As of February 10, 2026, the requirements regarding the scope of information to be provided on beneficial owners have been expanded. In particular, it is now mandatory to indicate the identification number of a foreign individual in their country of residence, date of birth, place of residence, as well as the share in the authorized capital of the legal entity or the number of shares owned. Previously, only the full name, IIN (if available), and passport details were required.
As of April 1, 2026, amendments to the Rules for the Provision of Public Services “State Registration of Legal Entities, Record Registration of their Branches and Representative Offices” and “State Re-registration of Legal Entities, Record Re-registration of their Branches and Representative Offices” come into force in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Under the amendments, in certain cases, the registration and re-registration of commercial entities will require the mandatory personal presence of the founder. Such cases are determined by the internal control rules of the registering authority, adopted in accordance with the requirements of the authorized body for financial monitoring. Notification of the requirement for personal presence will be sent to the applicant’s personal account on the e-government portal.
At the same time, even prior to these amendments, there was an established requirement to obtain a C5 visa and to enter Kazakhstan under this visa for the purpose of company registration. Failure to comply would result in a refusal of state registration. Therefore, the requirement for the founder’s personal presence should not be viewed as a material tightening of the rules for companies with foreign participation, but rather as a formalization of existing practice.
In practice, however, there have been cases where founders register companies in one city, such as Almaty, while physically being located in another region of Kazakhstan at the time of submission.
The procedure for confirming the legal address when submitting an application electronically has also been clarified. The registered address of a legal entity, branch or representative office must be supported by the consent of the property owner. Verification of the address will be carried out automatically through the integration of state information systems using data from the Address Register.
Why these matters
These changes increase compliance requirements and reduce flexibility in the registration process, particularly for foreign founders. Proper structuring, correct documentation, and strategic planning are now more critical than ever to avoid delays or refusal.
If you are planning to register a company in Kazakhstan, we recommend obtaining professional legal support to ensure a smooth and compliant process.
