Alexander Bespalov, founder of the international consulting boutique Bespalov Finance, told RIA Novosti about the situation with opening accounts and obtaining bank cards in Kazakhstan in 2025.
What documents are required to open an account and a bank card in Kazakhstan
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In order to open a bank account in Kazakhstan, Russians (like other foreigners) need to obtain an IIN (individual identification number). IIN is a unique set of 12 digits that is generated automatically 1000 mobile number database upon the first registration of a specific individual in Kazakhstan. The procedure for issuing it takes 2-3 business days.
The order of actions performed to issue an IIN is as follows:
Fill out an application to obtain an IIN at the PSC (Public Service Center) of Kazakhstan. Moreover, since January 1, 2025, obtaining an IIN abroad (for example, at the country's embassy) has become impossible - a direct application to the PSC of the Republic of Kazakhstan is required.
Attach to the application a foreign passport and a contact telephone number registered in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
That is, no other documents are required except for a Russian passport. The IIN is issued once and is used throughout the recipient's life.
Which bank in Kazakhstan is best for Russians to open an account in?
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It depends on the specific goals and objectives of the person. In any case, it is necessary to clarify all the nuances and tariffs in advance, before opening an account. And it is especially important to know the answers to the following questions:
1. How exactly will you transfer money from the Russian Federation and, if necessary, back (it is advisable to have several different reliable and profitable routes).
2. What are the conditions for outgoing SWIFT payments to other countries?
"Before the latest tightening, our favorites for non-residents were Halyk Bank, Kaspi Bank, and Bank CenterCredit (BCC). However, it is difficult to say how (if at all) their policies will change after January 19. Most likely, they will remain loyal to Russian clients, but there is no real practice yet," says Bespalov.