Foreign Ownership Restrictions
RestrictiveKazakhstan permits foreign ownership of buildings and apartments but imposes a residency requirement on foreign individuals owning housing and prohibits foreign ownership of agricultural land. Understanding the correct ownership structure is essential before investing.
- Foreigners CAN own apartments, commercial units, and buildings, but a foreign INDIVIDUAL generally must hold a Kazakhstani permanent residence permit to register ownership of housing; temporarily-residing foreigners are barred under the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners
- A Kazakhstani legal entity with foreign participation (LLP/TOO) faces NO restriction on acquiring real estate, making it the standard route for non-resident investors
- Foreigners CANNOT own agricultural land in Kazakhstan
- Land under or serving a building is generally state-owned and held via long-term lease rather than freehold; a limited exception allows land withdrawn for the development/construction of residential or commercial structures
- Land plots located in border zones and border strips cannot be granted into the private ownership of foreigners, stateless persons, or foreign legal entities
- Notaries in practice will refuse to register housing to a foreign individual who lacks an appropriate residence status
