Business and Visas in Kazakhstan: Legal Advice and Practice

Kazakhstan Digital Nomad: Taxes, Timeline and Costs of the Residency Program

2026-07-11 11:00 Digital Nomad

Two questions come up most: how long and how much. Let us break down the realistic timeline by stage, what the costs consist of, and where the line runs between doing it yourself and using support.

Quick answer:
• Full cycle - around 3 months.
• Costs split into state fees and service costs (notary, translations, medical exam, fingerprinting, housing).
• You can technically do it yourself; in practice people pay for speed, no mistakes and predictability.
• Housing and its documents are the applicant's responsibility.

Timeline by stage

StageApprox. time
Application moderationup to 3 days
Test and interviewwhen ready
Petition decision15-20 days
Residence permit reviewup to 45 calendar days
Travel after approvalwithin 30 days
Card issuance7 days (Astana) / 17 days (Almaty)

Zero tax rates for Astana Hub members

The main magnet for IT business is the Astana Hub tax regime. Member companies enjoy zero rates on several key taxes until 2029:

TaxRate
Corporate income tax0%
VAT on goods, works, services0%
Personal income tax on salary0%
Social tax for foreign staff0%
Non-resident royalty income0%

Note: these benefits apply to Astana Hub member companies, not to an individual nomad directly. The logical sequence is status first, then a company inside the ecosystem.

What the costs consist of

  • State: the residence permit fee and related charges.
  • Mandatory services: medical exam, fingerprinting, notarized housing documents, translations if needed.
  • Housing: rent and notarized owner consent / lease - the applicant's responsibility.

Choosing between visa and residency first: Visa vs Residency.

Common planning mistakes

  • Budgeting one month - the realistic benchmark is three.
  • Forgetting the trip - 30 days to travel after approval.
  • Ignoring service costs - the fee is not the only line.
We work in a transparent stage-by-stage model: you pay for the work actually done at each stage and know the plan in advance. Request a quote for your case →

Frequently asked questions

How long does the residence permit take?
Around 3 months on average; the residence permit review alone is up to 45 calendar days.

Are taxes really zero for IT?
Zero rates on several key taxes apply to Astana Hub member companies until 2029 - a business benefit, not an automatic individual perk.

Is housing included in the service?
No. Finding housing and arranging owner consent / lease is the applicant's task.

State fees and provider rates are set separately and may change. Get a plan and quote.