How a citizen of Tajikistan can rent or buy an apartment in Almaty

Can a citizen of Tajikistan buy an apartment in Kazakhstan?

Yes, if they have a residence permit. For a notary, registration at your place of stay, even extended to 90 days, isn't the same as permanent residence, and you can't register an apartment in your name on that basis.

Without a residence permit, the options are an LLP (limited liability partnership, locally TOO) and commercial property. Many of my clients from Dushanbe and Khujand first open a small business in Almaty: a shop, a cafe, a delivery service. The business premises are then bought in their own name, and the family apartment in the company's name.

Registration and work: what Tajik citizens need to know

You can stay the first 30 days without registration. If you stay longer, your landlord or employer registers you through the Migration Portal, and your stay is extended to 90 days. New Rules for the Registration of Immigrants have applied since 1 July 2026, so before travelling I advise checking whether the details have changed for your case.

You can't work on a visa-free stay. A citizen of Tajikistan needs a permit: either the employer obtains one within the quota, or you register as a labour immigrant working for an individual. The Ministry of Labour revised the 2026 quotas in May, and the limit for the second option is larger. Overstaying leads to a fine and an entry ban, and that also ends any plans to buy a home.

Why families from Tajikistan choose Almaty

The main flow from Tajikistan used to go to Russia. After 2024 conditions there became tougher, and some people are looking at Kazakhstan: it's closer to home, and Russian is understood everywhere. There are direct flights from Dushanbe to Almaty, so getting home for the holidays is easy.

People usually move in two stages. First one family member comes, works or starts a business, and a year or two later brings the rest. It's at the second stage that the question comes up: keep renting or buy.

How to rent an apartment in Almaty without risk

The most common problems for newcomers are that the apartment isn't let by the owner, the deposit isn't returned, or the landlord refuses to register you at the address. I check the documents for the apartment and the landlord's identity, and I write the registration condition straight into the lease.

For a family with children I check which school serves the building and whether there are kindergarten places. It's better to sign the first lease for two or three months: in that time you'll see whether the district suits you, and then you can extend or move without losing the deposit.

How to buy housing if you don't have a residence permit yet

I work out the LLP's bookkeeping costs and taxes on a future sale with an accountant in advance. If you plan to get a residence permit, discuss with a lawyer which is better: wait and buy in your own name, or buy through the company now.

• Get an IIN (individual identification number) in person at a TsON public service centre, usually in 1–3 working days
• Apostille your documents from Tajikistan and have them translated into Kazakh and Russian
• Register an LLP: since April 2026 the founder must be present in person
• Open a company account; the bank will check where the capital came from
• Buy the apartment in the LLP's name at a notary, or business premises in your own name

How to transfer money from Tajikistan for a purchase

Transfer from your own account at a Tajik bank to your own account at a Kazakh one. An account in Kazakhstan is opened in person after you get an IIN. For individuals, currency control starts at transactions of $10,000 or more, and the bank will ask about the source of the money.

Savings that were passed on in cash or through acquaintances for years are the hardest to explain to a bank. So collect everything that confirms your income in advance: employment certificates, statements, a contract for the sale of a home or car. Check your bank in Tajikistan's requirements for transfers abroad before the trip.

Which districts suit families from Tajikistan

On a reasonable budget, the new blocks west of Gagarin Avenue work well: lots of new buildings, schools and kindergartens nearby, quick access to the bypass road. In the southern belt, near Taugul, the neighbourhoods are older, with established infrastructure and less construction around.

If you're buying business premises, I assess them by the same rules I used to choose locations for Kaspi and Magnum: foot traffic, bus stops, nearby competitors, the condition of the premises. A mistake with location costs more in commercial property than with an apartment.

How I support clients from Tajikistan

I speak Russian, Kazakh and English, and with clients from Tajikistan we usually talk in Russian. If someone in the family is more comfortable in Tajik, we bring in an interpreter for meetings and the notary.

Help on the ground is a separate paid service, and we agree its scope and price in writing before I start. I search for a rental or a flat to buy, run the viewings, check the documents, and work with partner lawyers on your IIN, bank account and LLP. If you buy, my commission starts at 1%.