The Kazakh banks Halyk Bank, Kaspi Bank, and VTB Bank have resumed issuing payment cards to non-residents.
According to official statements from the banks, Halyk Bank and Kaspi Bank now allow non-residents to open accounts under certain conditions. Halyk Bank requires a residence permit, while Kaspi Bank offers its Kaspi Gold card to citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and foreigners with a residence permit in Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, VTB Bank (Kazakhstan) has resumed issuing Mir payment system cards to non-residents. The bank has adjusted its procedures to comply with new regulatory requirements, setting a standard validity period of 12 months. However, diplomats and non-resident investors are eligible for extended card validity of up to three years.
Other banks, including Eurasian Bank, Nurbank, and Home Credit Bank, have yet to resume card issuance for non-residents after previously suspending the service.
Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARFM) introduced restrictions on the validity period of payment cards for non-residents and limited the number of cards that a single individual can obtain. However, exemptions apply to entrepreneurs, diplomats, and investors.
As of January 1, 2025, Halyk Bank remains the largest bank in Kazakhstan by assets, followed by Kaspi Bank in second place. VTB Bank ranks 19th out of 21 financial institutions in the country.
