Moving to Almaty and buying an apartment as a Russian citizen

Can a Russian citizen buy an apartment in Almaty?

Short answer: yes, after getting a residence permit. Kazakh law gives permanently residing foreigners the same right to housing as citizens, and there's no exception for Russians; EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) membership doesn't change this rule. In 2026 notaries ask for a residence permit, and temporary registration isn't enough for them.

Without a residence permit there are two workable options. The first is to open an LLP (limited liability partnership, locally TOO) and buy the apartment through it. The second is to buy commercial premises in your own name, which foreigners can do without a residence permit. Which route suits you depends on whether you plan to live in the apartment, rent it out or run a business.

Entry, registration and work: what the EAEU gives Russians

An internal passport is enough for a trip to view properties. You can stay up to 30 days without registration; after that you have to register through your host, which is done via the Migration Portal. The overall limit without a status is 90 days in each half-year.

If you take a job with a Kazakh company, you don't need a permit and can stay for the whole term of the employment contract together with your family. Since 2024 entrepreneurs have had a business immigrant temporary residence permit. The route to a residence permit under the 2026 pilot goes through the KAZTEST language test and money in a bank account; a partner lawyer confirms the details for your situation.

How to rent an apartment in Almaty when moving from Russia

I advise almost everyone to rent for 3–6 months first. In that time you'll see which commute works, where the school is and where there's less smog in winter, and only then choose what to buy.

When renting, I check that the apartment is let by the owner or someone with a power of attorney, look at the title documents and write into the lease who pays utilities and how the deposit is returned. For Russians one more thing matters: the landlord must be willing to register you as the host.

Help buying an apartment: what I do and what the lawyers do

I have a law degree, and I read the documents first before showing you an apartment. I took my standard of work from Kaspi Bank, where I found premises for branches and Magnum stores: every decision is backed by numbers and checks. I also know construction from the inside: I built houses with a crew, and in 2019 I ran my own concrete plant in Burunday.

• A call before you arrive: your goal, budget and status, and choosing the route (residence permit, LLP or commercial)
• A shortlist of rentals and purchase options, with video viewings before you fly
• A plan for your visit: an IIN at a TsON public service centre, a bank, viewings over 3–5 days
• Checking the seller's or developer's documents, and the DDU (shared construction agreement) in Kazreestr
• The deal at the notary, with payment and registration monitored
• LLP, employment and residence permit through partner lawyers, with me coordinating the whole process

How to transfer money from Russia to buy an apartment in Kazakhstan

This is the main question Russians come to me with. On the Russian side, the Bank of Russia sets limits on transfers abroad; previously they were up to $1 million a month to foreign accounts and up to $10,000 through money transfer systems, and the Central Bank regularly extends them. Check the current limits with your bank before transferring.

On the Kazakh side, banks have checked payments from Russia more strictly since 2022. Expect questions about the source of funds and prepare documents in advance: the sale contract for your apartment in Russia, an income statement, a tax return. Under the National Bank of Kazakhstan's rules, control for individuals starts with transactions of $10,000 or more.

You can carry cash across the border, but amounts over $10,000 must be declared at customs. I don't recommend paying the seller in cash: a bank transfer from your own account protects you in any dispute. Don't forget your Russian obligations either: a Russian tax resident must notify the Federal Tax Service about an account at a foreign bank.

Which Almaty districts do people from Russia choose?

IT specialists and families with children often start in Bostandyk district: the blocks west of Gagarin Avenue offer new buildings at reasonable prices, and the Botanical Garden area is closer to parks and universities. People working in the business centre look at Esentai and Samal, within walking distance of the offices on Al-Farabi Avenue.

For those who want a house with the mountains nearby, Remizovka and Gorny Gigant fit. The foothills are beautiful, but there's a moratorium on new high-rises there, and earthquake risk and soil conditions need to be checked especially carefully.

Common mistakes Russians make

• Paying a deposit on an apartment in their own name without a residence permit, and then the notary refuses the deal
• Sending money through intermediaries and third parties, after which the bank blocks the payment or asks questions they can't answer
• Expecting to get an IIN at the embassy: since 2026 that doesn't work
• Buying straight away without living in the city first, and realising six months later that the district doesn't suit them
• Signing a "booking" or "investment contract" for a new build instead of a registered DDU