GOFIRM

Bank account opening

Opening a bank account in Kazakhstan

A corporate account for a UAE company working with Kazakhstan and Central Asia, and a personal one for non-residents. We open the company account at Al Safi Bank without you having to travel: the application goes online through us, then the originals are sent to the bank.

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No visit
Company account at Al Safi Bank — online, through us
USD, EUR, KZT
Al Safi Bank: no payment limits, in our experience; a personal manager
≈ KZT 1 million
About USD 2,300 — initial deposit to the account
IIN
Required for a personal account at a regular bank

This service in other countries

UAETurkeyHong KongChinaGeorgia

In short

We open a UAE company’s account at Al Safi Bank without your visit: the application goes online through us, then the originals are sent to the bank. Currencies are USD, EUR and KZT, with a personal manager. A personal account at a regular Kazakh bank requires an IIN.

Checked 4 November 2026 · Elizaveta Germash

Cost of a mistake

Account freeze

Business payments through a personal account are a common cause of requests and freezes — keep personal and corporate settlements separate.

How to avoid it

Kazakhstan works well for tenge and Central Asia — and a company account opens without a trip

For a company, the practical route is Al Safi Bank, an AIFC bank: online application, originals sent to the bank, no visit needed. A personal account at a regular bank starts with an IIN and a branch visit.

  • Al Safi Bank — no visit

    This bank in the opens accounts for non-resident companies in USD, EUR and KZT, with no limits and a personal manager. You need to deposit around KZT 1,000,000.

  • Other banks take longer

    At , a foreign company usually needs a , legalised UAE documents and a visit from the signatory. We choose this route only if your task calls for it.

  • Personal account: IIN first

    An account at a regular bank requires an . A foreigner applies for it in person at a in their place of stay, and you also have to go to the bank branch yourself.

  • Sometimes you need a local company

    If you do serious business in the region, consider a company in Kazakhstan, including in the AIFC. The account is then opened by the local company — that is a separate project, and we’ll tell you whether you need it.

Expert tip

We check the Al Safi Bank package before the originals are sent: spelling of names, addresses, how recent the register of shareholders is. One error in one document means another cross-border shipment.
Elizaveta GermashElizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accounts

Bank

Al Safi Bank: a company account with no visit — at an AIFC Islamic bank

Al Safi Bank

Al Safi Bank

AIFC Islamic bank — offices in Astana and Almaty

  • No visit
  • USD · EUR · KZT
  • No limits
  • Personal manager
Open to
Non-resident companies, including from the UAE; individuals and sole proprietors have their own document lists
Opening
Online application through us, then the originals go to the bank; no visit needed
Account currencies
USD, EUR, KZT
Transfers
SWIFT, 10+ currencies, including AED, CNY and TRY; funds credited from 2 hours on key routes, according to the bank
Limits
No payment limits
Personal manager
Yes
Initial deposit
≈ KZT 1,000,000 (about USD 2,300) — the company’s money in its own account; we confirm the amount and deadline when applying
Timeline
From 1 working day, per the bank’s website; on our route, the timeline depends on how complete the package is and on shipping the originals

Account terms are based on our experience as of October 2026; the licence is per the AFSA register, transfers and checks per the bank’s website as of 15 October 2026. The decision to open an account rests with the bank.

Who it suits

Who it suits — and when to choose something else

A good fit if

  1. 01You have clients or suppliers in Kazakhstan, and settling in tenge is more convenient.
  2. 02You are growing a business in Central Asia and need a bank in the region.
  3. 03You need a second USD or EUR channel alongside your UAE account — with no trip and no payment limits.
  4. 04You often visit Kazakhstan or live there part of the year — and need a personal account and card.
  5. 05You are planning a company in Kazakhstan or the AIFC and want to understand the banking side in advance.

Consider something else if

  1. 01You want an account “just in case”, with no clear purpose or turnover. These are the first things the bank will ask about — a rejection is possible.
  2. 02You need a personal account but can’t travel. Regular banks usually require a visit for a first account — we’ll check whether Al Safi Bank would work.
  3. 03The goal is to get around payment restrictions. Kazakh banks scrutinise this closely, and we don’t take part in it; the alternative is a legal assessment of the deal.Contracts and Transactions
  4. 04You hire people and operate on an ongoing basis in Kazakhstan. A non-resident account doesn’t cover that — you need a local company or branch.

Benefits

What you get

A company account without the trip

We submit the application to Al Safi Bank online, check the package and tell you which originals to send to the bank. No need to travel to Astana.

Documents that will be accepted

We put the package together for the specific bank: for Al Safi Bank — to its checklist; for other banks — with consular legalisation and translation. We check the spelling of names.

A bank that fits the task

We look at which banks open accounts for foreign companies, which currencies are available, how online banking works for non-residents and whether corporate cards are offered.

A trip only when needed

If a visit is needed — for a personal account or at another bank — we plan it so the IIN and the bank fit into a single trip.

Linked to your main structure

We fit the Kazakhstan account into your overall settlement flow so that your UAE bank understands where money is coming from and going to.

Clear status at every stage

Stages and documents are in the client portal. You can see what’s ready, what’s under review at the bank and what’s needed from you.

Let’s discuss the details

Could an account without a trip work for you?

Describe the company, owners and task — we’ll assess whether your profile suits Al Safi Bank and tell you whether you also need a personal account with an IIN.

Account opening

Who does what — and where a trip can’t be avoided

A company account at Al Safi Bank opens without a trip. A personal account and a company account at a regular bank usually require a visit, and a TsON issues a foreigner’s IIN only on an in-person application.

You
02

Scans per the checklist

Articles of association, a register of shareholders no older than 6 months, passports, licences. We check the package and the spelling of names before submission.

04

Originals to the bank

You send the originals according to our list — we tell you in advance which documents and in what form.

06

Deposit and first payments

You deposit around KZT 1,000,000 — the company’s money in its own account — set up online banking and make the first transactions.

1–3 days
GOFIRM
01

Reviewing the task

Which account you need, in which currencies and who you work with — this determines the bank and the document checklist.

1–2 days
03

Online application

We submit the application to the bank and answer questions about the account’s purpose, turnover and source of funds.

Bank
05

Review and opening

The bank checks the beneficial owners, the ownership structure and the countries the capital comes from, opens the account and assigns a personal manager.

From you: scans per the checklist, shipping the originals and a deposit of around KZT 1,000,000. No need to travel to Kazakhstan.

Documents

Which documents to prepare depends on who is opening the account

Al Safi Bank checklists are based on our experience as of October 2026; requirements at regular banks differ.

Information

Documents

Ready

0 / 11

When applying through a representative, Al Safi Bank asks for a power of attorney and the representative’s passport. The originals go to the bank only after the package has been checked.

Timing and budget

What makes up the budget

The budget depends on the route: a company account at Al Safi Bank opens without a trip, while a personal account at a regular bank requires an IIN and a visit.

  • Initial depositDepends onAround KZT 1,000,000 — roughly USD 2,300 — must be deposited into the Al Safi Bank account. It isn’t an expense, but you need to have the money ready.WhenWhen opening the account
  • Certification and translation of documentsDepends onFor a regular bank — consular legalisation and notarised translation; for Al Safi Bank, we confirm the certification format against its checklist.WhenBefore applying to the bank
  • Sending the originalsDepends onCouriering the original documents to the bank — instead of a trip to Kazakhstan.WhenAfter the online application
  • Obtaining an IINDepends onRequired for a personal account at a regular bank. It is issued at a TsON on an in-person application — we build time for this into the trip; a representative with a notarised power of attorney can collect the issued IIN.WhenAt the start of the trip, before the bank
  • Account and card maintenanceDepends onThe bank’s fees for non-residents: account maintenance, card issue and servicing, online banking.WhenMonthly or annually
  • Transfers and conversionDepends onInternational payment fees and FX spreads when converting tenge.WhenPer transaction
  • Trip to KazakhstanDepends onNot needed for an Al Safi Bank account. For a personal account at a regular bank, a single trip of a few days is usually enough.WhenBranch visit only
  • Our supportDepends onChoosing the bank, the online application, checking the package and originals, and if needed — the IIN and preparation for the visit.WhenAt the start of work

Getting it right

Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 6 open

  1. 01 What people often do

    Going to the bank for a personal account without an IIN.

  2. 02 What people often do

    Choosing a bank based on travel card ads.

  3. 03 What people often do

    Sending originals to the bank without checking the package.

  4. 04 What people often do

    Applying without a clear purpose for the account.

  5. 05 What people often do

    Running business payments through a personal account.

  6. 06 What people often do

    Not agreeing the contract with your Kazakh counterparty.

FAQ

Expert answers

Elizaveta Germash — Bank accounts

Yes — the practical option is Al Safi Bank: accounts in USD, EUR and KZT, no payment limits, a personal manager. The bank opens accounts for non-resident companies, with documents to its checklist. At regular banks the route is longer: tax registration with a BIN, legalisation of UAE documents and, as a rule, a visit.

Elizaveta Germash · Bank accounts

Sources

  1. AFSA (AIFC regulator) — Al Safi Bank licence
  2. Al Safi Bank — bank website
  3. Al Safi Bank — terms for companies
  4. Al Safi Bank — about the bank
  5. Rules for issuing an IIN (Order of the Kazakhstan Interior Ministry No. 258)
  6. Zakon.kz — updated rules for issuing IINs to foreigners

Deadlines, amounts and rules are based on these sources as of the check date. Rules change: check with us before deciding.

News & insights

Related reading

Guide6 November 2026

Kazakhstan account for a UAE company: banks, steps, documents

A UAE company can apply for an account in Kazakhstan without travelling — at Al Safi Bank in Astana, in USD, EUR and KZT. We submit the application online, then the original documents are sent to the bank; at regular banks the route is longer and, as a rule, the signatory has to visit.

No visit · company account at Al Safi Bank: online application, originals sent to the bank

Often goes with this

What else you may need

Bank Accounts

UAE

2–8 weeks · To open a corporate account

Bank Accounts

Georgia

USD 500,000 · Total balance for Wealth Management

Business Support

Legalisation

No apostille · The UAE is not party to the Hague Convention

Next step

An account in Kazakhstan — for what purpose?

Tell us whether you need a company account, a personal one or both, and who you work with in the region. We’ll tell you whether Al Safi Bank fits, what documents to prepare and whether you need to travel.

Elizaveta GermashElizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accounts
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