The government of Kazakhstan has prepared new measures to attract foreign tourists; the introduction of the Tax Free system is one of them.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has proposed switching the Tax Free system from a test mode to a permanent operation across the entire country.
The Tax Free system operates in many countries around the world, helping to attract tourists by granting them the opportunity to make a tax refund on purchases. Testing of the system began in 2019 in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent and Turkestan.
From Aug. 15, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2024, authorities refunded international tourists the value-added tax (VAT) if the cost of goods they purchased exceeded approximately $150 and they were taken out of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) territory. (Among members of the EEU are Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Russia).
During this period, foreign tourists purchased items worth approximately $9.3 million, having spent $1,600 on shopping on average. The government said this result is close to those seen in the world’s top 10 markets.
Furthermore, the agency is set to streamline the process for foreign citizens to obtain the Neo Nomad Visa. Currently, the visa can only be obtained through Kazakhstani diplomatic missions abroad. In the future, it will be available online via the visa-migration portal, authorities said.
The Neo Nomad Visa is designed for non-Kazakhstani citizens who work remotely for international companies while residing in Kazakhstan as tourists. As of February, seven foreigners had obtained this entry permit.
