LLP (TOO) in Kazakhstan for Foreigners 2026: Registration, Visa, Taxes, and AIFC Comparison

An LLP (Limited Liability Partnership,in Kazakh law) is the only business form available to foreign nationals without a Kazakhstan residence permit, allowing 100% foreign ownership without a local co-founder requirement.

The LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) in Kazakhstan is governed by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 220-I “On Limited and Additional Liability Partnerships”, dated 22 April 1998. It is broadly comparable to a Russian Limited Liability Company (OOO), a UK Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), and a Hong Kong Private Limited Company (Private Ltd.), although each jurisdiction has its own legal and regulatory framework.

On 1 July 2026, a new Constitution of Kazakhstan, approved by national referendum on 15 March 2026, took effect, with roughly 70 codes and laws aligned to it, including the Entrepreneurial, Tax, Civil, and Labour Codes.

Since May 2024, citizens of EAEU countries (Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia) have lost the visa-free procedure for registering an LLP and must obtain a business-immigrant TRP, on par with citizens of other countries who previously only needed a C5 visa.

⚠ Effective 1 July 2026, a new Article 189 of the Tax Code of the RK allows the tax authority to initiate a temporary exit restriction from Kazakhstan for the head of a legal entity — but this is neither automatic nor unilateral: per several independent sources, including a direct quote from the law’s text, the tax authority’s decision requires court sanction, and an independent tax consultant notes the measure is a last resort applied only after other collection methods are exhausted, on arrears outstanding for more than three months. This is a real compliance risk for a foreign LLP director that did not exist under earlier legislation, but it is not triggered automatically by any tax shortfall.

1. LLP — The Primary Corporate Form for Foreign Business

A Limited Liability Partnership is a separate legal entity with limited liability for its participants, available to foreigners without a residence permit unlike sole proprietorship.

Sole proprietorship is not available to foreigners without a residence permit — this is expressly prohibited by the Law of the RK “On Migration”; the LLP remains the only option for a non-resident individual wishing to conduct business in Kazakhstan.

✅ 100% foreign ownership is permitted with no local co-founder requirement; a non-resident director may manage the company from abroad without permanent presence in Kazakhstan.

ℹ Registration technically takes 1 working day via egov.kz, but this figure relates solely to the registration procedure itself once the IIN and EDS are obtained — not the total time from the decision to start a business to a fully operational company, which in practice takes several weeks due to visa and banking procedures.

2. What Changed on 1 July 2026: the New Constitution and Legislative Alignment

1 July 2026 is not a routine technical date but the effective date of a new Basic Law of the country, triggering amendments to a significant body of current legislation.

The new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, approved by referendum on 15 March 2026, introduces a unicameral parliament and a new advisory body, the People’s Council; alignment amendments have been made to more than 70 codes and laws, including the Entrepreneurial, Tax, Civil, Labour, and Customs Codes.

⚠ Effective 1 July 2026, Article 189 of the Tax Code of the RK provides for a temporary restriction on leaving the Republic of Kazakhstan for the head of a legal entity (or the person acting in that capacity) where tax arrears exist. The law’s text is more specific: the decision is signed by the head of the tax authority and requires court sanction under the Civil Procedure Code of the RK — without a court ruling, the restriction does not take effect. Independent sources also note the measure is applied as a last resort, after other collection methods are exhausted, on arrears outstanding for more than three months. For an LLP with a foreign director, this means persistent unpaid company tax debt can, in the extreme case and with court sanction, block the director’s departure from the country.

ℹ Most amendments to the Tax Code effective 1 July 2026 are primarily editorial and terminological in nature, aligning the document with the new Constitution rather than substantively changing the tax rates or thresholds described below.

3. Registration Requirements

Parameter	Requirement	Legal basis
Minimum number of participants	1 (maximum — 50)	Law of the RK No. 220-I of 22.04.1998 on LLP
Minimum authorised capital (SME)	100 tenge (~USD 0.20)	Entrepreneurial Code of the RK, Art. 24
Minimum authorised capital (practical)	100 MCI = 432,500 tenge (~USD 870) in 2026	Law of the RK on LLP, Art. 23 — recommended minimum for a bank account
Company name	In three languages: Kazakh, Russian, English	Law of the RK No. 2198 of 17.04.1995
Registered office in Kazakhstan	Mandatory	Law of the RK No. 2198
Founder and director IIN	Mandatory, in-person as of 2024	Tax Code of the RK
EDS (digital signature)	Mandatory for online registration	Law of the RK on EDS
Founder’s visa/status	C5 visa or TRP for EAEU citizens	Law of the RK “On Migration”

Authorised Capital: How Much Is Actually Needed

The formal minimum is 100 tenge for small businesses (an SME entity: up to 100 employees, annual income up to 300,000 MCI).

The practical recommendation differs: banks pay attention to authorised capital when opening an account, especially for an LLP with a foreign element — the recommended minimum is 100 MCI = 432,500 tenge (~USD 870 in 2026).

⚠ For a credit line, banks generally expect significantly more than the formal or even the recommended minimum — confirm the exact threshold directly with the specific bank for the planned volume of operations.

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4. Visa and Migration Status: The Main Barrier for Foreigners

Foreign national category	Visa/status for registration	Processing time
Citizen of non-CIS/EAEU countries	C5 visa (business immigrant), valid up to 24 months	2–6 weeks
Citizen of Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia (EAEU)	Business-immigrant TRP (mandatory since May 2024)	4–8 weeks
Citizen of other CIS countries	C5 visa or TRP	2–6 weeks
Foreigner with a Kazakhstan residence permit	Residence permit is sufficient	—
Founder is a foreign legal entity	C5 visa not required for the beneficial owner; the individual director needs a C3 visa	—

⚠ A structural option often overlooked: if the LLP’s sole participant is a foreign legal entity rather than an individual, the ultimate foreign beneficial owner does not need a C5 visa or business-immigrant TRP — that requirement falls on the individual director (C3 visa), not the beneficial owner holding the stake through a corporate structure.

The C5 Visa: A Two-Stage Process

The initial C5 visa is issued for entry into Kazakhstan for business registration purposes, valid up to 90 days single-entry or up to 24 months multiple-entry, subject to an invitation from a Kazakhstani company.

Extending the C5 visa after LLP registration and payment of authorised capital requires mandatory approval from the local executive body (akimat) based on a submitted business plan — a weak or formal business plan is the primary reason for extension refusal.

Obtaining an IIN: In Person Only Since 2024

⚠ Since 2024, obtaining an IIN by power of attorney has been abolished — only in-person presence at a Public Service Centre (PSC) within Kazakhstan is accepted. This means a foreign individual founder must personally travel to the country, and fully remote LLP registration for an individual founder is technically not possible.

5. Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step	Action	Timeline
1	Obtain a C5 visa or TRP	2–8 weeks before entry
2	Obtain the founder’s and director’s IIN in person at a PSC	1–3 working days
3	Obtain an EDS (digital signature)	1–3 working days
4	Choose a company name and OKED activity code	1 day
5	Prepare the constitutional documents	2–5 working days
6	Register the LLP via egov.kz or a PSC	1 working day
7	Obtain the BIN (business identification number)	Automatic upon registration
8	Register for tax with the State Revenue Committee	Within 30 days
9	Open a corporate bank account	2–4 weeks

ℹ An alternative for those seeking a fully remote option: AIFC registration does not require a C5 visa and is conducted online via Digital Resident (digitalresident.kz) — but this is a separate jurisdiction with its own legal regime, not a simpler path to registering the same LLP.

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6. Tax Regimes for an LLP

Regime	CIT	VAT	Best for
General regime	20%	16% on turnover above 10,000 MCI (~KZT 40 million)	Medium and large business; foreign-owned companies
Simplified declaration (Form 910)	3% (single tax on income)	Exempt below threshold	Small business, retail, low-turnover services
Special tax regime — retail tax	3% of turnover	Exempt	Retail stores, restaurants, certain services

VAT has been 16% since 1 January 2026 (previously 12%); the mandatory VAT registration threshold is 10,000 MCI (~KZT 39.3 million) over any 12-month period.

Most foreign-owned LLPs operate under the general regime, since it does not limit turnover, activity type, or staff numbers — the simplified declaration (Form 910) is available but imposes turnover and headcount limits.

7. LLP vs AIFC: Which to Choose

Parameter	LLP (mainland Kazakhstan)	AIFC (Astana)
Legal basis	Law of the RK on LLP No. 220-I of 22.04.1998	Constitutional Statute No. 438-V of 07.12.2015
Legal system	Kazakhstan civil law	English common law
C5 visa (individual founder)	Mandatory	Not required
CIT	20%	0% (financial and related services until 2066)
Court jurisdiction	Kazakhstan courts	AIFC Court (English law)
Best for	Trading, logistics, manufacturing, operating business	Fintech, asset management, holdings, financial services

Practical conclusion: an LLP is the right choice for operating a business in the Kazakhstan market (trade, manufacturing, services, logistics); AIFC suits financial structures, fintech, and holdings valuing English law and zero tax on financial activity. For some companies, combining both structures is optimal — an LLP for operations, AIFC for the group’s holding or financial arm.

8. Bank Account for a Foreign-Owned LLP

Opening a bank account is typically the most difficult and lengthy part of the process for a foreign-owned LLP, since Kazakhstani banks apply strict KYC to structures with a foreign element.

•       Halyk Bank — the largest bank in Kazakhstan, broad coverage, corporate banking, trade finance.

•       Jusan Bank — actively works with foreign companies, developed online services.

•       Freedom Bank — convenient online banking, open to working with non-residents.

•       Kaspi Bank — a leader in e-commerce and payment services, practically indispensable for B2C trade.

When reviewing an application, banks check the transparency of the beneficial ownership structure down to the ultimate individual, the source of authorised capital and funds, and a detailed description of the company’s business activity.

⚠ Under Kazakhstan law, foreign currency transactions of USD 50,000 or more must be notified to the National Bank of the RK; contracts exceeding USD 500,000 are subject to registration — this applies regardless of the company’s tax regime.

9. Common Mistakes by Foreign Investors

•       Registering an LLP without a C5 visa for citizens of non-EAEU countries. This makes the registration legally vulnerable — the company may be found to be unlawfully registered.

•       Assuming EAEU citizens don’t need a visa. This is no longer true since May 2024 — citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia must hold a TRP or C5 visa.

•       Obtaining an IIN by power of attorney. This has been impossible since 2024 — only in-person presence at a PSC within Kazakhstan is accepted.

•       Setting the minimum authorised capital at 100 tenge. Banks treat this as a red flag when reviewing a bank account application — a practical minimum of 100 MCI substantially reduces this risk.

•       Ignoring the exit-restriction risk under Article 189 of the Tax Code, effective 1 July 2026. Unpaid company tax debt can result in an exit ban for the foreign company director personally.

10. Who an LLP Fits

•       Companies operating in the Kazakhstan market — trade, manufacturing, logistics, services. An LLP gives direct market access without the restrictions applicable to AIFC financial structures.

•       Investors prepared for in-person presence to obtain an IIN and complete the visa procedure. Without this step, LLP registration for an individual founder is technically not possible.

11. Who This Does Not Fit

•       Companies needing fully remote registration without an individual founder’s in-person presence. AIFC with online registration via Digital Resident, or a structure with a corporate participant, suits this scenario better.

•       Fintech and financial companies for whom English law and a zero tax rate matter. AIFC is a better-suited jurisdiction for these purposes than a mainland LLP.

12. When Professional Verification Is Essential

Self-assessment is worth supplementing with specialist advice when: choosing between direct individual LLP ownership and a structure through an intermediate foreign legal entity to avoid visa requirements; assessing the current impact of amendments introduced in connection with the new Constitution effective 1 July 2026 on a specific company; and choosing between an LLP and AIFC for a mixed operating-and-financial business model.

FAQ

Is a visa required to register an LLP in Kazakhstan?

Yes, citizens of most countries need a C5 visa; since May 2024, this also applies to EAEU citizens, who need a TRP.

Can an IIN be obtained by power of attorney?

No, this has been impossible since 2024 — in-person presence at a PSC within Kazakhstan is required.

What is the minimum authorised capital for an LLP?

Formally 100 tenge for small businesses, but the practical recommended minimum for successfully opening a bank account is 100 MCI (~USD 870 in 2026).

What changed in Kazakhstan legislation on 1 July 2026?

A new Constitution, approved by referendum on 15 March 2026, took effect, with roughly 70 codes and laws aligned to it, including a new Article 189 of the Tax Code on temporary exit restriction for a legal entity’s head with tax arrears.

Can a foreigner avoid the C5 visa if the LLP participant is a legal entity?

Yes, if the LLP participant is a foreign legal entity, the ultimate individual beneficial owner does not need a C5 visa or TRP — that requirement applies to the company’s individual director (C3 visa), not the beneficial owner.

How does an LLP differ from AIFC?

An LLP operates under Kazakhstan civil law with a 20% CIT rate; AIFC operates under English common law with 0% tax on financial and related services until 2066.

Key Takeaways

•       An LLP is the only business form for foreigners without a residence permit, governed by Law of the RK No. 220-I of 22 April 1998.

•       A new Constitution of the RK took effect 1 July 2026, with roughly 70 aligned codes and laws.

•       A new Article 189 of the Tax Code, effective 1 July 2026, provides for temporary exit restriction for a legal entity’s head with tax arrears.

•       Since May 2024, an IIN can only be obtained in person, and EAEU citizens need a TRP on par with other countries’ citizens.

•       The practical minimum authorised capital for a successful bank account is 100 MCI (~USD 870).

•       Ownership through a foreign legal entity participant exempts the ultimate beneficial owner from the C5 visa.

Summary

An LLP (Limited Liability Partnership, “TOO”) is the only business form available to foreign nationals without a Kazakhstan residence permit, governed by Law of the RK No. 220-I of 22 April 1998, allowing 100% foreign ownership. Since May 2024, citizens of EAEU countries (Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia) need a business-immigrant TRP on par with the C5 visa required of other countries’ citizens; an IIN can only be obtained in person at a Public Service Centre within Kazakhstan. On 1 July 2026, a new Constitution of Kazakhstan, approved by referendum on 15 March 2026, took effect, with roughly 70 codes and laws aligned to it, including a new Article 189 of the Tax Code on temporary exit restriction for a legal entity’s head with tax arrears. The practical minimum authorised capital for successfully passing bank KYC is 100 MCI (~USD 870 in 2026), against a formal minimum of 100 tenge. The general tax regime provides for a 20% CIT rate and 16% VAT effective 1 January 2026 on turnover above 10,000 MCI. The alternative AIFC jurisdiction in Astana operates under English common law with zero tax on financial services until 2066 and does not require a C5 visa.

Sources

• online.zakon.kz — Law of the RK “On Limited and Additional Liability Partnerships” No. 220-I of 22 April 1998

• online.zakon.kz — Law of the RK “On State Registration of Legal Entities” No. 2198 of 17 April 1995

• online.zakon.kz — Entrepreneurial Code of the RK No. 375-V of 29 October 2015, Art. 24

• adilet.zan.kz — official legal information portal, full text of the new Tax Code of the RK

• zakon.kz — the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan took effect 1 July 2026

• PRG.kz — Tax Code: changes effective 1 July 2026

• mybuh.kz — changes to the Tax Code effective 1 July 2026 (Art. 189 on temporary exit restriction)

• Egov.kz — e-government portal of Kazakhstan, legal entity registration

• PwC Tax Summaries — Kazakhstan: Corporate Taxes and Other Taxes 2026

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or consulting advice. Information is prepared based on the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in force as of July 2026. Registration requirements, migration rules, and tax rates may change, including as a result of aligning legislation with the new Constitution of the RK, which took effect 1 July 2026. Consult a qualified legal adviser in Kazakhstan before making decisions.