Guides to property and moving to Almaty
These are my answers to the questions people ask before buying, renting or moving to Almaty: can a foreigner buy an apartment without a residence permit, what taxes apply in 2026, how to close a deal remotely. Every legal and tax claim comes with a link to its source, and disputed points are marked as such.
Everything in this section
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in Kazakhstan without a residence permit?
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in Almaty without a residence permit? What the law says, what notaries ask in 2026, when an LLP or commercial unit works.
Kazakhstan residence permit in 2026: who can get one and how
How to get a Kazakhstan residence permit in 2026: investor visa, AIFC, work, business, family. The pilot rules, KAZTEST, money in the bank, Altyn Visa status.
Moving to Almaty: a step-by-step plan for your first months
A step-by-step plan for moving to Almaty: entry and visas, registration, an IIN in person, bank and SIM, renting first, family districts, where help is needed.
Renting an apartment in Almaty as a foreigner: prices, lease and registration
How to rent an apartment in Almaty as a foreigner: rents by district, the lease, deposit, registration via the Migration Portal and how to avoid rental scams.
How to buy an apartment in Almaty remotely, and what you still have to do in person
How to buy property in Almaty without living in Kazakhstan: apostilled power of attorney, IIN in person, video viewings, document checks, title registration.
How to transfer money to buy property in Kazakhstan
How to send money for an apartment in Kazakhstan from Russia, the UAE, China or Europe: currency control from $10,000, source of funds, a local bank account.
Opening an LLP in Kazakhstan as a foreigner: steps, timing and taxes in 2026
Company registration in Kazakhstan for foreigners: IIN in person, founder presence from 01.04.2026, eGov, bank account, director, 3% simplified tax in Almaty.
Almaty for digital nomads: visa, taxes and housing
Kazakhstan's Neo Nomad visa for remote workers: $3,000/month income, length, extension. Visa-free stays by country, QazETA, the 183-day tax rule, where to live.
Apartment taxes in Kazakhstan in 2026: buying, owning, selling and renting out
What an apartment owner in Kazakhstan pays in 2026: fees when buying, property tax due by 1 October, income tax on sale and rental income, VAT in new builds.
How to check a developer and a new build in Kazakhstan before you buy
How to check a developer and off-plan apartment in Kazakhstan in 2026: DDU in Kazreestr, KZhK guarantee, city permit, site visit and the ban on bookings.
What rental yield does an apartment in Almaty give in 2026?
What a rental apartment in Almaty really earns in 2026: gross vs net yield, districts, short-term rentals, a comparison with deposits and a worked example.
How to choose commercial premises for a business: location analysis by the numbers
How to choose premises for a shop, café or office in Almaty: foot traffic, average spend, competitors, restrictions, utilities. A method from Kaspi and Magnum.
Almaty or Astana: which city is better for buying an apartment in 2026?
Almaty or Astana in 2026: prices by class, price growth, rental yield, supply, earthquakes and air quality. Which city to choose to live in and to invest in.
Flipping apartments in Almaty: making money from shell-and-core, renovation and resale
Flipping in Almaty from 15 deals: buy shell-and-core, renovate, sell in 2–3 months. A worked example, the 2-year income tax rule from 2026, and the risks.
Earthquake safety in Almaty: which building to choose when buying an apartment
Almaty is in a 9–10 point seismic zone. Which buildings are safer, how to check the year and structure, where landslides are a risk, and whether to insure.
Property insurance in Kazakhstan: how a policy works and what it pays for
Property insurance in Kazakhstan: policy types, earthquake cover, cost of 0.1–0.3% a year, compulsory disaster insurance status and what to check in a policy.
How to use these guides
Start with the guide that matches your main question. Each one opens with a short answer and links to related topics. If you are a foreigner thinking about buying, I'd suggest this order: buying without a residence permit, then the residence permit or an LLP, then the remote purchase and money transfer guides.
The guides don't replace a lawyer or a tax adviser. They give you the overall picture so you can ask a specialist the right questions.
How I check the facts
I have a law degree, so I rely on laws, government orders and official announcements rather than retellings. Each guide ends with a list of sources and links. Where sources disagree or a rule is still only a draft, I say so and suggest checking your case with a notary or lawyer.
Rules in Kazakhstan change often in 2026: the IIN (individual tax number), LLP registration, residence permits, taxes. Every page shows the date it was last updated, and I revise the guides when new rules come out.
Questions and answers
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in Almaty?
In your own name, only with a residence permit. Without one, you can buy through an LLP, through a foreign company, or buy non-residential property. The guide on buying without a residence permit covers this in detail.
How up to date are these guides?
Every page shows the date it was last updated. I review the guides when laws, taxes or migration rules change.
Can I make decisions based on the guides alone?
The guides give you the general picture. Legal and tax questions for a specific deal need to be checked with a notary, lawyer or tax adviser, and I can help bring them in.
What if I can't find the answer to my question?
Message me on WhatsApp or Telegram. If it's a common question, I'll cover it in a new guide.