Can a CIS Citizen Buy an Apartment in Kazakhstan?
An apartment or house in your own name — only with a Kazakhstan residence permit. Citizenship of a CIS or EAEU country creates no exception: Article 9 of the Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners" is the same for all foreigners and does not allow those staying temporarily to own housing.
Without a residence permit, a citizen of any CIS country can buy commercial property or hold property through a legal entity registered in Kazakhstan.
The differences between countries concern entry, stay limits and work — they determine how quickly you can build a path to a residence permit.
Stay Limits and Work: How Countries Differ
| Country group | Stay without obtaining a status | Work | Buying housing in your name |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAEU: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan | Up to 90 days within 180 days | No work permit required | Only with a residence permit |
| Other visa-free countries (e.g. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan) | Up to 30 days per entry, no more than 90 days within 180 days | Work documents required under the established rules | Only with a residence permit |
Based on mybuh.kz (13.10.2025) and t-j.ru (2026). Stay rules change from time to time — check egov.kz.
Since January 27, 2023 you cannot "reset" your stay by leaving the country. To stay longer you need a temporary residence permit (work, business, study, medical treatment, family reunification) or a residence permit.
What You Can Buy and How
- Commercial property — an office, premises, a warehouse: no residence permit required. See the Astana commercial real estate review.
- Property held by a Kazakh legal entity — a legal option for business and investment, with company accounting and taxes.
- An apartment after obtaining a residence permit — 2026 requirements and the investor track are covered in "Kazakhstan Residence Permit and Buying Property".
- Renting in the meantime — district price benchmarks are in the Astana price index.
Practical Steps
- IIN — only at a Public Service Center in Kazakhstan. CIS citizens with passports containing Russian usually do not need a notarized translation. Details: "IIN for Foreigners".
- Bank account — passport, IIN and proof of lawful stay; the bank may ask about the source of funds. Cards issued by Kazakh banks cannot be used for payments in Russia. See "Bank Account for Non-Residents".
- Property checks and the deal — an encumbrance certificate via egov.kz, a notarized contract, title registration. Step by step: "How a Foreigner Can Buy Property in Kazakhstan".
Taxes for CIS Citizens
Tax rules depend not on citizenship but on tax residency: a resident is a person who stays in Kazakhstan for at least 183 days in any consecutive 12-month period.
- A resident pays no tax on selling housing after two years of ownership (for housing bought from 2026); otherwise 10% up to 8,500 MCI and 15% on the excess.
- A non-resident — a 15% rate on the capital gain.
Examples and filing deadlines: "Tax on Selling an Apartment in 2026".
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Russian citizen buy an apartment in Kazakhstan?
Only with a Kazakhstan residence permit. Without one, a Russian citizen can buy commercial property or acquire property through a legal entity registered in Kazakhstan.
Can a citizen of Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan buy an apartment in Kazakhstan?
The rule is the same for all foreigners: housing can be registered to an individual only with a residence permit. Only visa-free stay limits and employment rules differ.
How long can a Russian citizen stay in Kazakhstan without obtaining a status?
Up to 90 days within 180 days. Since January 27, 2023 the period cannot be extended by leaving the country; a longer stay requires a temporary residence permit or a residence permit.
Do EAEU citizens need a work permit in Kazakhstan?
No, citizens of EAEU countries — Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan — do not need a work permit in Kazakhstan.
Sources
- Law "On the Legal Status of Foreigners" (in Russian) — adilet.zan.kz
- Mybuh.kz, 13.10.2025: staying in Kazakhstan longer than 90 days (in Russian) — mybuh.kz
- T—Zh: how long Russians can stay in Kazakhstan in 2026 (in Russian) — t-j.ru
- Krisha.kz: can a foreigner buy housing in Kazakhstan (in Russian) — krisha.kz