Moving to Kazakhstan

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required 

  • Copy of passport
  • Detailed inventory, including number of items in each carton and gross weight of each box
  • Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
  • Letter of employment on employer letterhead (shipments above 200 kgs) for for foreign citizens
  • Copy of Kazakh visa (non – citizens)
  • EC-POA on employer letterhead or notarized (non – citizens)
  • Brokerage agreement (non – citizens and returning citizens)
  • Notarized copy of ID (returning citizens)

Specific Information

  • Customs may inspect any non-diplomatic shipments upon arrival.
  • Do not send insurance or any other documents showing the true value of household goods and personal effects with the shipment to avoid the payment of heavy import duties.
  • All in-bound non-diplomatic shipments are subject to the payment of customs duties and taxes calculated based on the cost, insurance, and freight value of the shipment.
  • Only shipments between Russia, Belorussia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and Kazakhstan are duty free.
  • All in-bound shipments are subject to issuance of a declaration per shipment; the cost of the Customs declaration(s) will be determined during the Customs clearance process.
  • Customs clearance takes between 5 – 7 working days after permission from the National Security Committee (for electronic appliances if any in the shipment) is received.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

  • Copy of technical passport / certificate of title
  • Pro-forma invoice with vehicle details
  • Original bill of lading / air waybill
  • Original Customs declaration
  • Commitment letter (for temporary importation up to 12 months)
  • POA on employer letterhead or notarized (non – citizens)
  • Notarized POA (returning citizens)

Specific Information

  • Vehicles must conform to EU 5 standards.
  • Right-hand vehicles cannot be imported.
  • Pro-forma invoice must include chassis, engine number, production year, model, color, and reasonable Customs value.
  • Vehicles are Customs cleared separately from the household goods and personal effects shipment.
  • Diplomatic vehicles must be registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
  • Vehicles are charged customs duties, value added tax (VAT), fees, and some vehicles may be charged an excise tax.
  • Some vehicles may be imported on a temporary import basis subject to customs fees of approximately 0.2% of the cost, insurance, and freight value (CIF); check with agent for specific information.

Pets

Documents Required 

  • International Pet passport
  • Copy of owner of the goods’ passport
  • Copy of owner of the goods’ visa
  • Certificate of vaccination
    • Rabies vaccine must given 30 days prior to pet’s arrival
  • Veterinary health certificate
  • Pro-forma invoice with Customs value

Specific Information

  • Cats, dogs, and birds must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate.
  • The veterinary health certificate must be issued by the local Board of Health within 10 days of arrival.
  • If more than 2 pets of the same species are being imported under one owner name, an import permit must be obtained via KIazakhstani local veterinary authority center. This will take approximately 7 working days.
  • Helath certificate must state all transit city names
  • If the owner travelling to Kazakhstan will stay in a transit Kazakhstan city for more than 1 day, they should visit local veterinary authority center to obtain permission to travel further to final destination by air. 

Restricted/Dutiable Items

  • The following items may qualify for free import within the limits indicated:
    • Perfume (a reasonable quantity)
  • Live animals (a special permit is required)

Prohibited Items

  • Detergent
  • Stuffed animals and birds
  • Religious information or items
  • New items
  • Food items (dry, canned, spices, etc.)
  • Beverages including spirits / alcohol drinks
  • Medicines including medical kits
  • All medical appliances (thermometer, pulsometer, inhaler, or any massagers)
  • New liquids (gel, shampoo, etc.)
  • Weapons of any kind
  • Ammunition
  • Pornography
  • Narcotics / drugs
  • Toxic and radioactive materials
  • Cash
  • Jewelry, precious stones, other high value items, sets, and collections
  • Fur
  • Flammables
  • Rare animals and birds species, skins, horns
  • Books published earlier than 1961
  • Tires
  • Satellite antenna
  • Plants
  • Soil
  • Any equipment containing Freon
  • Lenses

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea / surface shipments.

Cultural and Other Information