Kaspi.kz is less a bank than the payment ecosystem Kazakhstan's retail economy runs on: a super-app combining cards, QR payments, transfers, a marketplace and government services. For a non-resident, the Kaspi Gold card is the standard entry ticket — without it, paying for anything from taxis to utilities gets awkward. Data as of July 2026.
The product model
Kaspi runs a deliberately narrow retail line: the Kaspi Gold debit card, the Kaspi Red credit card and deposits. There is no classic premium tier with a relationship manager or an investment desk — a conscious mass-market strategy. A client looking for premium banking in Kazakhstan should look at Halyk or the banking-brokerage ecosystem of Freedom Finance.
Opening Kaspi Gold as a non-resident
The baseline set per the official Kaspi guide (rules updated March 2026): a Kazakhstani phone number, the original passport, an IIN (the local tax number) and a document confirming the legal basis of stay. For citizens of Russia and other EAEU states a border-crossing stamp is enough; a visa, a temporary permit, permanent residence or proof of study also qualify.
With a residence permit the card is issued entirely in the app; without one — only in a branch, since remote onboarding for non-residents was shut down across all major banks by 2026. The IIN has been issued only in person at a public service center since February 2024. Citizens of Russia, Turkey, China and other OECD-reporting countries must additionally provide their home-country TIN and residential address — a CRS requirement fixed in Kaspi's rules.
Card term and limits
Under ARDFM Resolution No. 96, in force since 19 January 2025, payment cards for non-residents are issued for a maximum of 12 months. The account keeps working after the plastic expires and funds are not blocked — the National Bank of Kazakhstan confirmed this publicly. The same act lowered the AML "suspicion" threshold to more than 5 cards in one bank (previously 10).
| Parameter | With residence permit | Without residence permit |
|---|---|---|
| Channel | fully in-app | branch visit only |
| Plastic | regular issue | non-personalized, 12 months, reissued annually |
| IIN | required | required |
| RF/Turkey/China citizens (CRS) | home TIN + address | home TIN + address |
Sanctions aspect
Kaspi maintains a public list of Russian and Belarusian banks transfers with which are impossible: SWIFT from sanctioned Russian banks does not go through. 2026 practice reviews describe enhanced compliance on large inflows from Russia — source of funds checks, crediting in 3–5 days or longer. The distinction matters: this is a compliance filter, not a refusal to serve Russians — Kaspi routinely opens accounts for RF citizens with a border stamp. Working funding routes are covered in the Kazakhstan payment route piece.
Who it is for
Kaspi Gold is the right first account for a relocator or a frequent visitor: daily payments, transfers and the marketplace in one app (the broader context sits in the relocation from Russia overview). It is the wrong tool for anyone expecting remote opening, private-banking service or long-lived plastic without legalization — without a residence permit the card is reissued every year.
Q/A
Can Kaspi Gold be opened remotely from abroad?
No. Without a residence permit the card is opened only in a branch, and the IIN is issued in person. Intermediary "remote" schemes stopped working across major Kazakh banks by 2026.
What happens to the account when the 12-month card expires?
Nothing dramatic: the account keeps operating, funds stay available, the plastic is reissued on a visit. The 12-month cap of ARDFM Resolution No. 96 applies to the card, not to the account — the National Bank of Kazakhstan has confirmed publicly that non-resident funds are not blocked.
Does a Russian citizen need a Kazakh residence permit for Kaspi?
No — a border-crossing stamp, an IIN and a local SIM are enough, and Kaspi routinely opens accounts for RF citizens on that basis. Citizens of Russia, Turkey, China and other OECD-reporting countries must additionally give their home-country TIN and residential address under CRS. A residence permit upgrades the experience: in-app onboarding and regular plastic.
Will a SWIFT transfer from a Russian bank arrive?
From a sanctioned bank — no; Kaspi publishes the list of banks transfers with which are impossible. From non-sanctioned banks transfers arrive, subject to source-of-funds checks, and 2026 practice reviews describe crediting of large inflows in 3–5 days or longer.