In recent years, Kazakhstan has become a popular destination for companies relocating, but since 2024–2025, migration and registration procedures for foreigners have become significantly stricter.
IIN: without an IIN, it is impossible to register a company, open a bank account, or receive government services. Since February 2024, it can only be obtained in person — at the CEN in Kazakhstan or at the Kazakh consulate abroad (for a limited group of people, such as investors, spouses of Kazakh citizens, and digital nomads). Only changes to the data can be made by power of attorney.
EDS: from June 2025, EDS (electronic digital signature) will only be issued in person or after biometric identification. Obtaining EDS through a representative has been canceled. At the same time, EDS is necessary for the tax office, public services, and banking operations — in fact, without it, the company’s activities are impossible. Signature renewal remains available online.
Visa and temporary residence permit: foreign founders must obtain a C5 visa or temporary residence permit (for citizens of the EAEU and some CIS countries). The initial C5 visa is issued for 90 days and can be extended for one year. An important point that is often overlooked in practice is that a C5 visa can only be extended by a foreign citizen while they are in Kazakhstan.
The main changes boil down to the requirement of personal presence: to obtain an IIN, EDS, visa extension, or TRP. This lengthens the time frame (up to a month or more) and creates difficulties for entrepreneurs doing business in several countries at once. At the same time, the measures reflect the state’s desire to strengthen control over foreign capital and migration flows.
FChain KZ is ready to take on the task of supporting these processes, minimizing the risk of delays, and helping businesses adapt to the new legal requirements.
Article is prepared by Sergey Gaidarov and Dinara Kalizharova,
Legal Department of FChain Kazakhstan
02th of September 2025