Just Landed in Kazakhstan? Your First 7 Days

Mobile coverage is strong across the cities and along main roads, though it thins out in the remote steppe and mountains. A prepaid SIM requires passport registration by law and works within minutes of activation. 4G is widespread, home fibre broadband is cheap and fast, and 5G is rolling out across Astana and Almaty.

Typical cost: Around 2,000-4,000 KZT for a starter SIM including a monthly bundle of data and calls; heavier data plans run a little higher.

The tenge is the only accepted currency, so carry some cash but expect to pay for almost everything by card or QR code. Kaspi transfers by phone number are the default way people split bills, pay landlords and settle up with small vendors, often faster than fishing out a wallet.

Opening an account: Kaspi, Halyk Bank and Freedom Bank open accounts for foreigners, but you first need an IIN from a Public Service Centre (TsON). Bring your passport, your visa or residence document, and sometimes proof of address such as a rental agreement. Once open, your card links straight into the Kaspi or Halyk app for QR payments.

Cash: Cities are largely cashless via Kaspi QR and contactless cards, but keep some notes for bazaars, rural areas, the odd older taxi and small market traders. Card and QR acceptance is near-universal in supermarkets, cafes and chain shops.

Tipping: Not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving around 10 percent in restaurants is appreciated; some venues already add a service charge of about 10 percent, so check the bill before adding more.

Foreigners must have their stay registered with the migration service, but the legal duty falls on the receiving party, not on you personally. If you are in a hotel, the front desk files this automatically on check-in. If you are in private housing, your landlord, host or employer must notify the migration service of your address, usually through the visa and migration portal. Short visits of up to 30 days no longer require separate temporary registration, but for longer stays under a visa-free regime you must be registered, and it is your responsibility to make sure your host actually does it. Failure to register can lead to fines and problems on exit, so keep proof of whatever your host files.

Deadline: The receiving party must notify the migration service within 3 working days of your arrival. For longer visa-free stays (up to 90 days), registration must be completed no later than 30 calendar days from the date you crossed the border. Always confirm the exact window that applies to your entry basis.

Where: Migration Service of the police, or online via the eGov.kz portal or the visa and migration portal (vmp.gov.kz) for hosts with a registered account.

Cities have cheap buses, a single metro line in Almaty, and abundant ride-hailing that many newcomers lean on while they settle. Buses and the Almaty metro use the Onay card, or you can pay contactless with a bank card and by QR on many routes. Single fares are around 100-120 KZT. Intercity travel relies on trains and domestic flights, as distances between cities are huge.

From the airport: From Almaty International Airport, order a Yandex Go or inDrive to the centre (roughly 2,000-3,500 KZT, 20-40 minutes depending on traffic) or take a city bus with an Onay card. From Astana's Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, use the same apps into the centre, or bus 10 or 12; a taxi to the left bank typically runs around 2,500-4,000 KZT.

Most newcomers rent flats in Astana or Almaty, found on Krisha.kz, the dominant property portal, or through local agents. Furnished one and two-bedroom flats are common and leases are often informal, negotiated verbally in Russian, so it helps to bring a Russian-speaking friend or colleague to viewings.

Typical rent: A furnished one-bedroom flat runs roughly 250,000-400,000 KZT per month in central Almaty or Astana, and 150,000-250,000 KZT further out or in smaller cities.

Deposit norm: Usually one month's rent as a deposit plus the first month upfront; where an agent is involved, the fee is typically half to a full month's rent. Get a written agreement even when the landlord suggests a handshake deal.

A public healthcare system exists but standards vary and consultations run in Russian or Kazakh. Expats and better-off locals generally use private clinics in the big cities for faster appointments and occasionally English-speaking staff. Emergency ambulance care is available by calling 103 or the unified 112.

How to access it: For non-emergencies, book directly with a private clinic in Almaty or Astana, where you usually pay per visit. For emergencies, call 103 for an ambulance or 112. Pharmacies (apteka) are plentiful, often open late or around the clock, and sell many medicines over the counter, though bring the generic name of anything you take regularly.

Insurance: Private international or local health insurance is strongly advised, because public cover is tied to formal employment and social contributions that most newcomers will not have on arrival. Keep proof of your insurance on your phone and enough funds to pay private clinics upfront.

• Remove your shoes when entering someone's home; slippers (tapochki) are usually offered at the door.
• Accept tea when visiting, and expect generous hospitality around a laden table (dastarkhan); refusing food outright can seem rude.
• Learn a few Russian or Kazakh greetings, as even a little effort in the local language is warmly received and opens doors.
• Greet and shake hands with men when arriving; be more reserved with women and let them lead on whether to shake hands.
• Respect elders, who hold a high status; offer them your seat, let them speak first and serve them before yourself.
• Use your right hand, or both hands, when giving or receiving something such as a business card or a gift.
• Bring a small gift, sweets or fruit, if invited to someone's home, and take the offer of a second helping as a compliment, not an obligation.

• Kazakhstan is largely secular but Muslim-majority; dress modestly around mosques and in more traditional or rural areas, especially in the south.
• Avoid loud criticism of the government or sensitive political topics in public, and be cautious photographing officials or government buildings.
• Winters are severe, particularly in Astana where temperatures fall well below minus 20C; proper insulated clothing and boots are a necessity, not an option.
• Air quality in Almaty can be poor in winter due to smog trapped by the mountains; sensitive newcomers may want an air purifier at home.
• Alcohol is legal and common, but drink-driving laws are strict with a zero-tolerance approach, so never get behind the wheel after drinking.