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Astana Hub Membership and Ongoing Participant Support
We help IT companies join Astana Hub and keep their status afterwards. We check the project before filing, write the business plan, and then handle participant accounting and reports.
Astana Hub is an international technology park for IT startups with a special tax regime for participants. Only a Kazakhstan legal entity without branches can join Astana Hub: a sole proprietor does not qualify, and a foreign company takes part through its Kazakh LLP. You file an application with a business plan on astanahub.com. We can prepare the business plan in English or Russian, in the Fund's format.
The review takes up to 25 business days: up to 15 for the Fund's check and up to 10 for the registration decision, not counting time to fix comments. A fast track takes up to 7 business days for a fee of 15 MCI (monthly calculation index units). Refusals usually have two causes: a business plan that does not follow the form in Annex 1 to the Fund's Rules, or an activity outside the 19 priority types.
Joining is only half the job. The benefits apply as long as at least 90% of annual income comes from priority activities. If the 90/10 rule is broken, taxes are recalculated from the start of the year. So after you join, we keep separate accounting and check the revenue structure every quarter.
Who it is for
- Kazakh IT companies that develop software or provide IT services
- Foreign IT teams ready to set up an LLP in Kazakhstan
- Startups that want tax benefits on salaries and profit
- Current participants who need income-stream accounting and reports to the Fund
Requirements
- A Kazakhstan legal entity without branches; a sole proprietor cannot be a participant
- An activity from the list of 19 priority types
- A business plan in the form set by Annex 1 to the Fund's Rules
- No restrictions: no state share of 50% or more, no participation in a special economic zone, no excisable activities
- At least 90% of annual income from priority activities
- Quarterly participant reports and separate accounting of income
- A membership fee to the Fund of 1% of income, paid quarterly
What we do
- Match your activity against the list of priority types and check the restrictions
- Register an LLP if you do not have one yet, including with a foreign founder
- Write the business plan in English or Russian in the Fund's format
- File the application on astanahub.com and reply to comments within the set deadline
- Set up separate accounting and file quarterly participant reports
- Calculate the share of priority income every quarter
Key documents
- LLP incorporation documents and founder details
- Description of the product and revenue sources
- Business plan in the Annex 1 format, which we prepare
- Certificate of no tax debt and documents for the premises: a lease or the owner's consent
- Staff details and employment contracts, if income comes from IT services
- Financial figures, if the company is already operating
How it works
- Briefproduct, revenue sources, founders and whether you already have an LLP
- Check and structureno LLP: we register one; an existing LLP: we check branches, activity codes and restrictions
- Business plan and applicationwe prepare the document in the Fund's format and file the application
- ReviewFund check up to 15 business days, replies to comments, decision up to 10 business days; fast track up to 7 business days
- Participant operationscertificate, separate accounting, quarterly reports and 90/10 monitoring
Timeline
The review takes up to 25 business days, not counting time to fix comments; a fast track of up to 7 business days is available.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- A business plan that does not follow the Fund's form is one of the two most common reasons for refusal
- An activity outside the list of priority types rules out membership
- Non-priority revenue above 10% removes the benefits for the whole year
- Missing a report, a reply to a Fund request or a membership fee payment is grounds for early termination of participation
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is from $1,200. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
How do I join Astana Hub?
You need a Kazakhstan legal entity without branches and an activity from the priority list. You file the application with a business plan on astanahub.com. After the Fund's check and the decision to admit you, the company signs up to the standard agreement, and the electronic participant certificate is issued within 3 business days after that.
Can a foreign company become an Astana Hub participant?
Not directly. A foreign company joins through a Kazakh LLP, which we can register for you. The LLP does not have to be registered in Astana specifically, so you can choose the city that suits your team.
What tax benefits does Astana Hub give?
Under Kazakhstan's 2026 Tax Code, corporate income tax on income from priority activities is reduced in full, sales are exempt from VAT, no individual income tax is withheld from salaries, and social tax is not charged for foreign employees. Dividends paid to a foreign founder are taxed at 5% unless the founder is from a preferential tax jurisdiction. The benefits apply until January 1, 2029.
What is the 90/10 rule?
At least 90% of a participant's total annual income must come from priority activities. If the share drops below that, the benefits are lost from the start of the tax period in which the breach happened, and taxes are recalculated.
What happens if my application is refused?
A refusal does not close the door: you can apply again. We look at the reason, fix the business plan or the structure of the activity, and prepare a new application with the Fund's comments addressed.
What reports does an Astana Hub participant file?
Two quarterly reports due by the 20th of the month after the quarter, a copy of the annual tax return by April 20, and, if income exceeds 300,000 MCI, an audited report on the income structure by July 20. Documents requested by the Fund are due within 10 business days. Regular tax returns are filed as usual.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
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Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
