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Currency Control and Contract Registration Numbers in Kazakhstan
We register your foreign currency contracts before the first payment or shipment, keep the repatriation schedule and deal with the bank and the tax authority before an issue turns into a fine.
Under currency control in Kazakhstan, an export or import contract worth more than $50,000, or a contract with no stated amount, needs a registration number. You must get it before either party starts performing: before the first payment, shipment or service. Your bank assigns the number, usually in about 2 business days; if settlements go through a foreign bank, the National Bank assigns it. The rule applies equally to goods, works and services, including exports of IT services.
The company calculates its own repatriation deadline from the contract terms. If the revenue or the goods don't arrive on time, a court imposes a fine of 20% of the unreturned amount. Since March 1, 2026, the National Bank, the State Revenue Committee and banks reconcile registration numbers, customs declarations and e-invoices daily, and since April 19, 2026, the number is mandatory in payment orders. So we track deadlines on a schedule and remind you early, not on the day they are missed.
Who it is for
- Exporters of goods and IT services with contracts above $50,000
- Importers from China, EAEU countries and elsewhere
- Kazakhstan LLPs that receive loans from a parent company or other non-residents
- Branches and representative offices of foreign companies, which have been currency residents since March 19, 2026
- Companies already performing a contract without a registration number or with overdue repatriation
Requirements
- A registration number is required for export and import contracts above $50,000 and for contracts with no stated amount
- The number is obtained before either party starts performing the contract
- The number is shown in payment orders, customs declarations and form 328.00
- The company sets the repatriation deadline from the contract terms; the overall period can be extended up to 3 years
- Loans and other capital transactions above $500,000 are registered with the National Bank before the operations start
What we do
- Review your current contracts: which need a registration number, and whether the amount, currency and deadlines are correct
- Suggest wording for payment, delivery and acceptance terms before signing
- Prepare the application and documents and obtain the registration number before the first payment or shipment
- Update registration details when the amount, term or party changes, and deregister the contract once it is performed
- Keep the repatriation schedule and prepare the grounds for an extension if a counterparty delays payment or delivery
- Register loans from non-residents above $500,000 with the National Bank
- Write explanations and gather documents when the bank or the tax authority sends a request
Key documents
- The contract or draft with annexes and specifications
- Invoices, acts of acceptance and shipping documents
- Customs declarations or import applications on form 328.00
- Payment documents under the contract
- For loans, the loan agreement and the lender's documents
How it works
- Contract reviewwe look at the amount, currency, payment and delivery terms and tell you whether a registration number is needed
- Repatriation deadlinewe calculate it from the payment, delivery and acceptance terms and add it to the schedule
- Bank applicationwe prepare the documents; the bank usually assigns the number in about 2 business days
- First payment or shipmentonly after the number is issued, with the number in payment orders and customs documents
- Monitoring until performancewe track receipts, register amendments and deregister the contract once it is performed
Timeline
The bank usually assigns a contract registration number in about 2 business days; repatriation deadlines are then tracked until the contract is performed.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- Failing to repatriate revenue on time leads to a court-imposed fine of 20% of the unreturned amount
- Performing a contract without a registration number is a violation: a warning the first time, and a fine for a repeat within a year
- A payment without the number or with incorrect details is held
- If outstanding import obligations exceed $50,000, the National Bank passes the data to the tax authority
- A repatriation deadline must be extended before it is missed, not after
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is on request. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
Which contracts fall under currency control in Kazakhstan?
Export and import contracts worth more than $50,000 equivalent need a registration number. A contract with no stated amount also gets one. This threshold has not changed in 2026, and it applies to goods, works and services alike.
When do I need to get a contract registration number?
Before either party starts performing the contract: before the first payment, shipment or service. The bank usually assigns the number in about 2 business days, so it is best to apply right after signing.
Do IT services exports need a registration number?
Yes, if the contract is above $50,000 or has no stated amount. For example, an annual $120,000 development contract with a client in the UAE is registered before the first act of acceptance or payment.
What happens if foreign currency revenue isn't repatriated?
A court will impose a fine of 20% of the unreturned amount. The repatriation deadline can be extended, up to 3 years in total, so this needs to be handled before the deadline passes, not after.
Do I need to register a loan from a foreign company?
Yes, if the amount is above $500,000 or not stated. Such an agreement is registered with the National Bank before the money is transferred, and the documents are filed through the National Bank's portal.
Does currency control apply to a branch of a foreign company?
Yes. Since March 19, 2026, branches and representative offices of foreign non-financial companies are treated as currency residents, so the rules on contracts and repatriation apply to them as well.
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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