Money, cards and ATMs in Kazakhstan

Money and payments

The local currency is the Kazakhstani tenge (KZT). As of August 2026 the indicative rate is around USD 1 ≈ 460–490 KZT.

• ATM withdrawals: For the best rate and minimal fees, use only ATMs of the large banks located directly in the airport terminals - specifically Kaspi Bank and Halyk Bank. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are widely accepted. Kazakh ATMs (e.g. Kaspi Bank or Halyk Bank) charge no direct local withdrawal fee for foreign cards, but the final fee depends entirely on the terms of the foreigner's issuing bank. The per-withdrawal limit is commonly set at 100,000 to 200,000 KZT.
• The DCC trap (Dynamic Currency Conversion): When withdrawing from an ATM or paying at a terminal, you may be offered to settle the transaction in your card's currency (e.g. EUR/USD) instead of local KZT. Always strictly decline DCC and choose the transaction in KZT, otherwise you are charged an unfavorable rate losing up to 10–15%.
• Exchanging cash: Change money only at banks or officially licensed exchange offices (marked "Айырбастау пункті / Обменный пункт"). Street exchange is illegal. It is best to change undamaged, unmarked USD or EUR notes of higher denominations (50s and 100s get a better rate than small notes). Importing cash up to the equivalent of USD 10,000 is not subject to customs declaration; exporting cash over USD 10,000 is prohibited.
• Cashless payments and Kaspi QR: Kazakhstan is a highly cashless economy built on the Kaspi QR system. Foreign tourists, however, cannot fully activate the Kaspi app without visiting a branch in person, obtaining a Kazakh tax number (IIN) at a public service center and a Kazakh SIM. Moreover, under ARDFM Resolution No. 96, effective 19 January 2025, payment cards for non-residents without a residence permit are issued with a maximum validity of 12 months. The key solution for tourists in 2026 is the integration of the Alipay+ payment network into Kazakhstan's Kaspi QR system. Tourists worldwide who have compatible international e-wallets installed on their phones (e.g. Alipay, Kakao Pay and 10 other Alipay+ partners) can simply scan a Kaspi QR code at a merchant and pay directly from their app in their home currency. Standard physical Visa/Mastercard payments are common in hotels, supermarkets and brick-and-mortar restaurants in the big cities.
• Tipping: In the vast majority of restaurants and cafes a service charge is automatically added to the bill (usually 10% to 15% of the total, labeled "обслуживание"). Additional tipping beyond this is not expected.