How a foreigner can open a restaurant, café or franchise in Kazakhstan

A foreigner can legally open a café in Kazakhstan, but a project's fate is rarely decided at company registration. What matters more is finding premises that meet sanitary and fire rules and working out the owner's status early. Below are the main steps and what to check at each one.

Step 1. Company and personal status

Most food-service founders look at an LLP; the procedure is covered in our guide for foreigners. You will also need an IIN for most formalities.

A founder and a manager are not the same thing. Turkish citizens may stay without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180, and Chinese citizens for up to 30 days per visit and no more than 90 in 180. That is enough to look for premises and launch, but not to run a business permanently. An entrepreneur who relocates may consider business immigrant status through the C5 visa. Foreign chefs and managers need a C3 visa and work documents.

Step 2. Premises

Do not sign a long lease before you have checked the requirements. In practice, the following matters:

These figures come from an August 2024 explanation, so check the current version. In March 2026 the sanitary rules were amended, but the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee stated that norms for cafés and restaurants did not change and that reports of tougher rules from 1 July were untrue.

Step 3. Alcohol

Licensing rules approved by Order No. 302 of 14 May 2026 have applied since 12 July 2026. The authority obtains some property data from the cadastre itself; paper documents are needed if a lease runs for less than a year. Premises must be non-residential and outside the set proximity to schools, medical facilities, petrol stations and markets. Check exact conditions before signing a lease.

Step 4. Franchise

The core act is the Law on complex business licence (franchising). The contract must be written, and the rights holder discloses information about the rights package before signing. Sources treat state registration of the contract differently, so check it separately. Also find out:

• whether the trademark is registered in Kazakhstan;
• who is responsible for ingredient supply and certification;
• how royalties are paid and what tax is withheld at source, given any double tax treaty.

Imported ingredients and equipment go through customs. Taxes in 2026 include 16% VAT and 20% corporate income tax.

Where to start

Define your format, seat count and whether you will serve alcohol, since permits and premises depend on these. Visa Navigator helps with company registration and stay documents for owners and staff. Sanitary and licensing decisions are made by the authorised bodies. Tell us about your project and we will suggest a sequence of steps.

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.