Doing business in Kazakhstan as a Turkish citizen: a step-by-step checklist from first trip to working company

Kazakhstan is a straightforward market for an entrepreneur from Türkiye, but getting the steps in the wrong order is costly: you can end up with a registered company and no right to stay in the country, or no bank account. This sequence helps you avoid that. For what draws Turkish business to the country in general, see our overview with the numbers.

Step 1. Test the market during the visa-free period

Turkish citizens can stay in Kazakhstan for up to 90 days in each 180-day period. Use this time for negotiations and to study demand. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, check your arrival notification and registration duties, and count your days according to the rules.

Step 2. Choose a model

• Sales without a legal entity in Kazakhstan — through a distributor.
• A new company — most often an LLP (TOO in Kazakhstan).
• A presence for your Turkish company — a branch or representative office.

Step 3. Get an IIN

Without one you cannot open an account or register a business. The procedure is described in our article on the IIN for foreigners. Prepare a notarised translation of your passport in advance.

Step 4. Register the company

Decide on the founders, director, legal address and business activity. Full details are in our LLP guide. Documents from Türkiye may need an apostille and translation for government bodies and banks.

Step 5. Open an account

The bank will check the purpose of the account and the source of funds, so prepare documents on both.

Step 6. Arrange your stay status

A stake in an LLP does not in itself give you the right to live and work in the country. The options are a C5 business immigrant visa, which carries obligations in the first two months after entry, a C3 work visa with a work permit, or a temporary residence permit.

Step 7. Set up accounting and tax

Choose a tax regime and agree terms with an accountant before your first transactions. The main changes are in our 2026 tax overview.

Visa Navigator supports you through these steps in Russian, English and Turkish. Tell us about your idea and we will suggest where to start in your case.

This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules and practice change — verify the current requirements as of the date you apply.