In 2024, the Government of Kazakhstan launched the Digital Nomad Residency program to provide special visas for digital nomads. Migration legislation classifies such a freelancer visa to category B9, which can be obtained by a foreigner with a profession in demand for the country.
Also, in order to obtain the right to join the program, the applicant must obtain medical insurance in Kazakhstan in the country.
Specifics of Kazakhstan’s Freelance Visa
Currently, for Russians (as well as other EAEU citizens), it is lawful to stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa. For longer stays, digital nomads will need to apply for a freelancer residence permit. It is important to note that a full work permit in Kazakhstan is issued to a limited number of foreign nationals with quite stringent requirements for the applicant. Therefore, the process of obtaining a Kazakh work visa is quite complicated.
Taxes for Freelancers
Since a freelancer is not an employee of Kazakhstani companies, they must independently declare any income in accordance with Articles 321 and 338 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. To do this, one needs to become a resident, obtain a tax identification number (TIN), and choose their tax status.
A country’s resident is required to pay taxes on worldwide income, while a non-resident only needs to pay taxes on income earned within the country. To obtain a TIN, one must apply to the “Government for Citizens” state corporation, and it takes just 1 working day.
A digital nomad can pay taxes as an individual (this option also suits the self-employed) or as a sole proprietor. The individual income is taxed at a rate of 10%. The tax period is 12 months. Freelancers must file their tax returns by March 31 of the year following the reporting year. If working as a sole proprietor, a digital nomad can choose from several tax regimes – general (rate of 10%) and special, including a patent regime (based on the cost of the chosen patent), simplified (payment of personal income tax, social taxes, and contributions), and a fixed deduction regime (up to 30% of income).
Cost of the Visa
Since there has been no official publication on the conditions for issuing the nomad visa, there is currently no precise information about the cost. Under current conditions, the cost of obtaining a work permit in Kazakhstan varies from $950 to $1,729 USD, depending on the foreigner’s category and the employer’s business.
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Necessary Documents and Requirements
Based on the information available, the following are the requirements for the package of documents to obtain a freelancer residence permit under the Digital Nomad program:
- Application form and completed questionnaire.
- Valid foreign passport with at least 6 months remaining at the date of travel and at least 2 blank pages.
- Proof of accommodation – rental contract or property purchase.
- International medical insurance covering the territory of Kazakhstan.
- A recent monthly bank statement from the applicant’s home country clearly stating the applicant’s name as the account holder, account balances, and the date of the statement. If the statement is printed online, it must be certified by a bank employee.
Recent Changes in Visa Matters
Amid several waves of immigration from Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan initiated amendments to the legislation to provide special visas for IT specialists on favorable terms. Currently, the amendments have been approved by a working group and have received approvals from several competent state bodies with a positive conclusion from the Government of the Republic. The main goal of the amendments is to bring foreign specialists out of the grey area, legalizing their stay in Kazakhstan.
Popularity statistics for Digital Nomad Visa in Kazakhstan
Thanks to the development of the digital nomad visa program in Kazakhstan, according to Google Trends, the demand for it in this country, although not prohibitively high, is stable.
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