The Internal Ministry of Kazakhstan suggested prohibiting the issuing of Individual Identification Numbers (IIN) to foreigners through the e-government website. The ministry wants foreigners to visit Public Service Centers and file their applications in person.
What happened? The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan has published a draft document with changes to the rules for «forming and correcting of individual identification numbers to foreigners and stateless people who are temporarily staying in Kazakhstan.»
If the document is approved, foreigners and stateless people will be forced to file an application to form an IIN by appearing at a nearby Public Service Center in person.
This means that the country’s authorities will be able to reject the issuing of an IIN for a foreigner who lives outside of Kazakhstan. The current rules allow the issuing of an IIN online through the eGov website, though.
An individual (or his legal representative) should also visit a Public Service Center in their neighborhood if he or she wants to correct an IIN.
Why do foreigners need an IIN? An IIN is a unique identification number that the government issues for individuals and individual entrepreneurs once in their lifetime. The number is necessary for public entities in Kazakhstan that keep information about different individuals. If a foreigner leaves Kazakhstan his IIN is switched off and then switched on if he returns to the country.
The context. On June 5, Kursiv wrote that several commercial banks in Kazakhstan can issue IINs to non-residents. In response, the State Corporation «Government for Citizens» said that «there are no threats to the national security and the people because the Ministry of Internal Affairs reviews all applications for IIN. The ministry is the sole authorized agency responsible for issuing an IINs or rejecting an application, not the banks.»
According to different media outlets, residents of some countries neighboring Kazakhstan can allegedly receive an IIN and a banking card at a distance while being physically outside the country. MP Murat Abenov raised an outcry over this issue. He said that private organizations are now responsible for issuing IINs and this is unacceptable. On July 20, the media reported that commercial banks stopped issuing IINs to foreigners.
