Upgrading its visa regime for skilled foreign workers and potential investors to world-class standards to support the Central Asia country’s economic development and digital transformation, Kazakhstan has introduced new visa categories which mirror practices that many forward-thinking countries have adopted to attract skilled professionals to explore work opportunities in Kazakhstan in the digital age. With the introduction of three new visa categories covering so-called “Digital Nomads” beginning in late 2024, Kazakhstan has joined over 65 countries worldwide that issue visas which encourage skilled IT professionals and entrepreneurs to reside in country while working digitally on projects and programs across the planet or across the local street.
Due to its strategic location and business-friendly policies, Kazakhstan has long worked to establish itself as an innovation and global talent hub, ranking highly in numerous global surveys, but until now lacked the focused visa policies to support this objective.
The country of just over 20 million posted economic growth of 3.1 percent (estimated) in 2024 and has an ambitious target of attaining a GDP of one trillion U.S. dollars by 2030. Total foreign investment in Kazakhstan is approximately $155 billion at present, approaching 70 percent of the country’s current GDP. Although much of the investment is in energy production and some sectoral investment restrictions exist, that large foreign investment number alone reveals the extent of the country’s continuing requirement for skilled entrepreneurs, technology experts and IT professionals.
The creation of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in 2017 has mobilized the digital economy. This year, with the Astana International Forum (AIF) on May 29-30, Kazakhstan hopes to become an even better known major investment destination in 2025.
Although there have been ups and downs due to energy and commodity price changes and regional political developments such as the war in Ukraine, according to the World Bank Kazakhstan attained the level of an upper-middle-income country in 2015.
New visa categories
The term “digital nomad,” a phrase used globally for visas allowing IT professionals and entrepreneurs to work and reside in many countries, is especially fitting in Kazakhstan due to its historic nomadic culture, tradition and deep roots.
Interested parties should review the available information on digital nomad visa programs carefully due to the large assortment of for-profit global legal and employment online sites offering almost instant visas, for a fee, without revealing the details of the needed documentation by consular authorities in advance. A significant number of the sites appear to be operated by digital nomads themselves, providing evidence that awareness of this visa/employment system is steadily growing from total obscurity just a few years ago.
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The Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1) is designed for professionals and digital entrepreneurs who plan to reside in Kazakhstan while working remotely with foreign income. This is a multiple-entry visa valid for up to one year, and extendable. Family members can also obtain visas for the same duration, though their work and religious activities are restricted.
The Digital Nomad Visa (B9-1) is intended for IT professionals relocating to Kazakhstan for permanent residence. It offers a single-entry electronic visa valid for one year and a multiple- entry paper visa that can be obtained through the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, applicants in this category must secure a petition from the Astana Hub or an authorized IT sector body. The Kazakhstan Visa and Migration Portal is the first step.
The Visa for Permanent Residence (B9) provides a pathway for professionals in high-demand fields such as medicine, science, innovation, education, and the creative industries. It includes a single-entry visa valid for 90 days and a multiple-entry visa issued once per year. Once in Kazakhstan, professionals can decide to transition to permanent residency and integrate into the job market.
EU visa facilitation for Kazakhstan travellers moving forward
There has been some forward movement on EU visa facilitation for Kazakhstan visitors. The European Union Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Aleška Simkić, met with Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in late January to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between both countries/blocs.
In that discussion, the EU Ambassador explained that easing Schengen visa requirements for Kazakhstan requires consensus among all Schengen Area countries, so no timeline for possible new measures was announced. She also noted that while Kazakhstan is viewed positively and not as a migration risk, the process has been slowed due to broader geopolitical and migration challenges.
At a meeting with Simkić late in December last year, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko said it is important that negotiations on the Visa Facilitation Agreement are launched soon.
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