Everyday practical information for Kazakhstan

Local rules and cultural differences

While in Kazakhstan you must respect local laws and cultural norms; breaking them can lead to immediate detention, fines or deportation.

• Drones and UAVs: Kazakhstan strictly regulates drone use. Drones with a maximum take-off weight of 0.25 kg or more, or any drone equipped with a camera or other data-collecting sensor, must be registered with the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC). Registration is filed free of charge via the e-government licensing portal and takes up to 10 business days to process. Flying an unregistered drone, or flying without the relevant permit in prohibited zones (which include the vicinity of airports, military facilities, critical infrastructure and government buildings), is punishable by a heavy fine, detention of the pilot and confiscation of the device. Drone batteries must always be carried in hand luggage.
• Photography: It is strictly forbidden to photograph military facilities, government buildings, presidential palaces, border zones and airport infrastructure. Some large stores, supermarkets and the metro prohibit photography by internal rules. It is always safer to ask the security present before taking a photo.
• Alcohol and smoking: Drinking alcohol in public places (outside licensed restaurant and bar terraces) is banned and police actively enforce this with fines. Smoking (including e-cigarettes and vaping) is strictly forbidden in all enclosed public spaces, restaurants, building entrances and public-transport stops. Sale of tobacco products is allowed only to persons over 18; for energy drinks the limit is 21.
• Religion and dress: Kazakhstan is a secular state with a majority of Islam and Orthodox Christianity. When visiting mosques and temples, formal dress is required: men must wear long trousers; women must cover shoulders, knees and hair (a headscarf is usually available to borrow at the entrance).
• Dual citizenship: Kazakhstan strictly does not recognize dual citizenship. If the authorities find that a traveler holds both a Kazakh passport and that of another state, they face a heavy fine, forced removal of Kazakh citizenship and deportation.

Everyday practical information

• Power sockets: Standard European sockets of type C and F are used. Mains voltage is 220 V at 50 Hz. Europeans do not need an adapter.
• Time zone: The whole of Kazakhstan is in a single time zone, UTC+5 (introduced with effect from 1 March 2024). Daylight saving time (DST) is not observed.
• Opening hours:
  • Banks: Monday to Friday, usually 09:00–18:00 (closed on weekends).
  • Exchange offices: Many licensed offices in Almaty and Astana operate around the clock (24/7).
  • Supermarkets and malls: Most malls (e.g. Dostyk Plaza, Mega, Khan Shatyr) are open daily 10:00–22:00. Smaller grocery stores in residential districts often operate 24/7.
• Toilets: Public toilets are found in malls, metro stations and near major tourist attractions. Payment is usually required in cash (around 100–200 KZT) or via QR code; paper money is preferred.
• Public Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available at the Almaty and Astana airports, in malls and many cafes. Connecting to these networks, however, almost always requires authorization via an SMS code sent to a working phone number (foreign numbers may not be supported by the system).