Renting and buying an apartment in Almaty for citizens of Uzbekistan

Can a citizen of Uzbekistan buy an apartment in Almaty?

Yes, with a Kazakh residence permit. The law on the legal status of foreigners is the same for everyone staying temporarily: visa-free trips, however frequent, don't give you the right to buy housing in your own name.

Without a residence permit there are two workable routes. You can open an LLP (limited liability partnership, locally TOO) and buy the apartment in the company's name, and a foreigner can buy commercial premises in their own name without a residence permit. Many of my clients from Tashkent, Samarkand and the Fergana Valley already trade with Kazakhstan, and an LLP is useful for their business too.

Uzbekistan is not in the EAEU: what that changes when you move

This is where people most often get confused. A Russian or Kyrgyz citizen works in Kazakhstan without a permit, but a citizen of Uzbekistan needs one: either the employer gets a permit within the quota, or the person registers as a labour immigrant working for an individual. The Ministry of Labour revised the 2026 quotas in May.

Visa-free entry is enough for viewing trips: 30 days without registration, then registration through the Migration Portal. Keep an eye on QazETA: it's currently an advisory electronic travel authorisation, but according to the media it's set to become mandatory from July 2027.

Why citizens of Uzbekistan move to and buy in Almaty

My clients from Uzbekistan usually have practical reasons. Some run businesses between the two countries and want a base in Almaty. Others send their children to study at Almaty universities and wonder whether to rent for five years or buy an apartment. Others keep part of their savings in property in another country.

For students I almost always calculate the rental option first. Buying makes sense if the apartment will be rented out afterwards or used by the family. Otherwise, over the years of study, total rent can come out lower than the costs of buying, taxes and selling later.

How to rent an apartment in Almaty for a student or family from Uzbekistan

For students I look at apartments near universities and the metro, for families closer to schools and kindergartens. I check the owner and the documents and write the deposit, term and utility payments into the lease. I also agree registration of the tenants with the landlord: without it, staying beyond 30 days becomes a violation.

Budgets in Almaty are noticeably higher than in Tashkent, which needs to be factored into your planning. I show real prices by district in advance so there are no surprises on arrival.

How a citizen of Uzbekistan can buy an apartment through an LLP

Keep the company's costs in mind: bookkeeping and the LLP's taxes on sale. I work out the structure with an accountant before buying, and my partner lawyers handle registration. MRP is the monthly calculation index Kazakhstan uses to set fees.

• An IIN (individual identification number) and a digital signature are obtained in person at a TsON public service centre in Kazakhstan, 1–3 working days each
• Documents from Uzbekistan are apostilled and translated into Kazakh and Russian
• Since April 2026 the founder must be present in person when a commercial LLP is registered
• After registration and opening a bank account, the company buys the apartment at a notary
• The notary fee for a deal with a legal entity is 17 MRP, about 73,500 ₸

How to transfer money from Uzbekistan for a purchase

The easiest way is a transfer in dollars from your own account at a bank in Uzbekistan to your own account at a Kazakh bank. Under the National Bank of Kazakhstan's rules, currency control for individuals starts with transactions of $10,000 or more. The bank will ask you to explain the source of the money, so prepare statements and income documents in advance.

Check your Uzbek bank's requirements for transfers abroad before the trip. I don't recommend paying the seller in cash: a bank transfer from your own account protects you in a dispute.

Which Almaty districts suit families and students from Uzbekistan

For families on a reasonable budget, the blocks west of Gagarin Avenue work well: new buildings, schools, easy road access. In the southern belt, around Taugul and Baikadamov Street, there are established neighbourhoods with good infrastructure. For students at KazNU and nearby universities, living near the Botanical Garden is convenient.

I work in Russian, Kazakh and English, which covers almost all my clients from Uzbekistan. Accompaniment includes finding a rental or purchase, viewings, document checks, the deal and liaising with lawyers on the IIN, bank and LLP.