🇰🇿 Doing business in Kazakhstan

What makes up the long-term score

Highlights: Resource rich economy · Belt and Road nexus · Emerging financial centre

Key industries

Oil & Gas → Stable

Kazakhstan is the worlds 12th largest oil producer. Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak fields attract major international operators.

Main investors: Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, China

Mining & Metals ↑ Growing

Kazakhstan holds top 10 global reserves of uranium, chromium, zinc and manganese. Uranium output is worlds largest.

Main investors: China, Russia, Canada, Australia

Financial Services ↑ Growing

Astana International Financial Centre is a common law jurisdiction hub targeting Central Asian financial services.

Main investors: UAE, UK, China, South Korea

Agriculture ↑ Growing

Kazakhstan is a top global wheat and grain exporter. Arable land of 24M hectares with significant agri investment potential.

Main investors: China, EU, Russia, UAE

Sector priorities

1. Oil & Gas Services: Major field expansions at Tengiz and Kashagan creating sustained demand for oilfield services and technology firms.
2. AIFC Financial Services: Astana IFC common law framework and 0% tax rate for qualifying firms creating attractive Central Asian financial hub opportunity.
3. Mining & Critical Minerals: Global critical mineral demand and Kazakhstan vast reserves creating significant mining technology and processing investment opportunity.

Talent & work permits

Kazakhstan has a highly educated workforce with Soviet era engineering and technical traditions. Kazakh and Russian are business languages.

• Foreign workers: Work permit required from Ministry of Labour. Quota based. Annual permit renewal required. Process takes 4 to 8 weeks.
• Localisation: Local content requirements apply in oil and gas sector. Targets for Kazakh national employment in foreign firms are increasing.
• Key consideration: Russian language proficiency is important for management roles outside Astana and Almaty international business communities.

Summarised from our dataset and not yet linked to sources. Verify with local counsel before acting.

How to enter: first four steps

Kazakhstan offers multiple entry routes. AIFC is the most attractive for financial and professional services firms.

1. Choose entry route: AIFC for financial services, standard LLP or JSC for other sectors, SEZ for manufacturing
2. Register with Ministry of Justice: legal entity registration through e-government portal eGov.kz
3. Register with State Revenue Committee: tax registration for CIT, VAT and social contributions
4. Develop local content plan: mandatory for oil and gas sector. Broader sectors benefit from demonstrating Kazakh workforce commitment

Indicative cost: 10-person team

Professional-services team (1 senior manager, 5 professionals, 2 admin, 2 support), Grade A office, registration, legal, audit and tax compliance. Model estimate, not a quote.

First year by industry (10 people)

Regulatory watch

• Feb 2026 · AIFC Expansion: Astana International Financial Centre announced expansion of permitted financial services activities and new tax incentives for qualifying firms establishing regional operations.