Republic of Kazakhstan · digital nomad
Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
For you if you work remotely for clients or an employer outside Kazakhstan: the Neo Nomad Visa (category B12-1) lets you live in Kazakhstan while keeping your foreign income - but please read the honesty note, because this one does not lead to permanent residence.
- Processing time
- Indicative only. The visa is issued through Kazakhstan's foreign missions and extended by the migration police; confirm current timing on the official egov.kz page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only. A visa fee applies; refer to the official page for current amounts rather than relying on a figure here.
- Typical duration
- Issued for up to around a year with the possibility of in-country extension; it is a stay route, not a settlement route.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 11 July 2026, the Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1) for Republic of Kazakhstan is an unsponsored Kazakhstan immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Kazakhstan government pages, reviewed 11 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/kazakhstan/neo-nomad-visa#answer
What is the Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1) in Republic of Kazakhstan?
Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1) is an unsponsored Kazakhstan route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only. A visa fee applies; refer to the official page for current amounts rather than relying on a figure here; indicative processing time is Indicative only. The visa is issued through Kazakhstan's foreign missions and extended by the migration police; confirm current timing on the official egov.kz page; typical duration is Issued for up to around a year with the possibility of in-country extension; it is a stay route, not a settlement route. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The Neo Nomad Visa, in visa category B12-1, was introduced for people who work remotely and earn a steady income from abroad. It lets you base yourself in Kazakhstan while your work and income stay outside the country. Honesty box - please read: this is the visa route that does NOT lead to permanent residence. It is a different thing from the IT "Digital Nomad Residency" run through Astana Hub, which can lead to a permanent residence permit. The Neo Nomad Visa also does not let you work for Kazakhstani companies or earn local income. Treat any income figure as indicative and confirm the current rule on the official egov.kz page.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓You work remotely and your income comes from sources outside Kazakhstan.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
- ✓You can show a steady income over a recent period (the threshold is indicative - check the official page).Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
- ✓You do not take a job with a Kazakhstani company or earn local income on this visa.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
- ✓You meet the standard entry and good-character requirements for the category.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
Common blockers
- !Relying on this visa to lead to permanent residence - it does not; the IT Digital Nomad Residency is the route that can.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
- !Planning to work for a Kazakhstani employer or earn local income, which this visa does not allow.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
- !Being unable to evidence the steady foreign income the route expects.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Valid passport and the completed visa application.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
- ·Bank statements or similar proof of steady income from outside Kazakhstan.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
- ·Evidence of your remote employment or client relationships abroad.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
- ·Any further documents the official page or mission requests.Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm your income is genuinely from outside Kazakhstan and that this stay-only route fits your plan.
Build the evidence pack
Gather your passport and recent proof of steady foreign income.
Submit through the official channel
Apply for the Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1) through Kazakhstan's official channel or a foreign mission.
After approval
After arrival, register as required and apply to extend in-country if you want to stay longer.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Kazakhstan. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1).
Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan · verified
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Related routes
Digital Nomad Residency (IT specialists, via Astana Hub)
For you if you are a foreign IT specialist: the Digital Nomad Residency is a route, run through Astana Hub, that can lead to a permanent residence permit in Kazakhstan - and that is the key difference from the Neo Nomad Visa.
Temporary Residence Permit
For you if you are staying in Kazakhstan for more than the short visa-free window: the temporary residence permit is the document that lets you live there for a defined purpose such as work, study, family or business.
Work Permit and Residence (employer-sponsored)
For you if a Kazakhstani employer has offered you a job: this is the standard route into paid work in Kazakhstan, where your employer secures a work permit for you and you then hold a temporary residence permit to live there.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Neo Nomad Visa lead to permanent residence?+
No. This is the route that does not lead to permanent residence - it is a stay route for remote workers with foreign income. If your goal is settlement and you work in IT, the separate "Digital Nomad Residency" run through Astana Hub is the route that can lead to a permanent residence permit. The two are easy to confuse, so check which one matches your situation on the official egov.kz page.
Can I work for a Kazakhstani company on this visa?+
No. The Neo Nomad Visa is built around income earned outside Kazakhstan, so it does not let you take a local job or earn local income. If you want to work for a Kazakhstani employer, that runs through the work-permit and residence route instead. Treat any income figure mentioned online as indicative and confirm the current conditions on the official page.
How long is the Neo Nomad Visa valid for, and can I extend it from inside Kazakhstan?+
The Neo Nomad Visa is issued for up to around a year, with the possibility of extending it in-country if you want to stay longer. It is a stay route rather than a settlement route, so after arriving you register as required and can apply to extend from inside Kazakhstan. Confirm the current validity and extension steps on the official egov.kz page.
What proof of income do I need for the Neo Nomad Visa, and where can it come from?+
You typically need bank statements or similar proof of steady income coming from sources outside Kazakhstan, plus evidence of your remote employment or client relationships abroad. The actual income threshold is treated as indicative, so confirm the current figure on the official egov.kz page rather than relying on a number found online.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in KazakhstanHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Electronic Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Last checked: 1 June 2026