Almaty for digital nomads: visa, taxes and housing

Does Kazakhstan have a digital nomad visa?

Yes, it's called Neo Nomad and has been in force since 17 November 2024 under a joint order of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs dated 31.10.2024. It's for people who work for a foreign employer or foreign clients and want to stay in Kazakhstan longer than the visa-free period allows.

You apply at a Kazakh consulate. Family members get visas for the same period. You can't work for a Kazakh employer on this visa: your income has to come from abroad.

How long can you stay in Kazakhstan without a visa?

The general rule for visa-free foreigners and EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) citizens is no more than 90 days in every 180-day period. You can't work on visa-free entry, and that includes being formally on a local company's payroll. Below are the rules for the countries people most often contact me from. The lists change, so check them on the Kazakh Foreign Ministry website before you travel.

• Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan: visa-free for up to 90 days in 180; citizens of Russia and Kyrgyzstan can enter with their internal passport
• Uzbekistan: up to 30 days without registration, no more than 90 days in 180 in total
• China: mutual visa-free travel since 10.11.2023, up to 30 days per entry and 90 days in 180
• Turkey: 30 days; a draft allowing 90 days in 180 was published, but I haven't confirmed that it was adopted
• UAE, USA, EU countries, UK, South Korea, Japan: up to 30 days
• India: up to 14 days per entry and no more than 42 days in 180

What is QazETA and do you need it?

QazETA is an electronic travel authorisation for visa-free foreigners. You apply in the app at least 72 hours before the trip, and the authorisation is valid for 180 days.

For now the system runs as an advisory pilot. According to the media, it will become mandatory from 1 July 2027. The fee hasn't been approved yet, and the government will decide the list of countries. Sources give different dates, so check the current status before a trip in 2027.

Do foreigners need to register in Almaty?

Registration of foreigners changed on 1 July 2026: Ministry of Internal Affairs Order No. 923 introduced new rules. You register through the Migration Portal, and whoever hosts you confirms it in the app. A visa-free visitor staying up to 90 days has to be registered within 30 days of arriving, unless an international agreement sets a different term.

For a nomad this means something simple: your landlord or hotel has to be ready to confirm that you live there. I discuss this with the owner before the lease is signed, so you don't have to chase them by phone later.

Do digital nomads pay tax in Kazakhstan?

The Ministry of Tourism has said that the foreign income of Neo Nomad holders is not taxed. At the same time, under the general rule, a person who spends 183 days or more in Kazakhstan within any 12 months becomes a tax resident and may have to pay tax on worldwide income.

How these two rules fit together in practice hasn't been officially clarified. If you plan to live here longer than six months, talk to a tax adviser before you reach 183 days. Also check the double taxation treaty between Kazakhstan and your country.

Where to live in Almaty as a remote worker

Nomads usually care about fast internet, cafés and coworking spaces nearby, quiet nights and easy access to the mountains. I'd look at the centre and south of the city: Bostandyk district above Abay Avenue, Samal, Medeu district near Dostyk Avenue, and the Golden Square. Living without a car is easier there.

According to OLX data for June 2026, average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is: Turksib district 128,000 ₸, Medeu 148,000 ₸, Alatau 157,000 ₸, Zhetysu 161,000 ₸, Nauryzbay 167,000 ₸, Auezov 178,000 ₸, Almaly 183,000 ₸, Bostandyk 189,000 ₸. These are averages across listings; renovated apartments in new complexes cost more.

For short stays, according to digitalbusiness.kz, a one-bedroom costs from 9,000 to 35,000 ₸ a night in Bostandyk district and up to 60,000 ₸ in Medeu. If you're staying a month, it's cheaper to agree a monthly rate.

Should a digital nomad rent or buy in Almaty?

I always advise renting for the first few months. You'll get to know the district, the noise, the traffic and the quality of the building, and find out whether you actually want to stay long term.

Buying comes with a legal restriction: without a residence permit a foreigner can't buy housing in their own name, and the Neo Nomad visa doesn't give you a residence permit. If you decide to invest, there are routes through an LLP or non-residential property, covered in a separate guide. Gross rental yield in Almaty averages about 9% according to Global Property Guide, but it's lower at the top end, around 6.4% for three-bedroom apartments in Medeu district.

How I help nomads find housing

I look for apartments that fit how you work: a proper desk, internet, sound insulation, a lift, parking, being close to a coworking space or the mountains. I check the owner and the documents so you don't hand a deposit to a scammer, and I arrange registration in advance.

I can do a video viewing before you arrive and hold the best options until you land. If you later decide to buy, I'll already know what suits you.