ASTANA – A total of 262 foreign IT specialists have received residency or visa statuses in Kazakhstan under the Digital Nomad Residency and Digital Nomad Visa programs, according to updated figures from Astana Hub.
Photo credit: gov.kz
As of August 2026, 250 foreign IT specialists have obtained permanent residence permits under the Digital Nomad Residency program, while another 12 have received Digital Nomad Visas after completing the required procedures.
The programs are designed to attract international technology professionals to Kazakhstan, strengthen links with the global technology community and facilitate the exchange of expertise with local IT companies and professionals.
Since the programs were launched, Astana Hub has received 1,517 applications from IT specialists representing 71 countries across the region, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
The number of applications does not correspond directly to the number of visas or residence permits issued, as applicants must complete several stages, including application review, obtaining an Astana Hub petition and subsequent procedures with government authorities. As of August, Astana Hub had issued 1,069 petitions following its review of applications – 1,030 under Digital Nomad Residency and 39 under Digital Nomad Visa.
Astana Hub stressed that a petition is neither a visa nor a residence permit and does not automatically guarantee that an applicant will receive the relevant status. The technology hub reviews applications and issues petitions when candidates meet the established requirements, while final decisions on visas and residence permits are made by authorized state bodies.
The 262 specialists who have received the relevant statuses account for nearly 17% of all applications submitted since the programmes were launched.
The programs target foreign IT professionals who meet established professional criteria and are considering Kazakhstan as a place to live and work. Eligible specialists include software developers, product managers, artificial intelligence professionals, data analysts, technology entrepreneurs and startup founders, as well as executives of international technology companies and other digital professionals, including those working remotely for foreign employers.
According to Astana Hub, the presence of international IT professionals could contribute to knowledge exchange with Kazakh teams, the development of technology entrepreneurship and the growth of the country’s professional IT community.
Foreign specialists living in Kazakhstan may also contribute to local economic activity through spending on goods and services. Over the longer term, some could launch projects in Kazakhstan, invest in local technology teams and create new jobs.
The programs therefore form part of Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to strengthen its technology ecosystem by combining international expertise with the development of domestic digital talent and businesses.
