How to open a bank card in Kazakhstan

Looking for a way to open a bank card in Kazakhstan to treat yourself to purchases from abroad? Then you'll have to buy tickets on Kupi.com and visit the country in person, as Russians can only get a card offline in Kazakhstan. 

Let's go through everything in order. Today we'll tell you what documents are needed to get a card, what an IIN is, and how to transfer money to a Kazakhstan card. Let's go!

Why you need an account and card from Kazakhstan banks

Visa and Mastercard cards issued in Russia stopped working on March 11, 2022, due to sanctions. Therefore, Russians are getting foreign cards to pay for purchases on international platforms, mobile subscriptions, and services. In a couple of years, the term 'card tourism' has even emerged – trips by Russians to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and other open countries to open local accounts. 

How to open an account in Kazakhstan

1. Decide in advance which Kazakh bank you want to open an account with. 
2. Come to Kazakhstan. The excitement for this destination has subsided, and tickets to Kazakhstan are now inexpensive. If you are traveling to the country solely to get a Kazakhstan bank card, we recommend allocating at least a week for the trip. 
3. Go to a PSC (Public Service Center) to get an Individual Identification Number (IIN) there.
4. Don't forget to bring a local SIM card and a document confirming your temporary registration in Kazakhstan to the bank. 
5. Wait a bit for the card to be issued. Time will fly by if you find out what to see in Astana or Almaty and take a stroll around the city, enjoying the sights and delicious food. 

Now let's talk in more detail about the documents needed to get a local card. 

What documents will be needed

1. Foreign passport. Yes, you can enter Kazakhstan with an internal passport, but sometimes tourists without a foreign passport and an entry stamp may be denied a card. So it's better to bring it with you right away. 
2. IIN. After applying to the Public Service Center, an IIN is usually issued within two to three business days. 
3. Document confirming the right to stay in Kazakhstan. This could be a passport with a border crossing stamp, a foreigner's stay notification, temporary registration, residence registration in the passport, a work permit, a student ID, an employment contract, or a certificate of medical treatment in Kazakhstan.  
4. Cash. Yes, it will be better if you bring cash with you to immediately buy tenge at an exchange office. 'Mir' cards do not work everywhere in Kazakhstan. The exchange rate can be conveniently tracked on the websites kurs.kz or cityinfo.kz. 
5. SIM card. It can be purchased at the airport, at the railway station, or in regular communication stores. Only a passport will be needed for identification.

How to get an IIN

The IIN (or Individual Identification Number) consists of 12 digits and is assigned to Kazakhstani citizens at birth. Without an IIN, a bank account will not be opened for a foreigner, and it will also be needed by a non-resident if they intend to:

• receive income from sources located in Kazakhstan;
• acquire tax-liable property: real estate, a car, etc.;
• work as a head of a resident company in Kazakhstan or a branch of a non-resident legal entity.

Previously, IIN applications at the PSC were accepted remotely, but due to the influx of tourists, online acceptance was suspended. However, the number of service windows was increased, and offline processing was accelerated. 

What a foreign citizen will need for an IIN:

• application form (filled out when submitting documents);
• identity document: foreign passport or a notarized translation of an internal passport with full name in Latin characters;
• USB flash drive — your electronic digital signature will be uploaded there at the PSC.

It will take no more than three days to process the IIN: first, the document will be issued, then it will appear in the database. It is not necessary to apply for an IIN in person: you can get the number through a representative — in which case a notarized power of attorney will be added to the documents.

Which bank to choose

Kaspi Bank

The most popular bank among Kazakhstani citizens. Although the card cannot be linked to Apple Pay, in 90% of places you can pay for purchases using Kaspi QR or transfer money by phone number. 

In Kazakhstan, Kaspi is not just a bank, but a super app with a marketplace, government services, and a ticket aggregator. You can order necessary goods with delivery (from electronics to pills) or find cheap train tickets. If you are thinking about how to move to Kazakhstan, getting Kaspi will be especially useful.

Three steps to get a Kaspi bank card: 

1. Download and register in the Kaspi.kz mobile app. Tap Kaspi Gold -> Open Kaspi Gold.
2. After you have filled in the basic information, select the address of the Kaspi branch where you will continue the registration.
3. Come to the branch with the necessary documents.

Freedom Bank

Freedom Bank will offer you to open a multi-currency debit card that allows you to store money in four currencies at once: tenge, rubles, euros, and dollars, convert without commission, and also withdraw up to 500 thousand tenge for free at any ATM. Freedom can be linked to Apple Pay, letting you remember what it's like when all you need for a trip to the store is your phone. But there's also a downside: the card will take 10 days to produce.

Bereke Bank

Sber's successor in Kazakhstan recently changed its name to Bereke Bank. The bank offers a Visa ALL IN debit card with free issuance, 5% cashback on all purchases, and the ability to withdraw up to 500 thousand tenge without commission.

We recommend opening a bank card here for quick transfers from Russian Sber to Kazakh Bereke.

Jusan

A young bank where you can open a multi-currency Mastercard World Elite. This option is ideal if you travel frequently: the card provides access to business lounges, privileges, and exclusive services worldwide, but the maintenance will also be more expensive — 5 thousand tenge per month. By default, this bank card is opened in three currencies: tenge, euros, and dollars, but you can connect rubles in the Jusan mobile app.

Is it possible to open a card remotely

A popular question asked by Russians, accustomed to issuing virtual bank cards in a couple of minutes via an app. In Kazakhstan, getting a card remotely is also possible, but only for citizens of the country. For non-residents, a Kazakhstan bank card is issued in person: your documents must first be checked by a bank employee. And although you'll have to walk to a branch, there's another bonus for those getting a Kaspi card: no need to wait for days, the card is printed for you in one minute at a special Kaspi Cardomat.

How to transfer funds from Russian accounts to a Kazakhstan card

• Transfer from banks not under sanctions. For example, from Raiffeisen or Renaissance.  
• Via the 'Zolotaya Korona' (Golden Crown) transfer system. This method also requires a Russian bank card not under sanctions — for example, you won't be able to perform the operation from Sber.
• Via ATM. You will need a physical Mir ruble card, with which you can withdraw money in tenge through Bereke Bank ATMs. After that, you can immediately deposit them into any Kazakhstani card.
• In cryptocurrency on the Binance crypto exchange. You need to buy USDT and BUSD (cryptocurrencies whose value is always equal to the dollar's value) for rubles from a Russian account via a P2P transaction (i.e., an operation between individuals). Then sell these USDT and BUSD for tenge via a second transaction, with the tenge being credited by the buyer to any Kazakhstani Visa or Mastercard bank card.
• From a Sber card to a Bereke Bank card. Open the SberBank Online app. Go to Payments -> Abroad -> By phone number, specify the country and select Bereke Bank.

We wish you great travels without financial restrictions. And of course, a memorable visit to Kazakhstan!