23.01.2026
Important Changes in the Legislation of Kazakhstan
Source: zakon.kz
29.12.2025
Personal data processing: changes have been made
On 22 December 2025, amendments were made to the Rules for the implementation of measures to protect personal data (PD) by the owner or operator, as well as by a third party.
It is clarified that when processing restricted personal data, the owner or operator define:
- processing purposes – the data is used in accordance with the declared purposes;
- the procedure for processing, dissemination, and access;
- the procedure for blocking personal data related to the subject, if requested.
The owner or operator, as well as a third party when processing restricted personal data:
- define the list of persons with access;
- notify the authorized body of information security incidents related to illegal access;
- ensure the installation of information security tools and software updates on technical equipment performing processing;
- ensure the maintenance of a database management system event log;
- ensure the maintenance of a log of user actions with access;
- apply integrity control tools;
- ensure the transfer to other persons via secure communication channels or using encryption and with the consent of the PD data subject, unless otherwise provided by the law of the RK;
- identify business processes containing PD;
- ensure the use of cryptographic information protection tools for secure storage;
- apply user identification or authentication tools, including biometric authentication for a database containing more than one hundred thousand personal data records when working with PD.
The Order became effective on 6 January 2026.
Source: zakon.kz
26.12.2025
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed a law on subsoil resources to increase the investment attractiveness of the industry
The Law "On Amendments and Additions to the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Subsoil and Subsoil Use" on Issues of Improving Subsoil Use in the Sphere of Hydrocarbons and Uranium" was signed.
The main goal of the law is to increase the investment attractiveness of the industrial sector.
Specifically, the amendments provide for:
- implementation of a Unified Subsoil Use Portal, which is a unified information system for the subsoil use sector;
- expanding the grounds for denial of a solid mineral exploration license to a person recognized as the auction winner but who has failed to pay signature bonuses for five years, as well as to a person or organization that controlled the auction winner.
The amendments also provide for a procedure for reviewing applications for a license for a newly vacated block for solid mineral exploration operations, a procedure for extracting minerals during the exploration phase, a procedure for holding auctions for territories containing industrial-grade solid mineral reserves, with the exception of common minerals and uranium, which are registered with the state, and a procedure for granting subsoil use rights under industrial-innovative projects.
Source: zakon.kz
23.12.2025
Kazakhstan has set a quota for attracting foreign labour through 2026
The Order was signed on 12 December 2025, “On establishing a quota for attracting foreign labour to carry out labour activities in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2026.”
The quota for attracting foreign labour to work in Kazakhstan for 2026 as a percentage of the workforce is set at:
- 0.25% for permits issued by the local executive body to employers
- 2.9% for attracting immigrant labour.
The Order became effective on 2 January 2026.
Source: zakon.kz
04.12.2025
A new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) ‘Atyrau’ has been created in Kazakhstan
A Decree was signed on 1 December 2025, establishing the Atyrau SEZ.
According to the document, the Atyrau SEZ is established for a period until 31 December 2036.
The SEZ is located in the Atyrau Region within the administrative boundaries of the city of Atyrau along the Atyrau-Dossor highway and the Zhylyi district of the Atyrau Region. The SEZ covers an area of 450 hectares and is considered part of Kazakhstan's territory.
The SEZ includes:
- an industrial zone along the Atyrau-Dossor highway, covering an area of 400 hectares.
- a subzone in the Zhylyi district, covering an area of 50 hectares.
The objectives of the SEZ creation:
- Accelerated development of modern, highly productive, competitive manufacturing, the creation of a qualitatively new level of service provision, attracting investment, introducing new technologies into economic sectors and the region, and increasing employment;
- Development of manufacturing industries and the production of chemical, petrochemical, metallurgical, non-metallic mineral products, metalworking, rubber and plastic products, and other high-added-value products.
A special legal regime is established within the SEZ, and a free customs zone’s customs procedure is in effect, which provides for customs control. Requirements for the development of the SEZ territory, including fencing and equipping the perimeter with a video surveillance system, are established by the authorized customs authority.
The procedure for entry, exit, transit and stay of foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as their vehicles, is established within the territory of the SEZ, as per the legislation of the RK and international agreements ratified by the RK.
Target indicators of the Atyrau SEZ by 2036:
- Total investment volume: KZT 320 billion
- Foreign investment volume: KZT 120 billion
- Domestic investment volume: KZT 200 billion
- Production volume of goods and services (works) within the SEZ: KZT 410 billion
- Number of participants: 70 companies
- Number of jobs within the SEZ: 2,500
- Share of Kazakhstani content in total production within the SEZ: 85%.
The Decree became effective on 1 December 2025.
Source: zakon.kz
12.11.2025
The list of priority activities for SEZ ‘Park of Innovative Technologies’ has been expanded
The following activities have been added to the list of activities of the Park of Innovative Technologies SEZ (Almaty):
- elevator manufacturing
- other construction and installation work not included in other categories
- other educational activities not included in other categories
- activities of other institutions performing technical testing and analysis.
The full list includes 33 types of activities.
The Order became effective on 11 November 2025.
Source: zakon.kz
10.10.2025
Inviting foreigners to Kazakhstan and issuing visas: changes from 2026
Effective 1 January 2026, a consular fee or state duty will be charged for the processing of invitation documents and visa issuance, including for renewals and extensions, except in cases stipulated by the Tax Code.
It is clarified that individuals from countries with which the RK has international agreements on visa-free entry who apply to the internal affairs authorities for permanent residence in the RK will be issued a category B8 or B9 visa for the period required to process the application, but for no more than 90 calendar days. A visa is issued once every 12 consecutive calendar months from the date of the last application.
Individuals working remotely and with a permanent income from foreign sources are issued a multiple-entry visa for up to one year.
A visa is issued by Kazakhstan's foreign missions based on an invitation, subject to the following documents:
- bank statement for the past 6 months confirming a stable monthly income of over USD 3,000
- tax return issued by the competent authority of the applicant's country of citizenship
- document confirming the absence of a criminal record, issued by the authorized body of the applicant's country of citizenship or permanent residence
- medical insurance covering the requested visa period.
From 1 January 2026, the following clauses will also come into effect:
A state fee of MCI 0.5 (KZT 1,966 in 2025) per invitee is charged for the provision of the public service "Reception and approval of invitations from hosts for the issuance of RK visas".
If apply for a government service through the State Corporation, payment is made through the Electronic Government Payment Gateway or second-tier banks and organizations that carry out certain types of banking operations.
Hosts applying for invitations to issue Kazakhstan visas are exempt from paying the state fees for:
- members of foreign official delegations and their accompanying persons;
- persons arriving in Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Presidential Administration, the Government, Parliament, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Central Election Commission, the Government Office, state bodies, akimats of regions, cities of national significance, and the capital of Kazakhstan;
- foreigners traveling to Kazakhstan with humanitarian aid coordinated with the relevant government agencies of Kazakhstan;
- foreign investors;
- ethnic Kazakhs;
- children under 16 years of age on the basis of reciprocity.
A state fee is charged for the provision of the government service "Issue, renewal, or prolongation of visas for exit and entry into the RK to foreigners and stateless persons in the RK". The fee is as follows:
for the issuance, renewal, or extension of visas for foreigners and stateless persons in the RK:
- Exit from the RK: MCI 0.5 (KZT 1,966)
- Entry into and exit from the RK: MCI 7 (KZT 27,524)
- Multiple entry into and exit from the RK: MCI 30 (KZT 117,960).
The following persons are exempt from paying the state fee:
- members of foreign official delegations and their accompanying persons;
- persons arriving in Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Presidential Administration, the Government, Parliament, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Central Election Commission, the Government Office, state bodies, akimats of regions, cities of national significance, and the capital of Kazakhstan;
- foreigners traveling to Kazakhstan with humanitarian aid agreed upon with the relevant government agencies of Kazakhstan;
- ethnic Kazakhs;
- children under 16 years of age on the basis of reciprocity;
- former citizens of Kazakhstan permanently residing abroad and traveling to Kazakhstan for the funeral of close relatives;
- foreign investors.
The Amendments became effective on 1 January 2026.