A step-by-step guide for foreigners who need a Kazakhstan IIN without traveling to the country. We cover both legal routes for 2026: an in-person visit to a Public Service Center (PSC), or fully online through the government eResidency program — from $49 and in about 30 minutes. For freelancers, investors, and everyday travelers.
A foreigner can get a Kazakhstan IIN online through eResidency, the Republic of Kazakhstan’s government digital identity program. You apply from any country through a mobile app, and the whole process — from application to getting your IIN — takes about 30 minutes. It costs from $49, one time, and you don’t need to travel to Kazakhstan. The only other legal route requires an in-person visit to a PSC in Kazakhstan.
An IIN (individual identification number) is a unique 12-digit code assigned to every person in Kazakhstan. For citizens, it’s the main identifier across all government and financial systems. The equivalent in Russia is the INN, in Estonia the isikukood, and in the US the SSN.
A foreigner needs an IIN for almost any legally significant action in Kazakhstan. Without one, you can’t:
open an account at a Kazakhstan bank and get a Visa or Mastercard card;
register a sole proprietorship or an LLP, or a company in the AIFC jurisdiction;
buy a SIM card or eSIM with a Kazakhstan number in your own name;
open a brokerage account and invest through Kazakhstan brokers;
sign contracts, pay taxes, or register property.
In practice, the most common reason foreigners look for a way to get an IIN remotely is simple: they need a working international card and an account in a stable jurisdiction. The IIN is the first, mandatory step.
Short answer: no. The service on the eGov.kz portal technically exists, but it requires a Kazakhstan digital signature (EDS), which you can’t get without an IIN — so for a new applicant abroad, this route doesn’t work. Kazakhstan’s embassies and consulates don’t issue IINs to foreign nationals either.
So there are exactly two legal routes: come to Kazakhstan and get your IIN in person at a PSC (Public Service Center), or complete the whole process online through the government e-Residency program. Any “we’ll get you an IIN by power of attorney, no visit needed” schemes fall outside these two options, and you shouldn’t rely on them.
|
Criterion |
In-person visit to a PSC |
Online through eResidency |
|---|---|---|
|
Travel to Kazakhstan required |
Yes |
No |
|
Cost |
No state fee, but flights and lodging will run you $300–500 or more |
from $49, one time |
|
Timing |
1–2 days on site, plus travel |
About 30 minutes |
|
What you get |
IIN only |
IIN, Digital Identity Card, and e-resident status |
|
Opening an account afterward |
A separate visit to a bank branch |
Remotely at the program’s partner banks |
|
Best for |
People already in Kazakhstan |
People doing everything from abroad |
The takeaway is simple. If you’re already in Kazakhstan, go to the nearest PSC. If you’re abroad, the only remote route is e-Residency.
The whole process happens in a mobile app and takes about 30 minutes of hands-on time. Here’s what to do.
Online verification only works with a biometric passport that has an NFC chip. It’s easy to spot: look for a small rectangle-with-a-circle icon on the cover. It must be valid for at least 6 more months. Citizenship doesn’t matter — the program is open to 210 countries and territories — and applicants must be 18 or older. The exceptions are citizens and residents of countries on the FATF blacklist (Iran, North Korea, Myanmar).
Go to the eResidency application page, submit your request, and download the eResidency app (available on the App Store and Google Play). You’ll only need an email address and a phone number to sign up.
The app will ask you to scan your passport, hold it to your phone so it can read the NFC chip, and take a selfie. The biometric check and sanctions screening run automatically. With your documents ready, this step rarely takes more than 10–15 minutes.
It costs from $49, one time — no hidden fees and no annual charges. You can pay with any bank card, with USDT/USDC stablecoins, or through Binance Pay.
Right after your application is reviewed, you’re assigned an IIN and issued a digital ID card — usually within the same 30 minutes the whole process takes. You don’t need to verify your identity in person or travel to Kazakhstan afterward. That’s it for the IIN — now the good part begins.
A bank card isn’t part of the e-Residency package — it’s the next step right after you get your IIN. With e-resident status and a digital ID, you can open an account remotely, without visiting a branch.
The program’s partner banks today are Freedom Bank and Bank RBK. There, an e-resident can open a multi-currency account and get an international card that supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, SWIFT, and SEPA transfers. A virtual card is usually ready within an hour, and you can order a physical one with delivery.
Freedom Bank customers can also open a brokerage account and invest in securities of the world’s leading companies on the NYSE, NASDAQ, and KASE.
A biometric passport with an NFC chip, valid for at least 6 months.
A smartphone with NFC (almost any modern iPhone or Android).
A working email address and phone number for verification codes.
Any bank card to pay the fee.
If your passport isn’t biometric, you’ll need to replace it in your home country first: remote verification isn’t possible without an NFC chip, and that’s a government requirement, not the service’s.
Getting set up through eResidency costs from $49, one time. That covers your IIN, your Digital Identity Card, and e-resident status, which unlocks the program’s services: remote account opening at partner banks, a Kazakhstan eSIM, and online business registration. There are no annual fees.
As for timing: the whole process, from application and verification to getting your IIN and digital ID, takes about 30 minutes. Opening an account at a partner bank takes a little longer, and that’s fully online too.
A foreigner has exactly two legal ways to get a Kazakhstan IIN: in person at a PSC in the country, or fully online through the government e-Residency program. For the remote option, you’ll need a biometric passport, a smartphone, $49 or more for the fee, and about 30 minutes. Half an hour later, you’ll have an IIN and a digital ID card — and next up, an account and an international card at a partner bank.
Leave your email and we’ll send you step-by-step instructions and a link to download the official eResidency app.
Get started from $49