This guide is written for people applying from the United Kingdom, although many of the eligibility rules are national rules rather than UK-specific ones. Consulates can still ask for different evidence, translations, legalisation or appointments. Check the competent mission before paying for accommodation or making a non-refundable move.
At a glance
| Question | Current position |
|---|---|
| Is this a dedicated digital nomad route? | Yes. |
| Who it is for | Foreign nationals earning stable remote income from sources outside Kazakhstan. |
| Work connection | Foreign employer, business or clients; no Kazakhstani employment under the visa. |
| Income or funds test | At least USD 3,000 per month, shown through bank statements for the required period. |
| Typical permission | Up to one year, with a possible extension for another year. |
| Family | A spouse and dependants may receive visas for the same period under the scheme rules. |
| Can you work for local clients or employers? | No employment in Kazakhstan under the Neo Nomad visa. |
| Where the application starts | A Kazakh diplomatic mission; nationals on the official list may be exempt from an invitation. |
What this route actually is
The visa is coded B12-1 and is intended for people who work remotely and receive income from outside Kazakhstan. It does not authorise local employment. The invitation requirement is waived for nationals on a specified list, which currently includes the United Kingdom, but that list should be rechecked.
That distinction is more than a naming point. A dedicated remote-work permit is usually designed around foreign employment or foreign clients. A self-employment or assignment route may instead test the value of a local business, professional licensing, a contract in the destination country or the economic benefit of the proposed activity. Applying under the wrong label is one of the easiest ways to build the wrong document pack.
Who can qualify
Applicants should show recurring foreign income, a genuine work or business source, medical insurance and no criminal record. The consular post may request a tax declaration and other evidence. Family members rely on the main applicant’s eligibility but still submit their own applications.
A credible application normally shows not only that the applicant can work online, but that the work is real and continuing. Authorities may look for a signed employment or service contract, employer or client letters, company registration records, recent invoices, bank statements and a concise explanation of what the applicant does day to day.
Core eligibility points
- You earn at least USD 3,000 monthly from outside Kazakhstan.
- You can show the required six-month financial history and tax evidence.
- You hold medical insurance valid in Kazakhstan.
- You provide a criminal-record certificate.
- You will not enter local employment.
Income and financial evidence
Current official material states at least USD 3,000 per month and asks for bank statements covering the previous six months. The funds should be traceable to salary, dividends, business income or contracts. Use the USD figure rather than an undated local-currency conversion.
Treat every published figure as a floor rather than a planning budget. The authority may examine whether income is regular, whether it comes from a permitted source and whether it will continue after relocation. A one-off transfer immediately before applying is usually weaker evidence than a consistent trail of salary payments, client receipts and matching contracts.
Documents to prepare
The exact checklist depends on the mission and the applicant’s circumstances, but a well-organised file will usually need the following:
- Visa form, passport and photograph.
- Six months of bank statements showing at least USD 3,000 monthly income.
- Employment contract, client contracts or foreign business evidence.
- Tax return or declaration requested by the mission.
- Criminal-record certificate and medical insurance.
- Invitation unless nationality is exempt under the current official list.
- Marriage and birth documents for accompanying family.
Names, dates, job titles, salary figures and company details should match across the whole file. Where documents are issued in the UK, check whether the receiving authority requires an apostille, a sworn or certified translation, or both. Do not assume that an English document will be accepted simply because the authority publishes an English-language website.
Application process from the UK
- Check whether your nationality is currently exempt from the invitation requirement.
- Prepare six months of consistent foreign-income evidence.
- Obtain criminal-record and insurance documents in the required form.
- Submit the B12-1 application to the competent Kazakh mission.
- Enter and comply with migration/address registration requirements.
- Apply for the permitted extension before expiry if remaining eligible.
The visa sticker, entry permission and residence card are often separate stages. Read the approval notice carefully: some routes require registration with the police, municipality, tax authority or immigration office shortly after arrival. Missing a local deadline can create avoidable problems even when the entry visa was correctly issued.
Family members
A spouse and dependants may receive permission for the same period as the main applicant, with relationship documents and their own insurance/visa applications. Dependants should not assume local work rights.
Where dependants are allowed, expect separate forms and fees. Marriage and birth certificates may need recent copies, legalisation and translation. A dependant’s right to work should never be assumed; several remote-work schemes allow family residence but prohibit the spouse from local employment.
Validity, renewal and switching route
The B12-1 visa can be issued for up to one year and extended for a further year under current guidance. It remains a temporary remote-work visa and does not authorise local employment.
A route that can be renewed is not automatically a route to permanent residence. Some permissions are expressly temporary, some do not count toward settlement, and others may lead to longer residence only after a switch into a different category. Anyone planning a multi-year move should check the settlement position before choosing a country.
Tax, social security and insurance
A long stay can create Kazakh tax residence despite foreign income. Company owners should review management and permanent-establishment risk. The visa does not provide a tax exemption.
Immigration permission does not answer every tax question. Residence, payroll, permanent-establishment risk, social-security coverage and local registration can all depend on facts such as days present, where management decisions are made and who benefits from the work. Obtain advice covering both the destination country and the country where the employer or business is established.
Common problems to avoid
- Providing a single balance instead of six months of income history.
- Omitting the tax declaration or criminal-record certificate.
- Assuming every nationality is invitation-exempt.
- Taking employment in Kazakhstan.
- Treating the two-year maximum as permanent residence.
Official sources
The following official sources were checked for this guide on 8 August 2026. Rules, thresholds and application channels can change without notice.