Defensible
    KZ

    Worldwide

    Setting up a company in Kazakhstan

    The gateway to Central Asia and the AIFC: a financial centre under English law with tax exemptions to 2066.

    Book a 15-minute call All jurisdictions

    At a glance

    Corporate tax

    20%; exemptions for AIFC participants

    VAT

    12%

    Incorporation

    TOO: 1 day, e-government

    AIFC

    English law, AFSA, digital asset licensing

    Kazakhstan is Central Asia's largest economy, sitting on the land corridor between China and Europe, rich in energy and mining, and a market Turkish companies know well. The standard entity is the TOO (limited liability partnership); it is formed through e-government in a day and there is effectively no minimum capital. Corporate tax is 20 percent, VAT 12 percent.

    For fintech, crypto and finance companies the real address is the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC): its own court based on English common law, its own regulator (AFSA) and corporate and income tax exemptions for participants running to 2066. Digital asset licences are issued here.

    Why here

    When this jurisdiction is the right choice.

    • AIFC: the only financial centre in the region operating under English law, tax exemptions to 2066.
    • Logistics and trade position on the China-Europe corridor.
    • Large investment opportunities in energy, mining and agriculture; special economic zones.
    • Cultural proximity and strong trade ties with Türkiye.

    Entity types

    Which structure, for whom.

    TOO (LLP)

    The standard form; limited liability, effectively no minimum capital, fast formation.

    AO (JSC)

    Joint stock company; for share issuance, minimum capital 50,000 MCI.

    AIFC participant

    A company formed in the AIFC; English law, AFSA licensing, tax exemptions.

    Branch / representative office

    A foreign company's branch or representative office.

    Process

    Formation step by step.

    1. 01Structure choice: TOO, AO or AIFC participant
    2. 02IIN/BIN numbers and digital signatures for founders
    3. 03Name and legal address
    4. 04Registration through e-government and BIN (one day)
    5. 05Tax registration; VAT once the threshold is crossed
    6. 06Bank account
    7. 07Work permits for foreign staff
    8. 08AFSA licence application on the AIFC route

    After formation

    What has to happen every year.

    • Quarterly and annual corporate tax returns
    • VAT returns (if registered)
    • Social tax and payroll obligations
    • AFSA reporting and substance conditions for AIFC companies

    Frequently asked

    The in-country registry, licence and agent steps of the formation file run through our licensed formation partners in the relevant jurisdiction. Structure design, contracts, the bank file and the tax and notification effect on the Turkish side are managed by Defensible. Rates and thresholds summarise the headline rules at the time of writing; we check the current text together on your own file.

    Is the AIFC suitable for a crypto exchange?

    Yes; AFSA issues digital asset service provider licences and the region's most settled framework sits here. We assess it against VARA and MiCA in our crypto licensing advisory.

    Let's work out which structure fits you in 15 minutes.

    Tell us where you sell, who you are and what you are aiming at; we will say in the call which jurisdiction and entity type make sense. Formation itself is a separate engagement, scoped and priced there.

    Book a 15-minute call