Russian as the working language
Candidates speak Russian fluently, so they join Ukrainian, Belarusian and Moldovan teams without a silent period. That cuts weeks off onboarding.

Construction, manufacturing, logistics, transport and agriculture – candidates with genuine industrial experience and fluent Russian, which shortens onboarding in mixed teams. We run the entire process: sourcing, the single residence and work permit at the Ministry of Interior, the D visa where required, and relocation. Candidates on site within 2–3 months. The timeline depends on the processing capacity of the competent authorities, consulates, embassies and visa systems.
Kazakhstan · Central Asia
Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia, built on mining, energy, metallurgy and processing. Candidates come from large plants, continuous shift systems and a harsh climate – from below −30 °C to hot summers. For an employer in Croatia that means a workforce that copes with conditions and already knows heavy-industry safety rules.
The biggest and most underrated advantage of this direction is language. Russian is spoken everywhere in Kazakhstan, so candidates slot straight into teams that already include Ukrainian, Belarusian or Moldovan workers. Supervisors communicate from day one and workstation instructions need only one extra language version.
Formally, employment is legalised through a single temporary residence and work permit issued by the Ministry of Interior (MUP) on the employer's application, combined with a D visa filed at the Croatian diplomatic mission responsible for Kazakhstan where the candidate is not visa-exempt. One coordinator runs the whole process and you receive a single schedule with dates for each stage.
Schedule
Arrival according to the agreed plan
20 m
people – the largest market in Central Asia
RU
Russian as the working language of the team
100%
fully legal employment and residence
Other directions
We also recruit from Philippines, India, Nepal, .
See all directionsBenefits
Candidates speak Russian fluently, so they join Ukrainian, Belarusian and Moldovan teams without a silent period. That cuts weeks off onboarding.
Metallurgy, mining, energy and processing – shift work, continuous operation and safety procedures are everyday reality for these candidates, not something new.
Croatian winters are no challenge here. Candidates from northern and central regions work in temperatures far lower than anything Croatia offers.
Vast distances and the China–Europe transit corridor mean a large pool of experienced professional drivers and warehouse staff.
Technical college diplomas, welding and operator licences – the documents are readable and can be checked before a candidate is presented.
Kazakhstan is a secular country with moderate Islam. Organisational requirements are minimal and cultural distance is far smaller than with Asian directions.
Qualifications
The Kazakhstani vocational education system is formalised and can be checked on documents. Every profile you receive includes a scan of the diploma or certificate, professional licences, employment records from previous plants and an assessment of Russian and English levels.
College and technical school diplomas
Vocational colleges train machine operators, fitters, electricians, welders and mechanics. The programme includes placements in industrial plants, so a graduate does not start from zero at the machine.
Industry licences and safety training
Welding and operator licences plus safety training issued by employers in the mining and energy sector. Where needed we confirm them with a practical exam in Croatia.
Employment records and references
We verify service in specific plants: steelworks, mines, factories and transport companies. We also check earlier foreign contracts in Russia, Türkiye and South Korea.
C+E licence and code 95
A Kazakhstani licence does not allow professional haulage in Croatia. We plan the exchange after the single residence and work permit is issued, plus initial qualification and the code 95 entry – in parallel with permits, to avoid losing weeks.
The region of origin genuinely shapes the professional profile – we match it to the role.
Almaty and Almaty region
The country's largest urban area: manufacturing, logistics, construction and services. Best candidate availability and the shortest route to the competent diplomatic mission.
Shymkent and the south
The region with the highest unemployment and the strongest willingness to relocate. Construction, agriculture, processing and manual work.
Astana and the centre
Structural construction, installations and infrastructure – candidates with experience on large urban investment projects.
Karaganda and Temirtau
Metallurgy, mining and the metal industry. Most welders, fitters and heavy machinery operators come from here.
West: Aktobe and Atyrau
The oil and gas sector – maintenance, industrial mechanics and work under strict safety rules in rotation systems.
We run the process in four to five stages: call, quote and contract; sourcing and pre-selection in Kazakhstan; the single residence and work permit at the Ministry of Interior; the D visa where required; relocation and onboarding. Every stage has a clear deadline and document set – below you can see step by step what happens, how long it takes and who covers the cost.
Schedule
Arrival according to the agreed plan
5 stages
one coordinator runs the whole process
100%
compliance with Croatian authority requirements
Faze procesa
Needs analysis, job profile, quote and schedule. The process starts once the contract is signed and the job description approved.
Call and needs analysis
Week 1We agree the scope of duties, required licences, pay, shift system and accommodation standard.
Quote and schedule
Week 1–2We present the full budget in EUR, stage deadlines and planned arrival batches.
Contract and job description
Week 2Contract signature and approval of the Russian-language job description – the document that triggers sourcing.
Sourcing and verification in Almaty, Shymkent, Astana and Karaganda – experience, licences and Russian language level.
Candidate pre-selection
Week 2–4Our local partner sources candidates and verifies employment records, licences and references from industrial plants.
Shortlist and selection
Week 3–5We present a shortlist with licences and language assessment. Video interviews are arranged on request.
The employer's application to the Ministry of Interior (MUP) for the single temporary residence and work permit.
Filing with the Ministry of Interior
Week 3–5The employer's application for the single temporary residence and work permit, filed with MUP.
Appointment booking, full document set, medical checks and insurance, then the visa application at the competent diplomatic mission.
D visa where required
Week 5–7Booking the appointment, full document set, medical checks and travel insurance, then the visa application at the competent diplomatic mission.
Flight, airport transfer, accommodation, address registration, bank account and onboarding at the workstation.
Tickets and transfer
Week 6–8Flight booking from Almaty, Astana or Shymkent, airport transfer and group pick-up by the coordinator.
Accommodation and registration
First weekHousing that meets sanitary requirements, address registration and opening a bank account.
Safety training and onboarding
First weekHealth and safety training with Russian translation, workstation instructions, a buddy in the team and first days under supervision.
Support and 90-day review
Month 1–3Ongoing contact with the coordinator, support with residence matters and a review of the cooperation after three months.
Tipičan raspored
Kandidati na radnom mjestu za 2–3 mjeseca. Rok ovisi o kapacitetu nadležnih tijela, konzulata, veleposlanstava i viznih sustava.
Call, quote and contract
01Sourcing and pre-selection in Kazakhstan
02Single residence and work permit at MUP
03D visa where required, medical checks
04Arrival and first day at work
05Troškovi zapošljavanja
Official fees in Croatia
EmployerSingle residence and work permit application and administrative fees at the Ministry of Interior.
Visa and service fee
Employer / agencyConsular fee for the D visa where required and handling of the application at the competent diplomatic mission.
Translations and documents
Employer / agencySworn translations of diplomas, licences and employment records, medical checks and candidate insurance.
Flights and relocation
EmployerAir ticket from Almaty, Astana or Shymkent, airport transfer, initial accommodation and starter equipment.
Drivers: licence exchange and code 95
Employer / agencyApplies to professional drivers only: licence exchange, initial qualification and the code 95 entry in Croatia.
Agency fee
EmployerSourcing, handling the administrative and consular process and coordinator support after arrival.
We quote every budget in EUR, and it never depends on a single fixed price per worker – it always depends on the role, headcount and region. It always consists of the same items, so you can compare agency offers without hidden costs. With Kazakhstan two things matter: the D visa procedure requires a diplomatic mission appointment where the candidate is not visa-exempt, and for drivers there is the licence exchange and code 95. Both are included in the quote from day one.
Spremni za početak
Industries
Kazakhstan is an industrial and resource economy with a well-developed vocational education system. Below are the industries where this direction delivers the best results.
The investment boom in Astana and Almaty has produced a large pool of construction workers, from shell and core to finishing and installations. Candidates know work at height and safety standards on large sites.
Metallurgy in Karaganda and Temirtau plus processing plants supply machine operators, fitters and welders used to continuous operation and quality control.
Kazakhstan is the China–Europe transit corridor, so professional drivers and warehouse staff have real experience with long routes and terminal handling.
The oil and gas sector in the west trains mechanics, electricians and maintenance staff used to rotation systems and strict safety rules.
The north is a grain belt with large-scale mechanised work. Candidates know agricultural machinery, seasonal work and crop processing.
Large distribution centres in Almaty prepare candidates for target-based, shift work with scanners – exactly the profile Croatian retail warehouses need.
If you need candidates with strong English for customer-facing work, the Philippines or Sri Lanka usually work better. We use Kazakhstan where industrial experience and a shared language with a Russian-speaking team matter most.
Roles
The strongest side of this direction is technical and construction roles: welders, fitters, machine operators, maintenance mechanics and construction workers. Warehousing, transport and agriculture work equally well. Video interviews with candidates are arranged at the employer's request.
Need a faster process or candidates who travel visa-free? See also workers from Georgia, workers from Türkiye or workers from the Philippines.
A comparison of typical differences in the process and candidate profile.
| Criterion | Kazakhstan | Other directions |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate profile | Heavy industry, construction, transport and agriculture | More often light manufacturing and basic roles |
| Working language | Russian – shared with Eastern European teams | Basic English or no shared language |
| Legal basis | Single residence and work permit (MUP) and D visa where required | The same MUP permit, but visa-free for some eastern nationalities (Georgia) |
| Process time | Depends on authorities | Similar for most origins requiring a D visa |
| Acclimatisation | Very good – a harsher climate than Croatia | Warm clothing pack and longer adaptation needed |
Cultural integration
Teams from Kazakhstan settle in exceptionally fast because the two biggest barriers – language and climate – simply disappear. What remains is a handful of organisational matters worth setting up at the start; get them right and the first year passes without turnover.
Russian yes, Croatian only on arrival
Shared Russian solves communication inside the team, but documents, training and dealings with authorities are in Croatian. Bilingual workstation instructions and a basic language course after shifts close the gap within weeks.
Moderate Islam and Ramadan
Kazakhstan is secular, but part of the team fasts during Ramadan and avoids pork. A canteen alternative and flexibility in the roster during that period cost little and mean a great deal.
Residence and banking formalities
Address registration, opening a bank account and the single residence and work permit renewal dominate the first weeks. The coordinator books the appointments and tracks the deadlines so legal residence never lapses.
Flight logistics and the first days
Flights from Kazakhstan usually connect via Istanbul or the Gulf, so the group arrives tired and across time zones. One acclimatisation day before the first shift is the best-invested 24 hours in the whole process.
Short answers to questions about recruiting workers from Kazakhstan.