Business Customs

Kazakhstan’s business culture reflects a blend of influences, with customs varying by ethnicity. It is common to shake hands when first greeting. Business attire is formal, and meetings typically include refreshments. Small gifts like pens or company-branded items are appreciated at initial meetings, and business cards—often printed increasingly in Kazakh and English—are routinely exchanged. Scheduling meetings can be slow, with delays in responses and occasional cancellations. Due to traffic in Almaty and Astana, meetings are often held at company offices, though lunch invitations are generally welcomed.

Kazakh businesspeople tend to be less direct than their American counterparts and building relationships may take time and patience. A skilled interpreter can be an asset during discussions. While Kazakhstan is predominantly Muslim, it maintains a secular environment, and many Islamic customs are not widely practiced. Alcohol is commonly served at business dinners and receptions.

Travel Advisory

Please see the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Kazakhstan.

Visa Requirements 

A valid passport is required. U.S. citizens may visit Kazakhstan without a visa for up to 30 days for all purposes of travel with the exceptions of employment and missionary work. Individuals traveling visa-free in Kazakhstan cannot stay for longer than 30 days at once or for more than a total of 90 days during any six-month period. Kazakhstan has launched the Neo Nomad visa, inviting digital nomads to experience a year-long stay while working remotely.

Currency

The currency of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the tenge (KZT). Currency exchange kiosks are available at the Astana and Almaty airports and can be found in many locations throughout most cities. Most banks operate from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Major international debit and credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard, are widely accepted.

Exchange Rate (as Q4 2025):
1 USD = 513.00 KZT

Telecommunications/Electronics  

Telephone coverage in Kazakhstan is not yet universal, and internet connections, particularly in remote areas, remain a challenge. However, significant progress has been made in providing high-speed internet in major cities. Kazakhstan has a well-developed mobile network infrastructure, with cellular users far outnumbering landline users. The three major mobile operators: Kcell, Beeline, and Tele2—operate on the GSM standard. Most business travelers with roaming capabilities can use mobile phones without issues in Kazakhstan. Both landline and cellular rates are generally higher than in Europe, especially for domestic long-distance and international calls, leading to increased popularity of VoIP services like WhatsApp.

Business travelers can access the internet at most hotels, though there may be an additional cost. Wi-Fi access is increasingly common in cafes, restaurants, shopping and entertainment centers, and airports in Almaty, Astana, and other urban areas. 

Starting March 24, 2025, Kazakhstan introduced new regulations requiring all smartphones to be verified through their IMEI codes. Devices categorized under the “gray list”—those with suspicious or duplicate IMEI codes—must be registered within 30 days of use in the country. Failure to do so may result in the phone being blocked from accessing cellular services. This rule aims to combat illegal device circulation and applies to phones purchased after the regulation date. The registration process is onerous, so one needs to consider purchasing their device in Kazakhstan if travelling frequently and for long stays.

Transportation

Although Kazakhstan’s capital moved to Astana in 1997 (briefly renamed Nur-Sultan from 2019 to 2022), Almaty remains the country’s main business hub and a key entry point for international travelers. Business visitors typically arrive via major cities like Frankfurt, Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, or London, with Air Astana offering direct flights from several European destinations using a modern fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. As of mid-2025, Kazakhstan’s international air travel has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with 842 weekly flights to 31 countries across 144 routes and a record 7.2 million passengers in the first half of the year. Destinations include major hubs in China, Egypt, Germany, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE, with new routes added to Budapest, Mumbai, and Baku. Future plans include launching flights to Tokyo in 2026 and New York in 2027.

In-country travel is available on Air Astana, its low-fare carrier Fly Arystan, or SCAT Airlines. Some smaller companies also offer limited services within Kazakhstan. Additionally, there is a high-speed overnight train between Almaty and Astana.

In May 2024, the European Commission removed all flight restrictions for Kazakh carriers to European Union (EU) countries. Since the ban was lifted, Kazakhstan has continued to prioritize aviation safety and enhance its aviation infrastructure. In 2025, Kazakhstan’s flight safety level stood at 82 percent according to an assessment by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The country’s Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have also strengthened their cooperation to ensure compliance with European standards.

For inner-city transportation, companies are strongly advised to use licensed taxi services. Popular mobile apps like inDrive and Yandex Taxi are widely used in Kazakhstan. Uber has been acquired by Yandex, so either the “Uber KZ” or Yandex Taxi app must be installed. Companies can also hire private drivers at a reasonable cost. For a list of service providers, refer to the Commercial Section of the U.S. Mission in Kazakhstan’s Business Service Providers’ listing.

Language

Kazakhstan promotes the Kazakh language, but Russian remains widely used, especially in business. Road signs, stores, and packaging often feature both languages. Under the “Kazakhstan’s Development Strategy 2050,” the country supports trilingualism—Kazakh, Russian, and English—with English gaining ground in major cities, particularly in service industries. Business travelers are advised to hire qualified interpreters, as strong language skills are essential for effective communication. A decree signed in 2017 set the transition of the Kazakh alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin, the transition expected to be completed by 2031. U.S. companies entering the market are encouraged to work with local interpreters to ensure clear communication with partners and clients.
For a list of local translation and interpretation service providers, see the Commercial Section of the U.S. Mission in Kazakhstan’s Business Service Providers’ listing.

Health

Current health information for travelers to Kazakhstan can be found on the CDC website.  

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

Kazakhstan is 9 or 10 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST), depending on the time of year (Kazakhstan does not practice day light savings). Business hours are normally 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Local holidays can be found on the Embassy’s website, but travelers are also advised to confirm dates with contacts in Kazakhstan. If a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, the Government of Kazakhstan may elect to make the preceding Monday or following Friday a holiday as well, thereby linking the holiday to the weekend.

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

The ATA Carnet temporary import system was recently launched in Kazakhstan, allowing allows the duty-free temporary import and export of goods for specific purposes. Kazakhstan will accept ATA Carnets for the intended uses of:

• Professional Equipment
• Commercial Samples
• Exhibitions and Fairs

A firm importing goods for a temporary period should provide Customs with documents containing the description and value of the goods, and a written confirmation stating that the goods will be sent out of Kazakhstan after a defined period.