The official currency used in Kazakhstan for payments of goods and services within its territory is the tenge.
Methods of Payments in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Payments within the Republic of Kazakhstan can be made in cash or non-cash forms.
Use of Other Currencies in the Republic of Kazakhstan
The use of foreign currency, as well as payment documents in foreign currency, for transactions within the Republic of Kazakhstan is allowed only in exceptional cases.
Import and Export of Currency to and from the Republic of Kazakhstan
These relations are regulated by the Agreement on the Procedure for Movement of Individuals' Cash and/or Monetary Instruments across the Customs Border of the Customs Union dated July 5, 2010. The import or export of currency between the member states of the Customs Union (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia) is unrestricted and does not require customs declaration. In the case of importing or exporting currency to or from a territory that is not part of the Customs Union, a sum exceeding ten thousand US dollars is subject to mandatory customs declaration. Failure to comply with the mandatory declaration procedure or providing false information incurs administrative (Article 551 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan) or criminal (Article 241 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan) liability depending on the amount of undeclared currency.
Foreign Currency Exchange in the Republic of Kazakhstan
1) In commercial banks;
2) In exchange points, which are specially equipped places for transactions with foreign currency (paragraph 1, Article 1 of the Law "On Currency Regulation and Currency Control" dated June 13, 2005, No. 57).
Engaging in illegal currency operations may result in administrative penalties, including a warning and a fine ranging from 50% to 100% of the transaction amount. Remember! Exchanging currency in unofficial places puts you at risk of deception.
This guide was prepared by the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
