Digital nomad visa · Asia
Kazakhstan digital nomad visa 2026: requirements and cost
Kazakhstan's Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1), introduced on 18 November 2024, is a one-year multiple-entry visa for people who work remotely with a steady income from abroad of at least US$3,000 a month over six months. It is issued by Kazakh embassies within five working days, can be extended for one more year at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and nationals of 48 countries need no invitation letter.
Official name: Neo Nomad Visa, category B12-1. Facts updated 2026-10-04 · Not yet reviewed by a person · Dataset 2026.10.7.
Not yet reviewed by a person
Compiled from the official pages listed below, last read on 2026-10-04. A named person has not yet re-checked it; treat it as a starting point and confirm with the source before you apply.
Who can apply
Open to citizens of all countries who work remotely and have a permanent income from foreign sources of at least US$3,000 a month. Citizens of 48 'economically developed, politically and migration-stable' states (EU and EFTA members, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, Brazil, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Jordan) apply without an invitation; everyone else must add an invitation letter.
What you need
- Passport and completed visa application form with photo
- Bank statements for the past six months confirming a stable monthly income of at least US$3,000
- Tax return issued by the competent authority of your country of citizenship
- Criminal record certificate issued by the authorised body of your country of citizenship or permanent residence
- Medical insurance covering the entire validity period of the visa
- Invitation letter, unless you are a citizen of one of the 48 listed countries
- Evidence of your remote work, such as an employment contract or client agreements, if the mission asks for it
Income proof: Stated in US dollars by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: a bank statement for the past six months confirming a stable monthly income of at least US$3,000, backed by a tax return from your country of citizenship. No conversion was needed.
Family: Spouses and dependants of the main applicant are issued visas valid for the same period as the Neo Nomad visa; they apply at the same mission with proof of the family relationship and their own insurance.
Cost and timeline
| Minimum income | $3,000/monthUS$3,000 a month, shown by bank statements for the past six months |
|---|---|
| Fee | Consular fee set by the issuing Kazakh missionThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Neo Nomad instructions do not state the consular fee; each embassy or consulate charges its visa fee in local currency under its own tariff and reciprocity rules. Ask the mission where you will apply for the B12-1 amount; the extension at the Ministry of Internal Affairs carries a separate state duty. |
| Processing time | 5 daysThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs states the visa is issued within five working days of submission at a Kazakh foreign mission; gathering the tax return, criminal record certificate and insurance beforehand is what takes time. |
| Stay | 1 year, renewable up to 2 years |
How to apply
At a consulate. Any embassy or consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan abroad. The one-year extension is requested from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (migration service) in Kazakhstan before the visa expires.
- Check you work remotely for employers or clients outside Kazakhstan and have earned at least US$3,000 a month for the last six months.
- Collect six months of bank statements, a tax return issued by the tax authority of your country of citizenship, a criminal record certificate from your country of citizenship or residence and medical insurance covering the whole visa period.
- If your passport is not on the 48-country list, obtain an invitation letter; otherwise skip this step.
- Submit the visa application with your passport and documents at the nearest Kazakh embassy or consulate and pay the consular fee; staff verify the documents and issue the B12-1 within five working days.
- Enter Kazakhstan, register your address as required, and apply to the Ministry of Internal Affairs before the year ends if you want the one-year extension.
After you arrive
Renewal: Multiple-entry visa valid for up to one year with a stay of up to one year. It can be extended once for up to one additional year on application to the Ministry of Internal Affairs inside Kazakhstan, giving two years in total.
Residence: The B12-1 is a visa, not a residence permit; it does not permit employment in Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes no route from it to a residence permit or permanent residence, which require separate applications.
Taxes
You become a Kazakh tax resident after 183 days in any 12-month period and are then taxed on worldwide income at the flat 10% individual rate, subject to Kazakhstan's double-tax treaties. Short stays under the visa-free regime do not create residence; take advice once you pass six months.
In practice
- nomadVisa is set to true because the B12-1 is a dedicated remote-work visa in force since 18 November 2024 with published requirements and an application route, not a generic long-stay path.
- The visa does not allow employment in Kazakhstan; local work needs a work permit and a different visa.
- Many nomads first use Kazakhstan's 30-day visa-free entry (most of the 48 listed nationalities qualify) to see Almaty or Astana, then apply for the B12-1 from home; the visa cannot be issued inside Kazakhstan.
- Almaty has the larger expat and tech community and milder weather; Astana is the capital with newer infrastructure and severe winters. Both have good coworking and cheap fast internet.
For your passport
Choose your passport in the ranker and the notes that apply to you move to the top.
- EU, EEA, CH:All EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are on the 48-country list, so no invitation letter is needed; most also enter visa-free for 30 days to scout.
- US, GB, CA, AU, NZ:On the no-invitation list; apply at a Kazakh embassy or consulate with the income, tax, police and insurance documents. Visa-free 30-day tourist entry is available first.
- JP, KR, SG, MY, IL, BR, AE, QA, OM, SA, JO:Also on the 48-country list and exempt from the invitation requirement.
- All other passports:Eligible on the same income rule but must attach an invitation letter to the B12-1 application; ask the Kazakh mission who can issue it in your case.
Cities in Kazakhstan on Nostos
Have you applied for this visa?
Does this guide match what you found?
Tell other nomads how it went.
Outcome, how long it took, what it cost and what the guide did not tell you. Your account appears here once a person has read it; your email never does.
Frequently asked
- Who can apply for the Kazakhstan digital nomad visa?
- Open to citizens of all countries who work remotely and have a permanent income from foreign sources of at least US$3,000 a month. Citizens of 48 'economically developed, politically and migration-stable' states (EU and EFTA members, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, Brazil, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Jordan) apply without an invitation; everyone else must add an invitation letter. Kazakhstan's Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1), introduced on 18 November 2024, is a one-year multiple-entry visa for people who work remotely with a steady income from abroad of at least US$3,000 a month over six months. It is issued by Kazakh embassies within five working days, can be extended for one more year at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and nationals of 48 countries need no invitation letter.
- How much income do you need for the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1)?
- About $3,000 per month (US$3,000 a month, shown by bank statements for the past six months). Stated in US dollars by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: a bank statement for the past six months confirming a stable monthly income of at least US$3,000, backed by a tax return from your country of citizenship. No conversion was needed.
- How much does the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1) cost and how long does it take?
- The fee is Consular fee set by the issuing Kazakh mission; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Neo Nomad instructions do not state the consular fee; each embassy or consulate charges its visa fee in local currency under its own tariff and reciprocity rules. Ask the mission where you will apply for the B12-1 amount; the extension at the Ministry of Internal Affairs carries a separate state duty. Processing time: 5 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states the visa is issued within five working days of submission at a Kazakh foreign mission; gathering the tax return, criminal record certificate and insurance beforehand is what takes time.
- How long can you stay in Kazakhstan on the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1), and can it be renewed?
- 1 year, renewable up to 2 years. Multiple-entry visa valid for up to one year with a stay of up to one year. It can be extended once for up to one additional year on application to the Ministry of Internal Affairs inside Kazakhstan, giving two years in total.
- Does the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1) lead to permanent residence in Kazakhstan?
- Not by itself. The B12-1 is a visa, not a residence permit; it does not permit employment in Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes no route from it to a residence permit or permanent residence, which require separate applications.
- Can family members come with you on the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1)?
- Spouses and dependants of the main applicant are issued visas valid for the same period as the Neo Nomad visa; they apply at the same mission with proof of the family relationship and their own insurance.
- Do you pay tax in Kazakhstan on the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1)?
- You become a Kazakh tax resident after 183 days in any 12-month period and are then taxed on worldwide income at the flat 10% individual rate, subject to Kazakhstan's double-tax treaties. Short stays under the visa-free regime do not create residence; take advice once you pass six months.
- Where do you apply for the Neo Nomad visa (B12-1)?
- At a consulate: Any embassy or consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan abroad. The one-year extension is requested from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (migration service) in Kazakhstan before the visa expires.
- Do I need an invitation letter for the Kazakhstan Neo Nomad visa?
- Only if your passport is not among the 48 countries the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists as economically developed and migration-stable. EU, UK, US, Canadian, Australian, Japanese and Korean citizens, among others, apply without one.
- Can I apply for the Neo Nomad visa while I am in Kazakhstan?
- No. The B12-1 is issued by Kazakhstan's foreign missions, so you apply at an embassy or consulate abroad. Only the one-year extension is handled inside the country, by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Sources
- Instructions for Obtaining Neo Nomad Visa (with Appendix 1, list of 48 states exempt from the invitation requirement), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, published on gov.kz · retrieved 2026-10-04 · B12-1 category, start date 18 Nov 2024, one-year multiple-entry validity, one-year extension via Ministry of Internal Affairs, US$3,000 income, document list, five working days, family visas, no employment, 48-country list
Not yet reviewed by a person. Applied for this visa? Tell us what you found →