What should non-residents do upon arrival in Kazakhstan?

Gov. kz - a single public body internet resource platform on which you can receive public services via online (An IIN and EDS are required for that).

The country border crossing points

Kurs.kz is a list of exchange offices with addresses, exchange rates, currency calculator.

The Second tier banks

The Mobile operators to register a local Sim card with:

Beeline.kz

activ.kz

Altel.kz

Tele 2.kz

The air and railway tickets purchase websites:

Kaspi.kz

Aviata.kz

Aviasales.kz

Bilet.railways.kz

To obtain an IIN online through the gov.kz portal:

1. an electronic enquiry certified by an electronic digital signature of the service recipient's representative;
2. an electronic copy of identity card of the foreigner. If the document proving the identity of a foreigner does not contain personal data (last name, first name, patronymic (if any), place of birth) in the Cyrillic or Latin, it is necessary to attach an appropriate copy of the translation of the identity card;

The attached file must contain a scanned copy of the foreigner's passport. If the foreigner's passport does not contain personal data (Surname, First Name, Patronymic, Place of Birth) in Cyrillic, a copy of a notarized translation of the passport into Cyrillic must be attached. If the passport does not contain the personal data (last name, first name, patronymic, place of birth) in the Latin, you must attach a copy of a notarized translation of the passport into Latin. Copies of documents must be made in one file, JPG format, no larger than 1 megabyte.

3. a notarized power of attorney, if the service is enquired by a representative of the service recipient.

To receive a public service on the portal, an EDS is required.

The period for issuing an IIN certificate for foreigners is 1 business day.

The IIN certificate production is totaly free for foreigners.

Contact for more information:

A Single contact center is 1414.

Before obtaining a residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan (permit), you must obtain a temporary residence permit (TRP). This is required for legal stay in the country. To obtain a TRP, legal entry into the country is required. The grounds for obtaining a residence permit are the following:

• opening a business in the RK,
• receiving an employment,
• marriage,
• investing into, joining relatives who are residing in the RK,
• repatriation.

The circumstances that may facilitate obtaining a residence permit: Republic of Kazakhstan citizenship previously held or birth of the foreigner in Kazakhstan, birth of the child in Kazakhstan or the presence of close and distant relatives residing in the RK. You can read more about how to get a residence permit in the country at gov.kz.

"Individual Identification Number" (IIN) is needed to receive any digital public services in Kazakhstan. Conventionally, this is a unique code in the database of people who have the right to receive services and public services.

To open, for example, a bank account in Kazakhstan, a foreigner needs to obtain an IIN from the State Corporation "Government for Citizens" NJSC PSC at the place of residence. This can be done:

• In person by visiting the Public Service Centers (PSC) ;
• by power of attorney, which gives the right to receive the above public service under a notarized power of attorney of the foreigner.

What documents to be provided by the foreigner to obtain the IIN?

In order to obtain an IIN in person at the PSC , the following shall be provided:

1. application;
2. identity card. If there are no personal data (last name, first name, patronymic (if any) typed in Cyrillic or Latin in the identity card of the foreigner, it is necessary to attach an appropriate copy of a notarized translation of the identity card (i.e. translation of full name a foreigner into Cyrillic (if the passport is in Latin), or into Latin (if the passport is in Cyrillic).
3. a notarized power of attorney, in case of a request submitted by a representative of the service recipient.

The period for issuing an IIN certificate for foreigners is 1 business day. The IIN certificate production is totaly free for the foreigners.

After receiving the IIN at the PSC, you can immediately register with mobile citizens database (MCDB) and issue an electronic digital signature (EDS) in order to use public services in online mode.

Contact for more information:

A single contact center is 1414.

The notification of the foreign citizen arrival is carried out in 3 ways within 3 working days from the moment of the arrival in the Republic of Kazakhstan:

1. Individuals and legal entities (hotel representative or housing owner where the foreign citizen is supposed to temporarily residing) can inform about the arrival of an immigrant directly through the electronic visa and migration portal at: vmp.gov.kz or through gov.kz .To do this, it is enough for the Kazakh side to have an electronic digital signature and passport data of an immigrant.
2. Individuals and legal entities receiving from the Kazakh side can submit notifications of the arrival of a foreigner directly to the departments and offices of the migration service of the internal affairs bodies in their area.
3. Download the E-Qonaq app from the App Store or Play Market. And the notification is served literally in two steps. It is also possible to download the passport data of a foreigner by scanning his passport through a smartphone camera. Authorization and filling out notifications are intuitive.

The Required information/documents for filing in a notification:

1. A clear copy of the passport (Valid passport. The validity of the passport should not expire earlier than 3 months after the expiration of registration);
2. Planned address of residence in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
3. Information about the stay (purpose of the arrival).

Important! It is necessary to notify the migration service within 3 working days:

• about each entry/exit of a foreign citizen;
• in the event of a change in the address of temporary residence of a foreign citizen in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The IIN shall be applied for the following:

• state registration (re-registration) of legal entities or registration (re-registration) of branches and representative offices,

• state registration (re-registration) of individual entrepreneurs,

• making payments and money transfers , including when transferring mandatory pension contributions (MPC) and social contributions, as well as fulfilling tax obligations,
• opening and maintaining bank accounts in banks and organizations that carry out certain types of banking operations,
• state registration of objects of immovable, movable property, as well as other objects equated to immovable things,
• issuance of permits,
• issuance of registration documents,
• when registering civil status acts,
• issuance of identity cards,

• issuance of a military ID, officer's identity card,

• statistical accounting,
• implementation of foreign economic activity,
• registration of voters in elections and participation in republican referendums,
• maintenance of information systems of central state bodies and other state institutions,

• in other cases established by the legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The foreign citizens are required to obtain an IIN in the following cases:

• for opening a bank account in Kazakhstani banks;
• if the foreigner receives income from sources in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• acquisition (purchase) of property in the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is taxable as per the law;
• when appointing the foreigners as the heads of legal entities that are residents in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• when appointing the foreigners as heads of branches, representative offices of legal entities of non-residents.

To open an account in Kazakhstan, a foreigner needs to obtain an IIN in NJSC "State Corporation "Government for Citizens" (PSC).

The Kazakhstani banks do not send bank cards by mail abroad, so the one can receive them in person. Intermediaries with a notarized power of attorney can also do this. Also, to register in the mobile banking system of Kazakhstani banks, the cardholder needs a SIM card from a local mobile operator.

To open a bank card in the Kazakhstani bank, you need to contact any branch of this bank. The exact list of documents and the rules for opening bank accounts depend on the second-tier bank you have chosen.

You must have with you:

1. A Kazakh SIM card mobile phone.

2. Passport.

3. Any of the documents confirming the presence of IIN:

-         an original or a copy of tax registration certificate;

-         confirmation issued by PSC – Natural person registration data;

-         individual identification number registration certificate;

-         document from gov.kz -  Taxpayers Register of the Republic of Kazakhstan .
4. Any of the documents confirming the right to stay in Kazakhstan:

-       a visa or a document replacing a visa;

-       immigrant stay notice;

-       notification of the foreigner arrival;

-       temporary immigrant registration certificate;

-       registration in the passport at the place of residence;

-       stamp in the passport on crossing the border of the Republic of Kazakhstan; another document confirming the right of entry and stay of a foreigner in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Foreign citizens who have a stamp on crossing the border of Kazakhstan can open a card within 30 days from the date of entry into the country. Other documents confirming the right to stay in Kazakhstan will not be required.