Local Laws

You must obey all laws in Kazakhstan. 

• If you violate them, even without knowing you did, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. 
• Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Kazakhstan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
• You may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you or if you take pictures of certain buildings.
• Kazakhstan has a zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of alcohol.
• Some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately.  See our webpage for further information.

Currency:  

• Most prominent retailers, hotels, vendors, and restaurants in major cities accept debit and credit cards.
• Smaller vendors and rural areas only accept cash payments. To exchange U.S. dollars, all denominations of U.S. currency, except $1 bills, must be new series (large portraits) and have been issued after 2000 and be in good condition.
• In most cities, ATMs are plentiful and can generally be found in shopping malls or near local banks.

Customs:

• Kazakhstani customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning the export of items such as antiques.
• Foreigners importing and exporting any currency valued at $10,000 USD or more are required to complete a customs declaration.  In addition, people exporting currency should provide evidence of the origin of the funds.
• Please see our Customs Information page for more information.

Document Authentications: The majority of local authorities in Kazakhstan, including public notaries, do not recognize foreign documents without an apostille (authentication) stamp. The U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Consulate General in Almaty do not provide apostille services. If you wish to use your vital record documents (marriage, birth, or divorce certificates), education documents, or U.S. police records in Kazakhstan, you should authenticate your documents in the state where the original document was issued.

Earthquakes: Kazakhstan is an earthquake-prone country. The U.S. Department of State has ranked the earthquake threat level within Almaty as a Level 4 (the highest level assigned). Building practices within Kazakhstan do not generally meet U.S. seismic standards. Local authorities do not have sufficient resources to respond to a large-scale disaster.

Women Travelers: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

Faith-Based Travelers:

• Visitors to Kazakhstan engaging in missionary work or other religious activities must register with the Ministry of Justice office in the region (Akimat) where the activities will take place. This applies even if the religious activities are not the primary purpose of the visit. Attendance at a religious service does not require registration, but participation in the delivery of the service does.
• You may be fined and deported from Kazakhstan for addressing a congregation, leading prayers, and performing religious music without proper religious worker registration. Representatives of faith-based non-governmental organizations are considered subject to the registration requirement even if their activities are not religious in nature.
• Contact the Ministry of Justice office responsible for the area of Kazakhstan where you intend to engage in religious activities and request a written decision. Religious worker registration is only valid for the locality where it is granted.
• See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no specific legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) events in Kazakhstan. Negative social attitudes towards LGBTI persons exist, and local LGBTI persons are sometimes subject to physical and verbal abuse, as well as unwanted attention from police. For more detailed information about LGBTI rights in Kazakhstan, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on LGBTI travel, please read our LGBTI Travel Information page.

Students:  See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Persons with Mobility Issues: Many buildings, public walkways, and public transportation are inaccessible to persons with disabilities.