Kazakhstan reports 1,900-plus applications for digital nomad routes

Kazakhstan's Digital Nomad Visa / Residency program has received more than 1,900 applications from 80 countries, the government reported in an Oct. 6 update.

What the latest count covers

The figure covers the government's combined Visa / Residency category. It isn't a count of residence permits issued. The update doesn't provide a breakdown between the two routes.

The Digital Nomad residency program had received more than 1,500 applications from IT professionals in 30 countries, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said Oct. 3, Qazinform reported. The later government update uses a broader category, so the figures shouldn't be treated as a like-for-like measure of growth.

What it means for digital nomads

Foreign IT specialists can seek permanent residency through Digital Nomad Residency, which offers a simplified application process, Astana Hub said. The pilot operates in Astana and Almaty, according to a May 26 Qazinform report.

The practical distinction is professional eligibility, not simply working remotely. Digital Nomad Residency requires an endorsement confirming qualifications for an in-demand IT profession. General remote workers earning income from abroad have a separate option, the Neo Nomad Visa, with a monthly income requirement of at least $3,000 and stays of up to one year. That visa doesn't permit employment in Kazakhstan, the Otandastar Qory instructions state.

How IT specialists apply

Applicants need an Individual Identification Number and an electronic digital signature to submit documents through the Astana Hub portal. Required materials include a passport copy, resume, portfolio, motivation letter, photograph and police clearance certificate, Astana Hub said.

Selection includes verification and a video interview, Qazinform reported. After arrival, applicants undergo a medical examination and fingerprinting, sign a housing agreement and apply at a public service center for permanent residency and a residence permit.

Preliminary approval is annulled if the applicant doesn't arrive in Kazakhstan within 30 days, according to the May report.