Neo Nomad (digital nomad visa in Kazakhstan)

Chronicle

2024: Digital nomad visa launched in Kazakhstan

On November 1, 2024, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan announced the launch of a new type of Neo Nomad visa intended for foreign specialists working remotely and combining work with travel. The visa regime has been developed taking into account the experience of more than 50 countries that have implemented similar programs.

According to Nur.kz, in order to obtain a visa, foreign citizens must confirm a stable income of at least $3 thousand received outside Kazakhstan, provide medical insurance and a certificate of no criminal record.

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Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov notes that Almaty and Astana are already among the top 150 cities attractive to digital nomads, whose number in the world exceeds 35 million people.

The new visa allows foreign specialists to stay in the country for up to one year, while maintaining employment in foreign companies. The program is aimed at professionals in the fields of programming, marketing, finance, consulting, design and e-commerce.

According to the ministry's forecasts, the economic effect of the introduction of the Neo Nomad visa could amount to ₸3,6 billion per year when 500 applicants receive the document. An important aspect of the program is that foreign specialists will live and spend money in Kazakhstan without occupying jobs in the local labor market.

The initiative is the result of the joint work of the ministries of tourism and sports, foreign affairs, internal affairs and other state bodies of Kazakhstan. The visa implementation project was announced in May 2024 as part of a program to improve the visa-migration regime and simplify visa procedures.

Similar programs for digital nomads are being successfully implemented in other countries. For example, South Korea has a visa that allows foreign specialists to stay in the country for up to two years.^[1]

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