Important Changes in the Legislation of Kazakhstan

Source: zakon.kz

17.03.2026

Rules for collecting and processing personal data have changed

The definition of personal data has been clarified:

Personal data (PD) is data, including biometric data, related to a specific or determinable subject of personal data, recorded on electronic, paper and (or) other tangible media.

The rules have been supplemented with the following new provisions:

The validity period of consent to PD processing may not exceed the period necessary to achieve the purposes of their collecting and processing, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan or by agreement.

If the consent to collect and process PD is not specified, it is considered valid until the processing purposes specified at the time of its provision are achieved.

Besides, the law stipulates that the PD subject or their legal representative have the right to revoke consent by notifying the database owner and/or operator, as well as any third party. 

Within 15 (fifteen) business days, the owner and/or operator, as well as the third party, are required to cease processing PD, if its storage or processing is not required pursuant to the laws of the RK, or provide a reasoned refusal.

The Order came into effect on 27 March 2026.

 

Source: zakon.kz

12.02.2026

Activities of some SEZs have been expanded

Amendments have been made to the Rules for maintaining the List of priority activities in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)

The changes affected the following SEZs:

• Aktau Seaport
• Ontustik
• Saryarka
• Astana Technopolis

The new version of the list of priority activities for the specified SEZs can be found here:  www.zakon.kz/pravo/6507631-v-kazakhstane-rasshirili-vidy-deyatelnosti-nekotorykh-sez.html.

The Order came into effect on 21 February 2026.

 

Source: zakon.kz

09.02.2026

Kazakhstan ratified the agreement with France on illegal migration

On 9 February 2026, the President of the RK signed the law on the ratification of the Agreement with the Government of France concerning the readmission of persons

The Agreement aims to create a legal basis for bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and France in the area of managing migration processes and combating illegal migration, as well as to ensure an effective mechanism for the return of persons who have illegally arrived, been or reside in the territories of the states party to the Agreement, and to prevent the abuse of migration regimes.

In particular, the Agreement contains the following provisions:

• Definitions aimed at a uniform understanding and effective application of terms such as readmission, transit, competent authorities, and other concepts are provided.

• Readmission procedures, including the grounds, content of a readmission request, and response timeframes, a list of evidence confirming illegal entry, and cases for conducting consular interviews are regulated.

• Conditions and principles of transit, its procedures, and grounds for refusing transit are clearly defined.

• Procedure for issuing travel documents, organizing transfer of persons, checkpoints across the State Border for the Agreement implementation by the two states, and the conditions for escorting readmitted persons are established.

• Transfer, processing, and protection of personal data procedure during the Agreement implementation are defined, and the mechanism for distributing transportation and transit costs is established.

 

Source: zakon.kz

02.02.2026

Rules for registering legal entities have changed

Amendments have been made to the rules for state registration of legal entities and registration of branches and representative offices

In particular, the application forms for state registration have been updated for:

• small and medium-sized businesses
• legal entities, branches (representative offices)
• business partnerships, joint-stock companies, and production cooperatives operating under a standard charter
• medium-sized businesses.

State re-registration applications have also been updated:

• legal entities, branches (representative offices)
• business partnerships, joint-stock companies, and production cooperatives operating under a standard charter, etc.

At the same time, information on beneficial owners has been expanded to include the identification number of a foreign person in the country of residence, date of birth, place of residence, share in the charter capital of a legal entity, or the amount of outstanding shares owned by the beneficial owner.

The Order came into effect on 10 February 2026.

Source: zakon.kz

21.01.2026

Rules for implementing PPP projects have changed

Changes have been made to the rules for planning and implementing public-private partnership (PPP) projects, concerning the planning of PPP projects, holding of tenders, and direct negotiations to determine the private partner.

In particular, it is specified that amendments and additions to the tender documentation are made at the initiative of the tender organizer or in response to a request from a potential private partner.

To amend or supplement the tender documentation, the tender organizer shall announce the amendments or supplements to the tender documentation no later than 20 calendar days before the deadline for its filing, or no later than 10 calendar days in the event of a repeat tender to select a private partner.

The tender organizer files draft amendments to the tender documentation for expert review and approval.

The Commission will review and select tender applications based on the criteria established by the tender documentation for determining the best bid, including the following:

• Amount of government obligations under the PPP project, which may not exceed the amount of government obligations stipulated by the tender documentation;

• Deadline for repayment of government obligations under the PPP project;

• Amount of private partner funds to be raised for the PPP project;

• Timeframe for the construction, creation, reconstruction, modernization, or operation of the PPP facility (months, years);

• Technical and economic indicators of the PPP agreement;

• Information on the share of domestic value;

• Experience in completed projects (experience in the construction, creation, reconstruction, modernization, and/or operation of facilities (independently or jointly with other parties as a participant) similar to the subject of the PPP agreement);

• Availability of qualified specialists;

• Maximum prices (tariffs) for manufactured goods, performed work, rendered services, and mark-ups to such prices (tariffs) when carrying out activities stipulated by the PPP agreement;

• Risks assumed by the private partner.

Approval of the draft PPP agreement, including any relevant amendments, is formalized in the form of a letter of approval or non-approval, specifying the reasons for each issue under consideration.

Unless otherwise provided by the PPP agreement, the date of transfer of the PPP facility to state ownership is the date of approval of the facility's acceptance act.

It is stated that the private partner ensures that the PPP facility is transferred to the public partner in proper technical condition, meeting the requirements of the PPP agreement.

The Order came into effect on 31 January 2026.

 

Source: zakon.kz

08.01.2026

The concept of investment policy until 2030 has been approved

The Government Resolution of 31 December 2025 approved the Concept of Investment Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030

How the investment attraction system will develop

It is noted that a fundamental overhaul of the investment attraction system and the launch of a new investment cycle requires a transition from an extensive growth model to a proactive one based on developing advanced solutions, identifying promising areas, preparing ready-made investment proposals, and developing turnkey infrastructure.

The further development of Kazakhstan's investment policy is aimed at creating an effective system of interaction with investors, combining external and internal tools to ensure high-quality project implementation and a high level of investor protection.

First, investment attraction efforts will be strengthened through expanding the external network of representative offices, proactively engaging with investors, enhancing industry expertise, developing export-oriented proposals, and integrating development institutions into the investment attraction process.

Second, improving approaches to implementing investment projects will be aimed at enhancing the role of regions, eliminating administrative barriers, ensuring infrastructure readiness, and creating favorable conditions for production. Strengthening the personal responsibility of regional leaders and regional investment headquarters, and transforming regional development institutions will improve the speed, predictability, and quality of project implementation.

Third, Kazakhstan is strengthening the institution of investor protection, ensuring a stable and predictable investment climate for them.

Within this framework, a Committee for the Protection of Investor Rights is being established, with a prosecutor assigned to each investment project.

The functions of the investment ombudsman will be assigned to the General Prosecutor, and in the regions, his representatives will be the prosecutors of the regions, cities of national significance, and the capital, who will simultaneously serve as co-chairs of the regional investment headquarters (investment prosecutors) and provide legal support for projects.

Investment prosecutors will also support investment projects, including removing barriers for investors and overseeing the legality of investment projects from the pre-investment stage to the completion of the investment project, as well as during the validity period of preferences, contracts, agreements, or agreements with investors.

Fourth, the development of investment policy includes expanding financial instruments and government support measures aimed at ensuring access to capital, including through sovereign partnerships, scaling up Islamic finance, and capitalizing development institutions. This will create the conditions for supporting large projects and actively engaging the private sector.

When establishing private equity and venture capital funds and management companies, it is necessary to consider simplifying the procedures associated with document review by the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition. Currently, such procedures require multi-stage approval, significant documentation volumes, and lengthy review periods.

Simplifying and accelerating approval processes will allow for greater flexibility in establishing funds and structuring transactions, reduce the administrative burden, and create a more predictable regulatory environment for investors.

Fifth, Kazakhstan is transitioning to a digital system for monitoring investment projects through the NCIP digital platform, which allows for tracking project progress at all stages. The NCIP will continue to develop and integrate with other digital solutions in the country, ensuring comprehensive project support and interaction between all participants in the investment process.

According to the concept's developers, the implementation of these areas will help create a holistic ecosystem for attracting investment and enhancing the country's investment attractiveness.

Basic principles and approaches to development

The concept defines the following fundamental principles for the development of investment policy:

• Systemic approach: a comprehensive and coordinated approach to regulating investment activity, considering the interconnectedness of all economic elements.
• Alignment with strategic goals: investment policy is closely linked to the country's long-term strategic priorities and development goals.
• Proactivity: shifting from responding to investor requests to developing proactive solutions, including identifying promising areas and preparing ready-made investment proposals.
• Fair competition: reducing government support measures that distort market principles and negatively impact private sector development.
• Succession: investment policy is built on previous experience and achievements, ensuring sustainable and consistent development of the investment climate in the country.
• Focus on priority sectors: priority is given to the development of economic sectors of strategic importance and competitiveness in the international market, which contributes to sustainable economic growth.
• Integration: creating a unified support and assistance system for investors that integrates all necessary processes, tools, and resources.
• Continuity: continuous improvement of investment policies and processes through analysis of results, feedback, and consideration of changing economic and political conditions.
• Ensuring economic security: stimulating investment in sectors of strategic importance to the country, such as the military-industrial complex, high-tech industries, and the social sphere.

Approaches to the development of investment policy include 5 directions:

1. Strengthening investment promotion measures.
2. Improving approaches to implementing investment projects.
3. Protecting investor rights.
4. Expanding financial instruments and government support measures.
5. Digitalization and monitoring of project progress.
.

Expected results by 2030

• Attracting at least KZT 270 trillion in fixed capital investments over 6 years
• Attracting at least USD 100 billion in gross foreign direct investment over 6 years
• Ensuring a net inflow of foreign direct investment of at least 2% of GDP annually
• Ensuring diversification of investment flows focusing on non-resource sectors of the economy
• High investor satisfaction with the investment climate (at least 90% annually, according to independent surveys)
• Full launch of the national digital investment platform
• Ensuring 100% readiness of the infrastructure of effective special economic and industrial zones.

The Resolution comes into force on the day of its signing.

 

Source: zakon.kz

09.01.2026

The Digital Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan was signed

On 9 January 2026, the President signed the Digital Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This fundamental document regulates relations in the field of digital technologies, the use of artificial intelligence, and the protection of personal data, ensuring systemic digital transformation.

The goal of the Digital Code is to create a unified, transparent, and effective system of legal regulation for the digital sphere in Kazakhstan.

The document establishes the legal framework for the development of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, and for the first time comprehensively enshrines human digital rights.

In particular, the Code provides:

• Definition of goals, objectives, and principles of digital legislation
• Governmental regulation in the digital environment, including defining the competencies of the authorized body and other governmental agencies
• Regulation of the activities of objects and subjects of the digital environment, including digital data and their products, and defining the rights and obligations of subjects of the digital environment
• Regulation of the use of electronic digital signatures (EDS) and digital identification
• Digitalization of governmental agencies.

For the first time, the platform for the exchange and circulation of digital data products is being introduced, providing transparent conditions for access, use, and exchange of digital data.