment in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a predominantly agricultural country. In 2022, agriculture has retained its status as the leading industry as it employs the majority of the Kyrgyz population. Also, the country is rich in minerals, so many people work in the extraction of gold, mercury, coal, etc. Kyrgyz women are usually employed in the agrarian sector, such as farms, while men are employed in the mining industry.

There are almost no vacancies among prestigious and highly paid specialties for candidates without work experience. It will also be difficult for people without a quality education to find work in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development provides an opportunity for professional retraining free of charge. So the Kyrgyz can change their profession to a modern and in-demand one, for example, from the IT sector, and get the opportunity to work from home.

The easiest place to find a job is in the capital Bishkek. It is from here that 65% of all job offers in Kyrgyzstan come from. It is very difficult for foreigners to find a job in other regions, especially in rural areas. Also, work from abroad is not popular in Kyrgyzstan, when employees are located in another country and work remotely.

The Republic of Kyrgyzstan is one of the most dependent countries in the world on remittances from citizens in labour migration. There is a constant outflow of qualified personnel, youth and entrepreneurs in the country. However, there is no tendency to actively replace lost resources with foreign workers. Most of the employment contracts concluded with foreigners are seasonal or short-term contracts.

Labour market in Kyrgyzstan

Recently, tourism has been actively developing in Kyrgyzstan, thanks to the unique nature and colourful culture of Central Asia. Therefore, in the service sector, such professions are popular:

• waiter;

• bartender;

• housemaid;

• hotel manager;

• cook;

• cleaning manager.

Mining and processing industries common in Kyrgyzstan often require geophysicists, engineers, geologists, machine operators, surveyors, etc. Seamstresses, locksmiths, shoemakers will find work in light industry. Medical workers are also in demand in the country. By the way, there are good chances to get a job for medical students, who are thus given the opportunity to gain experience.

In general, by sectors of the economy, the employment of the Kyrgyz population is distributed as follows:

• industry - 8%

• construction - 4%

• agriculture and forestry - 48%

• service sector - 40%

Work visa to Kyrgyzstan

To apply for a work visa in Kyrgyzstan, you need to find a vacancy, conclude an employment contract with the employer and obtain a work permit. Usually, a permit for a foreign head of an enterprise is issued for one year, with the possibility of extension. For a foreign skilled worker - up to two years, for foreign individual entrepreneurs - no more than three years.

There are two types of work visa in Kyrgyzstan. W1 is a standard visa, which is issued to everyone who wants to find a job in the country. And W2 is needed by citizens of some states who do not need a work permit in the Kyrgyz Republic. Our legal consultant will tell you how to work abroad, in particular in Kyrgyzstan, and what difficulties you may encounter during the process of obtaining a visa.

Exempted from the mandatory work permit:

• refugees or those who received political asylum;

• persons with permanent residence in the Kyrgyz Republic;

• persons sent by foreign companies to install their equipment;

• students undergoing industrial practice or working during holidays;

• accredited correspondents and journalists;

• employees of diplomatic missions and international organizations.