Moving to Kazakhstan: visas, banking and SIM cards

By Aigerim Serik, Kazakhstan host 25 August 2026 8 min read

Majestic view of Astana's iconic architecture glowing against evening sky. — Photo by Aibek Skakov on Pexels

The first thing you notice in late August is the light—long, honeyed, and already leaning toward autumn. You land at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, and the air smells like dust and fresh asphalt. Astana is mid-transition: the summer crowds are thinning, the melon stalls are stacked high with golden flesh, and the city is smoothing itself out for the long winter ahead. On the ride into the Esil District, your driver points at the Bayterek Tower, glowing against a sky that’s just starting to bruise with clouds. You’ve made it. Now, let’s get you settled.

Entry and Registration: Your First Five Days

If you’re reading this with a Western passport—US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, or Korea—the good news is you can walk in without a visa and stay up to 30 days. Just keep an eye on the 90-days-in-any-180 rule. For everyone else, the e-Visa portal (vmp.gov.kz) is your entry point, but note that it only works if you arrive via Almaty or Astana airports.

Here’s what trips people up: registration. If you’re staying more than five days, you need migration registration. Hotels handle it automatically when you check in, but if you’re in an Airbnb or a rental from Krisha.kz—which is what most longer-stay newcomers use—your host must do it via eGov.kz within three days. From July 2026, Astana auto-registers foreigners at major airports and drops the requirement for stays under 30 days, which is a relief. Still, don’t risk it: unregistered departures can now land you with fines of 15–50 MRP, which is roughly ₸65,000–216,000 ($140–460).

My advice? If you’re staying longer than a month, treat registration as a priority. Ask your landlord or host to submit it the day you arrive, and keep a screenshot of the confirmation on your phone. It saves you a headache at the airport and at any police checkpoint.

Banking: Get Your IIN, Then Kaspi

You cannot function in Astana without a local bank account, and for 90% of everyday life, that means Kaspi Bank. The Kaspi.kz app is everywhere—paying for bus fares, splitting a restaurant bill, transferring rent, even buying a melon at the Green Bazaar. Locals joke that Kaspi is the real national currency. The only competitor that matters is Halyk Bank, the state-owned giant, which is useful for payroll and more formal banking.

The process has two steps. First, you need an Individual Identification Number (IIN) from the migration office or via eGov.kz. Take your passport and proof of registration—some offices ask for a rental contract. It usually takes a day or two. Then, with your IIN in hand, walk into any Kaspi branch with your passport and you’ll walk out with an account and a debit card. I’ve seen it done in under an hour. If you’re here for work, your employer might help, but don’t count on it—plenty of expats navigate this solo.

One practical note: the AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre) operates under English common law, so if you’re a professional coming for work at Astana Hub or the Expo District, you’ll find international-style banking options there too. But for daily life, Kaspi is non-negotiable.

SIM Cards and Staying Connected

Your phone is your lifeline here. The major carriers—Beeline, Kcell (their Activ brand is popular), and Tele2—all sell prepaid SIMs at their offices in any mall. Just bring your passport (no IIN needed for a SIM) and you’ll be set in ten minutes. Data plans are cheap; you can get a decent monthly bundle for around ₸3,000–5,000 ($6–11), and coverage in Astana is excellent.

If you have an eSIM-compatible phone, you can also go that route, but be aware that most local services—including Kaspi and the Onay transit app—require a Kazakh phone number. So even if you buy an eSIM online, you’ll likely still need a local SIM for the digital life.

Pro tip: get your SIM before you try to open a bank account, because most banks send a one-time SMS code to your Kazakh number. The process flows smoother if you have that sorted first.

Getting Around: The Onay Card and Yandex Go

Astana’s buses are modern and clean, but cash is not accepted. You need an Onay card—bright yellow, sold at kiosks marked “Onay” across the city, especially near bus stops and in malls. A single ride costs about ₸90–100 ($0.20) with the card, while the full monthly pass (covering bus and metro) is around ₸7,500 ($16). That’s among the cheapest transit in the country. Many locals just tap their Kaspi QR code at the card reader, which is even easier. For non-bus journeys, Yandex Go is the standard ride-hail app—it works well, and you can pay by card or cash.

One city update for your first week: part of Sh. Ualikhanov Street, between Bogenbai Batyr Avenue and S. Seifullin Street, is down to one lane while crews lay a new asphalt top coat. It should be finished by August 29, but expect some congestion on the right bank. And keep an eye on the electricity and hot-water schedule—several blocks on the right bank, plus Turan Avenue and Aitmatov Street, are having planned cutoffs until late afternoon, and some buildings lose hot water until 21:00. It’s routine maintenance, but it catches newcomers off guard. Check the local Telegram channels for daily updates.

Making a Home: Where to Live and What It Costs

The expat’s first choice is usually the Esil District (the Left Bank)—the master-planned showpiece with the Bayterek Tower, Khan Shatyr, and the government quarter. It’s walkable, green, and full of international schools. But it comes at a price: a modest one-bedroom outside the very center runs about ₸170,000–200,000 ($390) per month, and that figure jumped roughly 30% year-on-year in early 2025. If you want a more lived-in feel, the Saryarka District (the Old Center, former Tselinograd) offers older, cheaper housing and the best local restaurants—try the borscht at any café near the Green Bazaar for under ₸2,000 ($4). The Expo District, anchored by the Nur Alem sphere, is where tech workers tend to settle in new-build towers. And Nura District, the newest, is family-oriented, built around the Taldykol lakes.

Day-to-day costs are moderate. A meal at an inexpensive local spot is around ₸4,500–4,750 ($10). A cappuccino sets you back ₸1,100–1,150 ($2.40). A liter of milk is about ₸480 ($1), and a loaf of bread ₸200 ($0.40). Pelmeni—those Russian-style dumplings—are a staple; you’ll find a generous plate for ₸3,100–3,300 ($7). If you want to splurge, a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant lands near ₸16,000 ($35). The currency is the tenge, and as of late 2026, the exchange rate hovers around ₸468 per US dollar. Inflation is running at about 11.4%, so don’t be surprised if prices creep up—especially for rent.

Feeling the City: What’s Around You

Astana is a city of planned contrasts. Spend a Sunday at the National Museum—Central Asia’s largest—and don’t miss the Hall of Gold, home to the 4th-century BC “Golden Man” Saka warrior. Then, cross the river to Khan Shatyr, Norman Foster’s giant tent, where you can enjoy the indoor beach with Maldivian sand even when it’s minus 30 outside. For a sense of history, visit the Hazret Sultan Mosque, the largest in Central Asia, or the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. If you have time, the ALZHIR Memorial—an hour north of the city—offers a sobering look at Soviet-era repression.

The weather is doing its usual late-August dance: after a hail storm on the 24th, the heat rebounds, and you might catch those warm, dry days that feel like a gift before the -30°C winters. Locals say the good season lasts until mid-September. I’d start exploring now—wander the Nurzhol Boulevard, grab a coffee at Big Apple Coffee Shop, and watch the city’s light shift over the Ishim River. The LRT from the airport to Nurly Zhol station is opening fully this year, which will make everything easier.

Just keep an eye on your belongings near the malls—Khan Shatyr and Keruen can attract pickpockets, and the area around the old railway station is best avoided late at night. But overall, this is a safe, surveilled, and welcoming city.

Your first week is about getting the essentials done, but don’t forget to look up. The Bayterek’s golden sphere catches the sunset around 19:16 these evenings. It’s your new skyline. Welcome to Astana.

A Note on the Local Rhythm

In five days, on August 30, it’s Constitution Day—a public holiday when the city empties out and families head to the parks. Expect banks and some offices to close, so plan your SIM or banking errands before then. And in the evenings, if you want a laugh, Carlin Stand Up Bar on Heydar Aliyev Street runs comedy nights, including an improv session with Zarina Baibolova. It’s a great way to pick up some Kazakh humor and practice your Russian.

You’ll settle in faster than you think. The city’s rhythm is calm, purposeful, and full of small surprises—like the scent of melons on the market air, or the sight of a woman in a felt shyrdak pattern scrolling through her Kaspi app. Soon, that will be you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to move to Kazakhstan?

If you're from the US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, or Korea, you can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, with a 90-days-in-any-180 limit. Others must apply through the e-Visa portal (vmp.gov.kz) and enter only via Almaty or Astana airports.

How do I get registered in Kazakhstan after arriving?

For stays over 5 days, you must be migration-registered. Hotels do it automatically; if you're in a private rental, your host must register you via eGov.kz within 3 days. From July 2026, there's auto-registration at major airports and no registration needed for stays under 30 days.

What documents do I need to open a bank account in Kazakhstan?

First, obtain an Individual Identification Number (IIN) from the migration office or eGov.kz. Then, visit a bank like Kaspi or Halyk with your passport and IIN. You'll have an account the same day in most cases.

How do I get a local SIM card in Astana?

Go to a Beeline, Kcell (Activ), or Tele2 office with your passport. You don't need an IIN for a SIM. Data plans are cheap, around ₸3,000–5,000 per month. A Kazakh number is required for many apps like Kaspi and Onay.

What are typical costs for a foreigner in Astana?

A modest 1-bedroom outside the center costs about ₸170,000–200,000/month. A meal at a local restaurant is ₸4,500–4,750, a cappuccino ₸1,100–1,150, and a bus ride ₸110 (but you need an Onay card or Kaspi QR).

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