Two Visas, Two Audiences
Kazakhstan launched two digital nomad visa programs in early 2025. The Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1) targets all remote workers earning $3,000+/month. The Digital Nomad Residency (B9-1) targets IT professionals with no income requirement and up to 10 years of residence.
270+ applications arrived in the first two months from 20+ countries.
Neo Nomad (B12-1): The Fast Track
- Open to all professions
- $3,000/month income required
- Approved in 5 business days
- Valid 1 year, renewable once (2 years max)
- Cannot work for Kazakh companies
- Apply online from anywhere
B9-1 Digital Nomad Residency: The Long Game
- IT professionals only (software dev, DevOps, cybersecurity, data science)
- No income requirement
- ~22 business days to process
- Path to 10-year residence permit
- Can work for Kazakh companies
- IT accreditation through Astana Hub
Why Both?
The government wants two things: attract remote workers who spend money locally (B12-1), and attract IT talent who build companies locally (B9-1). The $1 billion digital export goal by 2026 drives aggressive recruitment.
The Real Numbers
Living costs: $1,000-1,500/month in Almaty (single person, decent apartment). Internet: 100-500 Mbps fiber for $10-20/month. Coworking: $15-100/month. Kaspi Bank (super-app) handles everything from taxi to groceries via QR.
The Catch
B9-1 is a pilot program ending December 31, 2025. It may or may not be extended. Apply early if interested.
Also: individual entrepreneur (IP) registration is only available to EAEU citizens. Non-EAEU foreigners must register a TOO (LLP) or use Astana Hub for their foreign company.
Full guide with visa comparison, costs, and family relocation info at the canonical URL.
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