May 2025 Digest: Overview of Legislative Changes in the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Amendments in the Gambling Sector: Advertising and Participation of Convicted Persons
- Ministry of Internal Affairs Proposes Changes to Rules on Temporary Residence Permits (TRPs)
- Clarification by the Ministry of Digital Development: What Constitutes Public vs. Restricted Personal Data
- Establishment of "Korkyt Ata" Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kyzylorda
- Kazakhstan to Launch CryptoCity Pilot Zone for Legal Use of Cryptocurrency
- Contact our lawyer for more details
Amendments in the Gambling Sector: Advertising and Participation of Convicted Persons
Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 25 April 2025 No. 185-VIII
"On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts on Public Health, Gambling Business, and the Elimination of Excessive Regulation"
Effective from 26 June 2025
Advertising Restrictions: Gambling advertising is now permitted exclusively within territories designated under the Law "On Gambling Business" and within sports facilities — but only during events. All other advertising is prohibited, including placement in buildings, on transport, digital platforms, cinemas, reference services, etc.
Exceptions apply solely to:
- Official websites of licensed bookmakers;
- Sports media outlets registered with the competent authority;
- Broadcasts of international competitions on domestic TV channels.
Additionally, it is now prohibited to disseminate gambling advertisements via transmission to mobile subscriber devices.
Restrictions on Participation in Gambling Activities
Amendments to the Law "On Gambling Business" also take effect on 26 June 2025. The list of individuals prohibited from gambling has been expanded to include persons:
- sentenced to restriction of liberty;
- sentenced to suspended imprisonment (probation).
Full text of the amendments.
Ministry of Internal Affairs Proposes Changes to Rules on Temporary Residence Permits (TRPs)
Key proposed changes
- In-person application required:
Applications for a TRP can no longer be submitted under a notarised power of attorney; foreign nationals must apply in person.
- Mandatory verification via the Unified System for Labour Contract Registration (USLCR):
Upon receipt of documents, authorities will verify:- the existence of a valid employment contract entered by the employer into the system;
- whether the grounds for employment match those declared by the employer.
- Extended grounds for document acceptance in case of overstay violations:
Applications may be accepted if:- overstay occurred due to technical issues (supported by a system failure report);
- the individual was fined under Article 517 of the Code of Administrative Offences (CAO) but did not leave within 30 days (previously 10);
- minors from age 16 received a fine under Article 517 CAO, with court proceedings terminated due to insignificance (new provision).
Clarification by the Ministry of Digital Development: What Constitutes Public vs. Restricted Personal Data
The Committee on Information Security under the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry (MDDIAI) has issued an explanation of Article 6 of the Law “On Personal Data and Their Protection” concerning the classification of personal data.
- Publicly Accessible Personal Data:
These are data not subject to confidentiality and accessible with the data subject’s consent.
Examples: full name, individual identification number (IIN), and email address — if used separately and not linked to legally protected confidential information (e.g. medical or financial data).
- Restricted Access Personal Data:
Data protected by law and not publicly accessible, including:- personal, family, tax, banking, and commercial secrets;
- medical confidentiality;
- other data with a “confidential” designation containing personal information.
When full name, IIN, or email are combined with restricted data, they are reclassified as restricted access.
- Phone Numbers:
A telephone number, by itself and not linked to identifiers such as full name or IIN, does not constitute personal data.
Establishment of "Korkyt Ata" Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kyzylorda
By Government Decree dated 14 May 2025, the Korkyt Ata Special Economic Zone has been established.
Duration: until 31 December 2049.
Key specifications
- Location: Southeast Kyzylorda, near the “Western Europe – Western China” transport corridor and Korkyt Ata Airport
- Area: 550 hectares
- Status: Port-type SEZ
- Legal Regime: Special customs regime and facilitated procedures for entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreign nationals
Objectives of the SEZ
- Develop high-tech industries and implement advanced technologies
- Attract investment and increase employment
- Build tourism infrastructure
- Enhance logistics and multimodal hub development due to strategic location
Expected outcomes
- By 2036: 50% local content in production
- By 2049: 90%
- Projected investment: KZT 156.49 billion
Kazakhstan to Launch CryptoCity Pilot Zone for Legal Use of Cryptocurrency
On 29 May 2025, at the Astana International Forum, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the establishment of a CryptoCity pilot zone, likely to be located in Alatau city, where cryptocurrency may be used for payment of goods, services, and other civil transactions.
Highlights of the announcement
- Kazakhstan will continue investing in digital technology, AI, and clean energy, aiming to become a Eurasian IT hub.
- CryptoCity will serve as an experimental area where the legal circulation of cryptocurrencies is permitted.
- The initiative is positioned as part of Kazakhstan’s digital economic transformation and a tool to attract tech investments.
Objectives of CryptoCity
- Stimulate the development of high-tech sectors
- Test legal and technical frameworks for integrating cryptocurrencies into the economy
- Create infrastructure for next-generation digital payments and services
Author: Zhanture Tashkarayev
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