surging influx of 7.5 million international travelers in Kazakhstan during the initial six months of 2025
In a significant stride towards modernisation and digitalisation, Kazakhstan has launched the QazETA mobile app and introduced the Digital Nomad Residency and Digital Nomad Visa programs, transforming the country's approach to migration and remote work.
The QazETA app, now available on the Play Market, offers a multitude of services designed to increase accessibility and convenience for users in various sectors, including migration, tourism, communication, transportation, and business. The app provides comprehensive tourism information, details on attractions, tours, hotel bookings, and ticket purchases, as well as services like visa applications, residence registration, and various migration-related functions. It also features practical resources such as purchasing SIM cards, renting cars, booking taxis, and checking public transit schedules and payment options. In addition, the app supports business and investment activities by connecting users with resources like Astana Hub, the MCC, and B2B services. By the end of July, the QazETA app is set to be released on the App Store.
The Digital Nomad Residency allows foreigners from visa-free countries to obtain a residence permit fully online without travelling to Kazakhstan or dealing with physical paperwork. The Digital Nomad Visa, launched in November 2024, grants a one-year visa for remote work to IT specialists from visa-required countries with a simplified application process, no income minimum, and relatively low fees ($300). These programs aim to attract global tech talent, support the innovation ecosystem, and develop the digital economy.
With over 350 combined applications across programs from more than 20 countries, including the US, Canada, Algeria, and Türkiye, these initiatives are already gaining traction. Recipients cite affordability, ease of application, and Kazakhstan’s potential as motivating factors. This attraction of skilled remote workers diversifies Kazakhstan’s business environment and can stimulate startups, partnerships, and broader economic dynamism.
Minister Zhaslan Madiyev reported strong integration of digital services in migration management, with 23 public migration-related services, 13 available online, delivering 2.4 million digital services in 2025 alone. The upcoming QazETA mobile app further embodies this digital shift, aiming to consolidate migration processes and enable users—both citizens and foreigners—to manage migration paperwork, monitor applications, and access services quickly and transparently.
Kazakhstan's migration digitalization reduces barriers, speeds up administrative steps, and aligns the country with global trends of remote work and digital nomadism, thereby boosting tourism inflows and attracting foreign professionals and business interests. As of now, 212,000 foreign nationals hold permanent registration in Kazakhstan, marking a 42% increase over the past three years. The highest concentrations of these permanent residents are in Almaty, the Almaty Region, Astana, and the Karagandy Region.
In response to global geopolitical changes, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has emphasised the need for a regulated migration policy. The government is conducting an audit of the regulatory framework and analyzing the functions of state bodies in the field of migration. Bektenov has also instructed the launch of a unified digital platform for recording migration processes with full integration of all databases by November.
With Kazakhstan's visa-free regime with 87 countries and citizens of 107 countries eligible to apply for an electronic visa, the country is positioned to continue attracting tourists. In the first half of 2025, more than 7.5 million foreigners visited Kazakhstan, a 600,000 increase compared to the same period last year. Uzbekistan led with 2.8 million entries, followed by the Kyrgyz Republic with 1.7 million and Russia with 1.5 million.
In conclusion, Kazakhstan's migration policy modernisation and digitalisation significantly enhance the country’s tourism and business appeal by simplifying legal residency and remote work for foreign professionals, especially in IT. The government's efforts in policy innovation and technological adoption jointly elevate Kazakhstan's profile as an accessible, tech-friendly destination for both tourism and business in Central Asia.
[1] Astana Hub. (2025). Digital Nomad Residency and Visa Programs. Retrieved from https://astanahub.com/digital-nomad-residency-visa/
[2] eGov.kz. (2025). Digital Nomad Residency and Visa Programs. Retrieved from https://egov.kz/digital-nomad-residency-visa/
[3] Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. (2025). Digital Nomad Residency and Visa Programs. Retrieved from https://mdia.gov.kz/en/digital-nomad-residency-visa/
[4] Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. (2025). QazETA Mobile App. Retrieved from https://mia.gov.kz/qazeta/
The QazETA app, offering a range of services from tourism and migration to communication and business, is now available on the Play Market and will be released on the App Store by the end of July. This comprehensive app aims to attract foreign professionals and businesses, leveraging digital technology to support the innovation ecosystem and develop the digital economy.
The Digital Nomad Residency, available online and free of physical paperwork, allows foreigners from visa-free countries to obtain a residence permit in Kazakhstan. Launching in November 2024, the Digital Nomad Visa grants a one-year visa for remote work to IT specialists from visa-required countries, aiming to attract global tech talent and stimulate the digital economy.
