The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has added digital assets to the list of eligible investment instruments under its Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP). Foreign investors can now qualify for a long-term investor visa and tax residency in Kazakhstan by investing in digital assets through AIFC-licensed platforms.
Previously, participants in the program could invest in shares, participation interests, units in funds registered with the AIFC, securities listed on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) and the share capital of companies registered within the AIFC. Participants must maintain a minimum investment of $60,000 in these instruments.
Digital assets available through digital asset operators licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) have now been added to the list. For this option, the minimum investment amount to be maintained throughout the program’s participation period is $150,000.
The Investment Tax Residency Program allows foreign nationals to invest in approved instruments and obtain tax residency through a streamlined procedure. The program is open to individuals over the age of 18 who are not citizens of Kazakhstan and have not been tax residents of the country during the previous 20 years.
The AIFC said the decision was driven by the development of Kazakhstan’s digital asset market. In 2026, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree to stimulate and develop the digital asset industry, aimed at improving sector regulation, developing digital financial infrastructure and enhancing the country’s investment appeal.
«Our programme has expanded the range of investment instruments available to international investors by introducing digital assets as a new mechanism for attracting investment. This provides investors with access to investment opportunities within the AIFC ecosystem and supports the development of digital assets as part of the country’s financial and technological infrastructure,» Ainur Zhumatova, director of the AIFC Expat Centre, said.
The AIFC believes that the launch of the new instrument will help strengthen the center’s position as an international platform for attracting capital and provide investors with access to modern financial opportunities.
The new regulations take effect as of the date of their publication on the program’s official website.
Previously, Kursiv.media reported that foreign investors were pulling back from Kazakhstan’s oil sector, according to an economist.
