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Electronic Visas

Kazakhstan Proposes Rules for Paid Electronic Entry Permits

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry has opened public consultation on rules for a paid electronic entry permit for foreign visitors. The ministry has proposed a phased rollout between August and December 2026, but the published summary leaves several basic questions unanswered. The proposal was posted on July 31, and remains open for comments until August 17. It would amend Kazakhstan's 2012 rules governing the entry, stay, and departure of foreign nationals. The ministry says the system will provide "transparency, speed, and completeness [in] recording the cross-border movements of foreign nationals.” However, the consultation page does not display the proposed amendments, an explanatory note, or a comparative table. Rather, it shows an information summary and one attachment labeled as a Russian-language table, leading one public commenter, Andrei Sukhanov, to ask: "Where is the draft itself? Or is only its title being discussed?" That omission makes it impossible to establish several important terms from the consultation. The page does not state the fee, the nationalities covered, the grounds for refusal, the appeal process, or the date when permits would become mandatory. It also fails to explain whether visa holders would need a further separate authorization. The legal basis for introducing paid electronic entry permits already exists: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed Law No. 326-VIII on June 24. The law was first published on June 25, and most of its provisions take effect on August 25. The law defines an electronic entry permit as a digital document granting a foreign citizen or stateless person the right to enter Kazakhstan or transit its territory. The Interior Ministry will issue, refuse, or cancel permits in coordination with the National Security Committee. Foreign citizens and stateless persons entering Kazakhstan will undergo identification and authentication, including the processing of personal and biometric data for a digital immigration profile. The government will set the fee and payment procedure. The law directs half of the revenue toward migration and border-control technology, while the other half will support domestic and inbound tourism. The Interior Ministry's summary says differentiated charges would fund technical maintenance, digital infrastructure upgrades, and personal-data protection. It gives no amounts or categories, meaning travelers cannot assess the cost. Kazakhstan is already testing the permit through the QazETA platform. During the pilot, the Electronic Travel Authorization is recommended rather than compulsory for citizens of visa-exempt countries. Applicants are asked to submit requests through the mobile app at least 72 hours before travel, and an authorization remains valid for 180 days. An ETA does not extend the permitted length of stay or guarantee admission, with border officials retaining the final decision. The current pilot exempts holders of diplomatic and service passports, members of official delegations, and accredited diplomats. The government has not announced when the pilot will end or published the list of countries that will face a mandatory requirement. A local report in July said Kyrgyzstan had sought clarification on whether the system would cover citizens of Eurasian Economic Union states. Kazakhstan has not published a decision on that point. The...

Kurultai Election

Kazakhstan Kurultai Election: Can a Third Party Break Through?

With only weeks remaining before Kazakhstan elects its new 145-member Kurultai on August 23, three national surveys point to a commanding victory for Adilet and place Auyl in second. The less certain question is whether Ak Zhol, Respublica, or another smaller party can clear the 5% electoral threshold and join them in the new legislature. Seven political parties have been registered to contest the vote. All 145 seats will be allocated through nationwide party lists, so small changes around the threshold could have a large effect on the composition of Kazakhstan's first Kurultai. The election is the first under Kazakhstan's new constitutional framework, which replaced the former bicameral parliament with a single-chamber Kurultai. The constitutional reform represents the most significant redesign of the country's political institutions in decades and places greater weight on political parties in the legislative process. The available polls differ in timing, method, sample size, and the proportion of undecided voters. Their exact figures are therefore not directly comparable. However, they agree on the broad shape of the race: Adilet leads by a wide margin, Auyl holds second place, and several parties remain close to or below the threshold. The latest Institute of Eurasian Integration survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 4,000 respondents in all 17 regions, as well as Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, from July 16 to 26. Its stated margin of error was no more than 1.54%. That poll put Adilet on 65.1% and Auyl on 5.9%. Ak Zhol stood at 4.7%, marginally ahead of Respublica on 4.6%. The Nationwide Social Democratic Party, or NSDP, received 4.2%, the People's Party of Kazakhstan 4.1%, and the Baytaq Green Party 0.5%. An earlier DATAmetrics poll, commissioned by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, interviewed 8,000 people face-to-face from June 13 to July 2. It gave Adilet 54.2%, Auyl 7.3%, Ak Zhol 4.6%, and Respublica 3.4%. One in five respondents had not chosen a party. A telephone survey by the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development covered 1,200 respondents from July 8 to 20. It put Adilet on 64.8%, Auyl on 5.4%, Respublica on 4.8%, and Ak Zhol on 4.7%, with 10.9% undecided. Taken together, the surveys do not identify a clear third-place party. They do show that Ak Zhol and Respublica are the most consistent contenders for an additional place in the Kurultai. The latest Institute of Eurasian Integration poll also places the NSDP and the People's Party within striking distance, although the other surveys put both further behind. Adilet's lead is unsurprising. Although the Adilet Party was officially registered only this year, it is not starting from scratch. Amanat, formerly known as Nur Otan, merged into Adilet in June, transferring the organization and political network that dominated Kazakhstan throughout most of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev's rule. The merger also placed the former ruling party inside a new organization led by allies of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. It completed a change of political branding while preserving a strong pro-presidential electoral machine. The sharper contest is therefore not for...

AI Governance

Kazakhstan Smart Cities Face the Test of Turning AI Ambition Into Results

Almaty has ranked 38th among 61 cities in the inaugural Intelligent Cities Index, a respectable result that also reveals the distance between Kazakhstan’s digital ambitions and the world’s leading urban centers. The index, compiled by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), assesses how cities use artificial intelligence and digital technology to improve services and outcomes for residents. Almaty scored 62 out of 100, placing it in BCG’s “emerging” category. What Almaty's Ranking Reveals This score placed Almaty 38th among 61 major cities worldwide, ranking above cities including Milan, Melbourne, and Istanbul. However, it remained five points below the lowest-ranked city in BCG’s higher “accelerating” category and 23 points behind London, which headed the index with 85 points. Almaty performed reasonably well on strategy, adoption, and digital infrastructure, but its weakest score was for “ways of working,” which covers institutional readiness, governance, and project implementation. BCG found that leading cities combined technology with clear accountability, reliable funding, and measurable improvements for residents. The publication of these rankings has coincided with Kazakhstan’s adoption of a national methodology for Smart Cities and Smart Regions, approved by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The framework, which took effect on July 12, sets common requirements and deadlines for the country’s cities. The question is whether it will improve urban life or encourage local authorities to accumulate equipment and platforms in pursuit of higher scores. Tackling Everyday Urban Problems The clearest examples in Almaty concern public transport, which residents will be able to judge through their daily journeys. Buses already carry GPS trackers and video cameras, while fares can be paid through the ONAY electronic payment system. The city plans to add payment by bank card, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. Electronic information displays are due to be installed at 1,188 bus stops during 2026–27. Officials also announced in February that 50 driverless vehicles would be placed on city roads in cooperation with Yandex Kazakhstan under a pilot program. The stated deadline was May 1, 2026, although no subsequent official announcement confirming the deployment was readily available by late July. This illustrates a wider problem: announcements are often reported more prominently than results. For these projects to improve Almaty’s position, the city will need to show whether digitalization has reduced journey times, made bus arrivals more reliable, improved road safety, or encouraged greater use of public transport. Capital Investment Astana provides a larger-scale example. In February 2025, the capital signed a six-year, $190 million agreement with the UAE-based Presight AI. The project covers traffic management, public services and sensors. Astana is also installing or integrating more than 22,000 AI-enabled facial-recognition cameras. The capital’s iKomek 109 contact center handled approximately 2.5 million requests in 2025, with 83% reportedly resolved during the first call. Alatau City: Kazakhstan’s Largest Test The most ambitious scheme is Alatau City, being developed between Almaty and the Kapshagai Reservoir. Unlike existing cities, Alatau is being designed from the outset with a separate legal and administrative framework and extensive digital management. The government intends...

Presidential Election

Kyrgyzstan Moves 2027 Presidential Election to January 27

President Sadyr Japarov has signed legislation changing the schedule for Kyrgyzstan's next presidential election. Under the amendments, the vote will be held on 27 January 2027, the fourth Wednesday of January, instead of the fourth Sunday of the month, as provided for under the previous legislation. The amendments also retain the requirement that the Jogorku Kenesh, Kyrgyzstan's parliament, must schedule the presidential election no later than four months before polling day. Election day will be a paid day off. According to the explanatory note accompanying the legislation, moving the vote from Sunday to a weekday is expected to encourage higher voter turnout. Lawmakers argue that participation in some local elections has remained low in recent years. This is the second change to Kyrgyzstan's presidential election timetable in less than a year and a half. In April 2025, the authorities moved the vote from October 2026 to January 2027 so Japarov could complete the six-year mandate he won in 2021. The parliamentary calendar was changed separately later that year to prevent the two nationwide campaigns from overlapping. Japarov has served as president since 28 January 2021. Earlier this year, the Constitutional Court ruled that his current six-year mandate counts as his first under the 2021 Constitution, leaving him eligible to seek a second five-year term in 2027. The parliamentary election calendar was revised separately. Early elections to the Jogorku Kenesh were held on 30 November 2025, allowing the parliamentary and presidential electoral cycles to be separated. The authorities said the snap parliamentary vote was intended to prevent the two nationwide campaigns from coinciding in 2027. Earlier, The Times of Central Asia reported that a Kyrgyz court had convicted former security chief Kamchybek Tashiyev, former parliamentary speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, and six others of plotting to overthrow the government. The case followed a February 2026 open letter calling for an early presidential election.

Transport Policy

Bishkek Proposes Curbs on Private Car Use

Bishkek authorities are proposing a shift in the capital’s transport policy by prioritizing public transport and gradually reducing reliance on private cars. A draft presidential decree prepared by the Bishkek mayor’s office has been released for public consultation. The proposal calls for a long-term transport development program, the creation of an interagency coordination headquarters, upgrades to road infrastructure, new traffic management schemes, and continued investment in the city’s municipal public transport network. Its stated objective is to reduce chronic traffic congestion and improve air quality in the capital. According to the explanatory note accompanying the draft, Bishkek’s road network is no longer capable of handling current traffic volumes. When the city was originally planned, its streets were designed to accommodate around 50,000 vehicles. Today, more than 400,000 vehicles are registered in Bishkek alone, with thousands more entering the city each day from surrounding districts and neighboring regions. Opportunities to expand the road network remain limited. The city has substantially modernized its public transport fleet in recent years. Since 2022, Bishkek has purchased new buses and electric buses. Around 1,300 municipal buses and electric buses now operate on city routes each day, carrying approximately 800,000 passengers. Despite these improvements, more than 500,000 residents continue to rely on private cars. The authors of the draft argue that the current use of road space remains inefficient. A single bus can carry up to 50 passengers while occupying only slightly more road space than several private cars, which generally carry between one and four people. The draft decree does not introduce immediate restrictions on motorists. Instead, it establishes a legal framework for future measures aimed at reducing private vehicle use in the city’s most congested areas. Under the proposal, the mayor-led headquarters could launch pilot traffic restrictions, paid parking schemes, and priority lanes for public transport. Its decisions would be binding on state and municipal bodies. The proposed reforms follow last year’s controversy over Bishkek’s decision to phase out its trolleybus system. After dismantling the overhead power lines, the authorities planned to convert the remaining trolleybus fleet into electric buses. However, the conversion tender failed twice after attracting no bids, forcing the municipality to consider alternative approaches. The decision to abandon the trolleybus network drew criticism from environmental organizations and some transport experts. City officials had also previously considered restricting traffic based on odd and even vehicle registration numbers but abandoned the proposal following public criticism. Reducing traffic is also viewed as an important tool for tackling air pollution. According to official estimates, between 600,000 and 700,000 vehicles operate in Bishkek each day, including those entering the city from elsewhere, while more than half of the vehicle fleet is over 15 years old. Road transport accounts for around 30% of air pollution in the capital. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Bishkek’s air pollution had once again become the subject of parliamentary debate, with lawmakers attributing the worsening environmental situation primarily to the rapid growth in vehicle numbers, an aging vehicle fleet,...

Islamic Finance

Uzbekistan Establishes Islamic Finance Council as New Banking Law Takes Effect

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has established an Islamic Finance Council to coordinate the work of banks, microfinance organizations, the Deposit Guarantee Agency and other institutions operating under Islamic financial principles. The council was created weeks after Uzbekistan’s new Islamic banking law took effect on June 29. It will prepare national standards, issue regulatory and supervisory recommendations, advise financial institutions and represent the Central Bank in its work with international standard-setters. Building an Islamic Finance Framework Islamic finance prohibits interest and generally requires financing to be linked to assets, trade, leasing or risk-sharing. Common structures include murabaha, in which a bank buys and resells an asset at an agreed markup, and ijara, which operates broadly like leasing. Sharia Specialists Form Council Majority The council has five members: four specialists from the Fatwa Center under the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan and one financial-sector expert. Saidjamol Masayitov, a chief specialist at the Fatwa Center, will chair the council. Muhammadyubkhon Khomidov, also a chief specialist at the center, will serve as deputy chairman. The other members are Fatwa Center specialists Hikmatilla Toshtemirov and Abdullatif Tursunov, along with Akhrorjon Sadullayev, managing partner of Orient Audit Group. Sadullayev has more than 20 years of experience in banking, finance and auditing. The council is intended to combine Sharia expertise with financial regulation. It will report annually to the Central Bank’s board. From Legislation to Implementation Uzbekistan has been developing an Islamic finance framework for several years. Legislation adopted in 2022 allowed microfinance organizations to provide services based on Islamic principles, while detailed regulations introduced in 2024 covered instruments including mudaraba, murabaha, musharaka, ijara and salam. The Central Bank is also preparing a national Islamic finance roadmap for 2026-2030 with assistance from the Islamic Financial Services Board. The work covers banking, capital markets, insurance, professional training and the wider legislative framework. Law No. O’RQ-1126, signed on March 27, established a dual banking model. Stand-alone Islamic banks can operate alongside Islamic “windows” within conventional commercial banks. The law also created a special licensing system and defined permitted Islamic financial operations. Uzbekistan had previously planned to introduce its first Islamic finance services through a commercial bank in 2027, with at least three banks expected to offer them by 2030. Licensing Rules Approved The Central Bank has now amended its licensing regulations for Islamic banks and Islamic windows. The changes were registered by the Ministry of Justice on July 17 and took effect upon official publication. Applicants must submit Sharia-compliance policies, information about their institution-level Islamic finance council, evidence of dedicated internal oversight and audit systems, and a three-year business plan. Existing conventional banks will require a separate license to open an Islamic window. Council candidates must receive Central Bank approval and meet education and professional-experience requirements. At least one member must hold a certificate from the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions, or AAOIFI. Certification will become mandatory for all council members from July 1, 2027. Adopting International Standards The Central Bank joined AAOIFI as a regulatory...