262 foreign IT specialists have received residency or visa status in Kazakhstan under the country's Digital Nomad Residency and Digital Nomad Visa programs, according to updated figures from Astana Hub released for August 2026.

Of those, 250 specialists obtained permanent residence permits under the Digital Nomad Residency track, while another 12 received Digital Nomad Visas after completing the required procedures.

What do the programs offer?

The Digital Nomad Residency and Digital Nomad Visa programs target foreign IT professionals who meet established professional criteria and are considering Kazakhstan as a place to live and work. Eligible specialists include:

• Software developers
• Product managers
• Artificial intelligence professionals
• Data analysts
• Technology entrepreneurs and startup founders
• Executives of international technology companies
• Other digital professionals, including remote workers employed by foreign companies

How many applications has Astana Hub received?

Since the programs launched, Astana Hub has received 1,517 applications from IT specialists representing 71 countries across Central Asia, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. The 262 approvals account for nearly 17% of all applications submitted.

Application numbers do not translate one-to-one into approvals. Candidates move through several stages:

• Submission to Astana Hub for review
• Issuance of an Astana Hub petition upon qualification
• Completion of final procedures with government authorities

As of August, Astana Hub had issued 1,069 petitions following its review of applications: 1,030 under Digital Nomad Residency and 39 under Digital Nomad Visa.

Why does the petition matter?

Astana Hub stressed that a petition is neither a visa nor a residence permit and does not automatically guarantee that an applicant will receive the relevant status. The technology hub reviews applications and issues petitions when candidates meet the established requirements, while final decisions on visas and residence permits are made by authorized state bodies.

What does Kazakhstan aim to gain?

The programs aim to attract international technology professionals, strengthen links with the global technology community and facilitate expertise exchange with local IT companies and professionals.

According to Astana Hub, the presence of international IT professionals could contribute to knowledge exchange with Kazakh teams, the development of technology entrepreneurship and the growth of the country's professional IT community.

Foreign specialists living in Kazakhstan may also contribute to local economic activity through spending on goods and services. Over the longer term, some could launch projects in Kazakhstan, invest in local technology teams and create new jobs.

The programs therefore form part of Kazakhstan's broader efforts to strengthen its technology ecosystem by combining international expertise with the development of domestic digital talent and businesses.

Applicants seeking current eligibility criteria, document requirements and processing timelines should consult Astana Hub and the official Kazakh migration authorities directly.