Kazakhstan's authorities have banned non-residents from issuing bank cards valid for more than 12 months. The restriction will not affect investors, businessmen and diplomats, and it does not apply to cards already issued.
According to Euromedia24.com, as explained by the Financial Market Regulation and Development Agency of Kazakhstan, the restrictive measure was adopted "to minimize the risks of using banking services in the field of illegal drug trafficking and digital assets".
Kazakhstan is one of the most popular destinations for Russians who have decided to leave their country after the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine and Vladimir Putin's announcement of the so-called partial mobilization.
According to the data of the Kazakh government, almost 695 thousand citizens of Russia received a card from local banks between 2022 and 2024, and according to the data of the Republican Ministry of Internal Affairs, 233 thousand Russians received a personal state number of Kazakhstan in 2024. It is not known how many Russians actually live in Kazakhstan.
