# Kazakhstan: Banks, Residence, Business and the AIFC > The full Kazakhstan stack for 2026: bank comparison for non-residents, residence permits, company setup and taxes, AIFC benefits, sanctions rules. Author: Гордей Болотько — партнёр, Corporate & Commercial (https://wiki.private.law/authors/bolotko) Last modified: 2026-07-16T09:37:00.000Z Canonical: https://wiki.private.law/en/kazakhstan-hub Jurisdictions: kazakhstan Article type: hub --- Kazakhstan has settled into the role of the region's main bridge: a banking system open to non-residents (with caveats), fast legalization, sane taxes and its own financial center running English law. This guide assembles the whole Kazakh stack — from the first card to an AIFC structure. Data as of July 2026. ## Banks: who opens accounts for non-residents, and how The frame is the same for everyone: non-resident cards are issued [for a maximum of 12 months](https://www.interfax.ru/business/1002832) (ARDFM Resolution No. 96), the account keeps working after the plastic expires, the IIN is issued [only in person at a public service center](https://femida-justice.com/blog/kak-inostranczam-otkryt-kaspi-gold-v-kazahstane-poshagovaya-instrukcziya/), and remote opening is [closed across all major banks](https://easypayments.online/blog/kak-otkryt-schet-v-kazahstane). | Bank | Non-resident entry | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | [Kaspi](https://wiki.private.law/en/kaspi-bank) | entry stamp + IIN + local SIM; in-app with residence permit | the country's payment ecosystem; no premium tier | | [Halyk](https://wiki.private.law/en/halyk-bank) | in person only, 1 card | premium from a KZT 10 mln deposit | | [BCC](https://wiki.private.law/en/bank-centercredit) | in person only | SWIFT in USD/EUR/GBP/CNY/AED/RUB from the app | | [Jusan](https://wiki.private.law/en/jusan-bank) | in person; 2026 reviews point to a local employment contract | the most closed entry | | [Forte](https://wiki.private.law/en/forte-bank) | in person; employment/study/housing required | Solo premium from KZT 4 mln | | [Freedom Finance](https://wiki.private.law/en/freedom-finance) | see the dedicated overview | banking-brokerage ecosystem | The sanctions contour is uniform: SWIFT from sanctioned Russian banks does not go through, large credits pass source of funds checks, yet the National Bank of Kazakhstan [confirmed publicly](https://ria.ru/20250220/kazahstan-2000477373.html) that non-resident funds are not blocked. Funding routes from Russia are mapped in the [payment route](https://wiki.private.law/en/collect-pay-kazakhstan-route) piece. > 🍓 The Kazakh stack assembles within a season: a card on an entry stamp → an RVP in ~19 working days → a 10-year residence permit (no financial threshold for Russian citizens) → an LLP or an AIFC structure. ## Legalization: temporary and permanent residence EAEU citizens live in Kazakhstan without a status for 90 days out of 180; beyond that — an [RVP](https://wiki.private.law/en/kazakhstan-residence) for work, study or business immigration ([~19 working days](https://www.gov.kz/situations/572/intro?lang=ru) via a service center/egov) and a 10-year permanent residence permit. The solvency threshold is [1,320 MCI — KZT 5,709,000 in 2026](https://egov.kz/cms/ru/articles/financial_solvency), waived for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. Tax residency follows from 183 days of presence or the center of vital interests — details in the [residence overview](https://wiki.private.law/en/kazakhstan-residence), relocation context in the [relocation from Russia](https://wiki.private.law/en/relocation-from-russia) piece. ## Business: sole traders and LLPs Sole-trader (IP) status is reserved for permanent residents from EAEU states and Tajikistan; the main vehicle for a non-resident is an LLP, where the founder needs business-immigrant status (an RVP or a C5 visa). The 2026 tax frame: the simplified regime at [4% of turnover](https://mybuh.kz/useful/uproshhenka-2026-limity-porog-nds-kazakhstan.html) with a KZT 2.595 bln/year limit, or the standard regime with 20% CIT and [16% VAT](https://pro1c.kz/news/zakonodatelstvo/izmeneniya-po-nds-s-1-yanvarya-2026-goda/) (registration threshold KZT 43.25 mln). The full breakdown of forms, regimes and payroll charges is in the [company article](https://wiki.private.law/en/kazakhstan-company). ## The AIFC: a financial center under English law For financial, fintech and fund projects Astana runs the [AIFC](https://wiki.private.law/en/aifc): common law, an independent court presided over by Lord Burnett of Maldon, the AFSA regulator and [tax benefits until 2066](https://aifc.kz/tax-benefits/) — 0% CIT and VAT on financial-services income, plus personal-tax exemptions on AIX-listed securities. Ordinary trading operations get no benefits — they stay with a regular LLP. ## Who the Kazakh route fits A relocator from Russia — for speed: a bank account on an entry stamp, an RVP within a month, permanent residence without a financial threshold. An entrepreneur — for a clear tax frame and multi-currency banking down to CNY/AED. A financial project — for the AIFC. The weak spots are real too: the annual card-reissue cycle without a residence permit, a mandatory personal visit at every step, and enhanced compliance on Russian money. ## FAQ ### **Can a Kazakh bank account be opened remotely?** No. Since 2025–2026 all major banks require a personal visit; intermediary schemes are closed. ### **Which bank to choose first?** For daily life — Kaspi (entry on a border stamp). For SWIFT and rare currencies — BCC. For premium service — Halyk or Forte. ### **What does permanent residence cost a Russian citizen?** The financial threshold (1,320 MCI = KZT 5,709,000 in 2026) does not apply to Russian citizens — the track runs without solvency proof. ### **What does the AIFC give a non-financial company?** Almost nothing: the benefits attach to financial-services income and AIX securities. Ordinary business is better off with an LLP on the simplified or standard regime. ### **Does money from Russia get through?** From non-sanctioned banks — yes, with source of funds checks; from sanctioned banks SWIFT does not pass. Funds already in accounts are not blocked. --- ## FAQ ### Can a Kazakh bank account be opened remotely? No. Since 2025–2026 all major banks require a personal visit; intermediary schemes are closed. ### Which bank to choose first? For daily life — Kaspi (entry on a border stamp). For SWIFT and rare currencies — BCC. For premium service — Halyk or Forte. ### What does permanent residence cost a Russian citizen? The financial threshold (1,320 MCI = KZT 5,709,000 in 2026) does not apply to Russian citizens — the track runs without solvency proof. ### What does the AIFC give a non-financial company? Almost nothing: the benefits attach to financial-services income and AIX securities. Ordinary business is better off with an LLP on the simplified or standard regime. ### Does money from Russia get through? From non-sanctioned banks — yes, with source of funds checks; from sanctioned banks SWIFT does not pass. Funds already in accounts are not blocked. --- ## Factual claims - Kazakhstan has settled into the role of the region's main bridge: a banking system open to non-residents (with caveats), fast legalization, sane taxes and its own financial center running English law. - The frame is the same for everyone: non-resident cards are issued for a maximum of 12 months (ARDFM Resolution No. - EAEU citizens live in Kazakhstan without a status for 90 days out of 180; beyond that — an RVP for work, study or business immigration (~19 working days via a service center/egov) and a 10-year permanent residence permit. - Sole-trader (IP) status is reserved for permanent residents from EAEU states and Tajikistan; the main vehicle for a non-resident is an LLP, where the founder needs business-immigrant status (an RVP or a C5 visa).