Living in Kazakhstan
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Kazakhstan, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.
This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Kazakhstan. Read about how our embassy in Astana can help.
This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Kazakh authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.
Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.
To stay up to date: follow the British Embassy Astana on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Before you go
See our travel advice for Kazakhstan for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.
See also our Overseas Business Risk guide for Kazakhstan for information on key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Kazakhstan.
Visas and residency
Check the entry requirements for Kazakhstan in our travel advice.
UK nationals may stay in Kazakhstan without a visa for up to 30 calendar days. The number of visits is unlimited, but a total period of stay without a visa should not exceed 90 calendar days within any 180-day period. The 180-day period is constantly moving and should be counted backwards from your most recent entry or exit dates.
If you do need a visa, make sure you have the right visa for the purpose of your travel, especially for business visas or work permits. Check the validity dates of your visa and any associated restrictions carefully.
See how to apply for a visa to enter Kazakhstan
You should contact the nearest Migration Service office if your visa has expired or is due to expire but you are unable to leave the country. You may be able to get an extension or exit visa allowing you more time to arrange your travel.
If you overstay or violate the conditions of your visa, you can face a fine, a short term of imprisonment and/or a ban on entry to Kazakhstan for up to 5 years.
Residency
Kazakh immigration authorities require a proof of no criminal record when foreign nationals apply for residency permit. A certificate from ACRO Criminal Records Office can be accepted by local authorities.
Please check with the relevant Migration Service office whether they require the certificate to be legalised/apostilled by the UK Legalisation Office.
The British Embassy Astana has no authority to conduct criminal record checks and is unable to provide British nationals with proof of no criminal record.
You no longer need a certificate of no objection from the Embassy for your residency application.
Registration
You do not need to register with local authorities and you will no longer receive a white immigration card when crossing the border. It is the responsibility of the host person, hotel or owner of the rented apartment to notify immigration authorities within three days of the guest’s arrival.
Notification can be done online on the Visa and Migration portal, via eQonaq service or in writing to the Migration Service.
If you live in Kazakhstan, you do not need to register with the British Embassy. The embassy no longer keeps a register of long term British residents in Kazakhstan.
Sign up for our Travel Advice e-mail alerts and follow UK in Kazakhstan on social media:
Passports and travel
Foreigners are required to carry a valid passport while in Kazakhstan at all times. Police may stop you and your identity will be checked.
Check that you have enough space in your passport for visas and entry and exit stamps. If your passport is due to expire soon or you do not have spare pages for stamps, please consider applying for a replacement passport in advance.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Kazakhstan.
Check the Kazakhstan travel advice for passport validity requirements.
Healthcare
You should buy comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you enter the country.
The NHS has information for people moving abroad. You should also check your prescriptions are legal in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan and the UK do not have reciprocal healthcare agreements. If you become sick or are injured while in Kazakhstan you should seek medical attention locally if you feel you need it. See also Kazakhstan Travel Advice.
If you are resident in Kazakhstan and contribute to the national medical insurance directly or via your employer, you can register for healthcare and will have access to the state hospitals for routine medical care. However, the state medical facilities in Kazakhstan are not as advanced as those in the UK.
If you cannot register for healthcare, you must ensure you have private healthcare cover for Kazakhstan.
UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.
Contact your travel health insurance company in advance to find out whether they have a recommended or restricted list of hospitals to use.
Most of the hospitals will accept card payment method, but some may insist on cash in local currency.
Find a list of public and private hospitals. English speaking doctors/nurses are very rare.
Emergency medical assistance is available to foreigners within the state guaranteed medical plan.
Call 103 for an ambulance
You may need an assistance if you do not speak Kazakh or Russian and waiting times for ambulances can be lengthy. It may be quicker to take a taxi to the hospital, if appropriate. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
Medicine
If you are on a prescription for any medication you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Kazakhstan. Certain medicines may not be available in Kazakhstan (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Kazakhstan to find out about any alternative medication.
Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines
Working in Kazakhstan
If you are planning to move to Kazakhstan and work, you may need a visa. Read the Kazakhstan government’s guidance on:
To apply for a job you may need to provide:
- UK criminal records check (known as a DBS check) or police record certificate from ACRO
You may need to get your education and professional qualifications recognised in Kazakhstan. Please check with your employer whether your documents have to be legalised/apostilled.
In accordance with Kazakh law, foreign nationals can work in Kazakhstan under permits granted by the designated authority. Permission to employ foreign workers can be granted to the following four categories:
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chief executives and their deputies
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heads of divisions corresponding to the qualification requirements
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other specialists corresponding to the qualification requirements
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skilled workers corresponding to the qualification requirements
Please note that every year the government sets a limit on foreign workers who can be employed. At the moment Kazakh nationals should occupy no less than 70% jobs of each company in 1st and 2nd categories and no less than 90% in 3rd and 4th categories.
At the same time, Kazakh law sets the following categories of foreign nationals that can be employed without a special permit:
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migrants with status of qandas (ethnic Kazakhs returned for residency in Kazakhstan)
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business immigrants (entrepreneurs)
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those who have refugee status or are seeking refugee status in Kazakhstan
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individuals arriving under international agreements on charity, humanitarian aid and grants signed by Kazakhstan
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those convicted by courts of Kazakhstan to restriction of freedom
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victims of human trafficking during the criminal case proceedings
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those entering Kazakhstan for family reunion and their spouse is a citizen of Kazakhstan
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those studying and working at Kazakhstan educational institutions
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members of crews of river vessels, air, rail or motor transport vessels, owned by foreign entities
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artists, directors, conductors, choir masters, choreographers, sportsmen and coaches
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those invited by members or agencies of Astana International Financial Centre
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individuals, specialising in developing space rocket infrastructure and operating ground space infrastructure to be employed under international agreements on cooperation in aerospace signed by Kazakhstan
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those who teach at secondary, vocational, professional, post-secondary and higher educational institutions (under international agreements) on cooperation on education projects authorized by Kazakhstan (staffing of which does not exceed a 25 percent staff quota)
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professors who have been awarded special status and are working in higher educational institutions on managerial positions
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chief executives of branches or offices of foreign corporations, and chief executives of Kazakhstani companies with 100% foreign participation in share capital
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individuals on business trips lasting not more than 120 calendar days in one calendar year
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chief executives of companies that entered (with the Kazakhstan government) into contracts for investment worth over 50 million US Dollars, and chief executives of the Kazakhstan corporations investing in priority sectors, who entered into contract with the respective authority responsible for investment
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those who work in a national corporation on positions not lower than head of division
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those invited to be a member of Director’s Board of a national corporation
Studying in Kazakhstan
If you plan to study in Kazakhstan, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.
Contact the relevant higher education provider in Kazakhstan to check what fees you have to pay. Information about education opportunities and contacts of local education authorities is available on the eGov pages.
See also list of public and private secondary schools in Kazakhstan and list of higher education institutions.
Tax
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Kazakhstan so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Kazakhstan. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Kazakhstan
Read guidance on:
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paying National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
Benefits
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
British nationals with a residency permit in Kazakhstan can apply for social benefits for disability via the Public Services Centres
Pensions
Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.
If you retire in Kazakhstan, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.
If you contribute to the Kazakhstan’s local pension fund and you depart Kazakhstan for permanent residence in another country, there is an opportunity to withdraw your pension savings, read more on the eGov pages.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.
Money and banking
To open a bank account in Kazakhstan you need to have individual identification number, which can be obtained from Public Services Centre or via the eGov.kz portal.
Money can be transferred by Western Union or MoneyGram in an emergency. Some of the local banks that offer money transfer services are:
You can find ATMs throughout the country. Credit cards are accepted in restaurants and supermarkets. Kaspi bank instant money transfers are widely used for payments in shops, taxi and for various services.
Accommodation and buying property
You can book accommodation directly with hotels, or on larger booking websites.
Only residents (holders of residence permit) are allowed to own property in Kazakhstan. You can read more on purchasing property on eGov portal.
See also buying a property abroad.
You should seek professional advice from a qualified lawyer in Kazakhstan and use a licensed property agency or a developer company before buying a property in Kazakhstan.
Driving in Kazakhstan
Read the guidance on what actions you must do to drive legally in Kazakhstan.
If you wish to drive in Kazakhstan you should apply for an International Driving Permit. See also renewing UK driving licences if your licence is due to expire.
You can apply for your first driving licence in Kazakhstan but you will be required to attend training course and pass an exam.
If you’re asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office (eg the DVLA).
Read the guidance for travelling by road in Kazakhstan.
You can also read information about taking your vehicle out of the UK.
Kazakhstan has a zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of alcohol. A driver may be detained by police and convicted of drunk driving for driving a vehicle after consuming one drink of alcohol, regardless of whether the driver is actually intoxicated.
Do not drive outside of a city if you receive an SMS warning from 112 about deterioration of weather conditions and roads closure.
Disabled drivers
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Kazakhstan, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Voting
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership
Births
If your child is born in Kazakhstan you should register the birth with the local authorities. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate here
If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.
Deaths
If someone dies in Kazakhstan read our guidance:
Marriage and civil partnership
Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
You may also need to get your UK divorce papers legalised to register marriage in Kazakhstan.
Civil partnerships are not registered in Kazakhstan and are not recognised.
Find out about notarial and document services for British nationals in Kazakhstan
Pets
To bring a pet in Kazakhstan you will need to show an international vet passport, health certificate, and vaccinations certificate (anti-rabies, deworming treatment etc.). A translation in Kazakh or Russian languages will be required.
Make sure you also check the requirements for transporting pets with your airlines.
See what you need to do to export live animals from the UK.
See how to apply for export health certificate
See travelling with pets for information on bringing pets to the UK.
Emergencies
Dial the 112 for the police, ambulance or fire brigade. You can call 112 even if you have no credit or SIM-card on your mobile phone. The operators may not speak English, and you may need assistance from a Russian or Kazakh speaker.
If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Kazakhstan, read:
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Kazakhstan: information for victims of rape and sexual assault.
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general guidance for victims of rape and sexual assault abroad
If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Astana.
Read the guidance on international parental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this.
Returning to the UK
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.
Disclaimer
This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the embassy by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The FCDO and the British Embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.
Updates to this page
Last updated 13 March 2024 + show all updates
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Guidance has been reviewed and updated where necessary.
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The information regarding Visas and Residency changes, Coronavirus info removed
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Guidance fully reviewed and updated
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'Living in Kazakhstan' guideline updated March 2021
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Change in the entry and registration requirements for Kazakhstan: 30-days visa free regime is suspended until 1 May 2021
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Just updated an attachment changing Astana to Nur-Sultan
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Just put in slight changes
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Updated bank transfer information for 2019
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Updated on 18 July 2018
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Updated 19 July 2017
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Updated 19 July 2017
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Updated 18 July 2017
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First published.