AIFC · INVESTMENT RESIDENCY
AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme
Bond Stone is an Authorised Agent of the AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP) — one of a select number of firms accredited by the AIFC Programme Office to process applications on behalf of investors.
The ITRP is Kazakhstan’s investment residency programme — offering foreign nationals a 5-year A5 investor visa, access to Kazakhstani tax residency under a simplified 90-day presence rule, and broad exemptions from tax on worldwide income and income from AIFC instruments. The minimum qualifying investment is USD 60,000 in securities listed on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) and labelled as ITRP-eligible.
Governed by: AIFC Regulations on Investment Tax Residency Programme No. 42 dated 14 September 2022; AIFC Guidance on the Investment Tax Residency Programme (as updated). Administered by: AIFC Markets Limited (Programme Office). Website: itrp.aifc.kz · Authority: aifc.kz
Key Benefits
USD 60K
Minimum investment in AIX ITRP-eligible securities
5 years
A5 investor visa for the investor and immediate family members
90 days
Simplified presence rule for tax residency (vs. standard 183-day rule)
Tax exemptions
Investors who obtain tax residency under the ITRP are exempt from Kazakhstani tax on worldwide income and on income derived from investing in AIFC instruments — including interest, dividends, and capital gains from ITRP-eligible securities. Standard Kazakhstan PIT is 10%; ITRP participants are exempt on qualifying income.
A5 investor visa — investor & family
The A5 investor visa is valid for 5 years and covers the investor and immediate family members (spouse and dependent children). Unlimited entry to Kazakhstan. Family members may not engage in employment unless the investor is a manager, deputy head, or official of a legal entity engaged in investment activity in Kazakhstan.
High-liquidity investment instruments
The USD 60,000 investment is made in securities listed on the AIX Official List and specifically labelled as ITRP-eligible — including government bonds, blue-chip corporate bonds, and other instruments designated by the Programme Office. Investment is managed through an AIX CSD Participant broker. The investment may be recovered on exit from the Programme.
Pathway to permanent residency
Investment residency under the ITRP can form part of a longer-term Kazakhstan residency strategy. Residence permits may be issued for up to 10 years. Kazakhstan citizenship is available after 5 years of lawful residence (3 years if married to a Kazakhstani citizen) — subject to language, constitutional knowledge, and other requirements introduced as of October 2024.
Eligibility Requirements
Not a Kazakhstan tax resident
The applicant must not be a tax resident of Kazakhstan at the time of application. Existing Kazakhstani tax residents are not eligible to apply.
No prior Kazakhstani citizenship in last 20 years
Applicants who have renounced Kazakhstani citizenship within the 20 years prior to application are not eligible.
Minimum investment: USD 60,000
Funds of at least USD 60,000 (or equivalent) must be invested in AIX-listed, ITRP-eligible securities and held for the duration of the Programme participation.
Annual tax residency fee: 7,000 MCI
To obtain and maintain a Kazakhstan Tax Residency Certificate under the ITRP, the investor must pay an annual fee of 7,000 MCI to the Kazakhstani state budget. At the 2026 MCI rate of KZT 4,325, this equals KZT 30,275,000 (~USD 58,000). The tax residency fee is the price of the tax exemption benefit — investors who do not wish to obtain tax residency may still participate in the Programme for visa purposes only, without paying this fee.
Important: Tax residency under the ITRP requires the investor to be physically present in Kazakhstan for at least 90 calendar days (including days of arrival and departure) in any consecutive 12-month period ending in the current tax year. The 90-day requirement applies to the investor personally — it cannot be satisfied by family members. Tax residency can only be obtained within Kazakhstan.
Application Process
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Prescreening & KYC Bond Stone, as an Authorised Agent, conducts prescreening of the applicant including KYC verification and eligibility assessment. Prescreening can be initiated via the ITRP website (itrp.aifc.kz) or directly through Bond Stone. The result of prescreening is communicated to the AIFC Programme Office (AIFC Markets Limited). |
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Application & document preparation Bond Stone prepares and submits the full application package to the AIFC Programme Office — original and scanned documents in Kazakh, English, or Russian. For documents in other languages, authenticated translations are provided. The Programme Office conducts due diligence within 25 business days of receiving the complete package. |
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Investment in AIX securities The applicant selects an AIX CSD Participant broker. The broker opens an individual sub-account and executes the investment transaction on the AIX trading facility. Confirmation documents (brokerage account statement, broker’s report) must be provided to the Programme Office within 30 days of notification. Bond Stone coordinates broker selection and investment confirmation documentation. |
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Investment Resident Certificate & A5 visa The Programme Office issues the Investment Resident Certificate to the investor and sends an original copy by post. The Certificate entitles the investor to apply for an A5 investor visa or, for EAEU/CIS country citizens, a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP). Bond Stone assists with the A5 visa application and migration registration. |
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Tax Residency Certificate (optional) Investors who wish to obtain Kazakhstan tax residency must spend at least 90 calendar days in Kazakhstan in the relevant 12-month period and pay 7,000 MCI to the state budget (KZT 30,275,000 at 2026 rates). The full document package is submitted to the Kazakhstani tax authority with a tax residency application. The Tax Residency Certificate unlocks exemptions from tax on worldwide income. |
ITRP vs. Standard Kazakhstan Tax Residency
| Factor | ITRP Investor Residency | Standard Kazakhstan Residency |
|---|---|---|
| Presence requirement | 90 calendar days per year | 183 days per year |
| Minimum investment | USD 60,000 in ITRP-eligible AIX securities | No minimum investment required |
| Tax on worldwide income | Exempt (ITRP participants) | 10% PIT on worldwide income |
| Annual fee for tax residency | 7,000 MCI = KZT 30,275,000 (~USD 58,000 at 2026 rates) | No separate fee |
| Visa | A5 investor visa — 5 years, investor + family | Standard visa categories |
| Work rights | Permitted as manager/director of investing entity only | Per applicable visa/work permit category |
| Authorised Agent required | Yes — applications only through accredited agents | No |
Why Bond Stone
✦ Authorised Agent — Bond Stone is an accredited AIFC ITRP Agent, listed on the official Programme website at itrp.aifc.kz. Applications can only be processed through accredited Agents.
✦ Full service — KYC prescreening, application preparation, broker coordination, A5 visa support, and tax residency certificate filing on one mandate
✦ AIFC RLA No. 250 — Bond Stone holds the deepest AIFC regulatory expertise of any Authorised Agent in the market
✦ Ranked Legal 500 EMEA and IFLR1000 — offices in Almaty and Astana, established in Kazakhstan since 2007
Programme website: itrp.aifc.kz · Primary authority: aifc.kz
Bond Stone Kazakhstan offices: Almaty · Astana
Apply for the AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme
Contact Bond Stone — an Authorised Agent of the ITRP — for a confidential assessment of your eligibility and a step-by-step guide to the application process.
📧 info@bondstonelaw.com
📞 +7 (701) 729 76 72
Request a Confidential Consultation
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