Kazakhstan Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Kazakhstani Business

TL;DR. Kazakhstan’s company registry is distributed across two main portals: the Bureau of National Statistics (stat.gov.kz) for BIN-based business register lookups, and the e-Government portal (egov.kz) for corporate services including registration status. Both portals offer partial English interfaces and free BIN lookups. Kazakhstan is not on the FATF grey list. The primary compliance concern for foreign buyers is sanctions-adjacency to Russia: EAEU membership creates structural economic linkages, and multiple Kazakhstani entities have been targeted in US and EU Russia-related sanctions enforcement actions. A separate registry governs companies registered at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).

What is the official Kazakhstan business registry?

Kazakhstan registers commercial entities under the Law on State Registration of Legal Entities and Recording of Branches and Representative Offices (Law No. 1198, 1995, as amended). The Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms operates the Statistical Business Register (SBR), accessible at stat.gov.kz. This is the primary source for BIN-based entity verification.

The e-Government portal at egov.kz aggregates corporate registration services, including company registration status, and is operated by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry. The State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance provides a supplementary taxpayer search at kgd.gov.kz for tax status lookups.

Every legal entity registered in Kazakhstan is assigned a Business Identification Number (BIN) at registration: a 12-digit code where the first four digits encode the registration year and month. It is the universal identifier across tax, customs, banking, and judicial systems. Sole proprietors use an Individual Identification Number (IIN) instead.

The SBR holds records for all registered legal entities, branches, and representative offices. Digitized records extend to the mid-1990s; older pre-computerization entries may be partial.

What can you search?

The stat.gov.kz BIN/IIN search at stat.gov.kz/en/juridical/by/bin/ supports:

• BIN (Business Identification Number): primary anchor for legal entities
• IIN (Individual Identification Number): for sole proprietors

Data returned per entity includes: full registered name (Kazakh, Russian, and sometimes English), BIN, date of registration, entity type, region, primary activity (OKVED code, Kazakhstan’s NACE-equivalent), and registration status.

The State Revenue Committee taxpayer search at kgd.gov.kz returns: company name, BIN, VIN (taxpayer identification code), registration status with tax authorities, and whether the entity is on the tax arrears list.

The egov.kz portal provides broader corporate information including registered address, authorized capital, director name, and founding document details, but full access to some records requires registration with a Kazakhstani electronic signature (EDS). Without EDS, foreign buyers can view summary status data.

Data freshness: the BIN search at stat.gov.kz is updated on a registration-event basis. Tax status at kgd.gov.kz reflects filings with the State Revenue Committee, typically current within a few business days.

How much does it cost?

Basic BIN lookups and electronic registration certificates through egov.kz are free. Physical or notarized copies from Public Service Centres (PSC/CPC) carry a nominal fee. KZT/USD conversion used: approximately KZT 500:1 (May 2026; verify at the National Bank of Kazakhstan before purchase).

Do you need a local account or ID?

No Kazakhstani identity document is required for the BIN search at stat.gov.kz or the taxpayer lookup at kgd.gov.kz. Both are publicly accessible to any user. The egov.kz portal provides summary company data without login; accessing detailed filings or generating electronic certificates requires a Kazakhstani Electronic Digital Signature (EDS), which is not available to foreign nationals without a Kazakhstani IIN.

Foreign buyers seeking certified company data typically use one of three routes: the free online BIN lookup for initial screening, a local Kazakhstani attorney to generate an EDS-authenticated extract, or a commercial data aggregator that holds appropriate data access agreements.

Is the website in English?

Partial. The stat.gov.kz portal has full English navigation and the BIN search interface is accessible in English. Company names are returned in Kazakh and Russian; English translations are not provided for registered entity names. The kgd.gov.kz taxpayer search offers English navigation. The egov.kz portal has partial English support; some service pages switch to Kazakh or Russian for detailed documentation.

Company names in Kazakhstan are commonly registered in Kazakh (Cyrillic) and Russian; official transliteration to Latin script is not standardized. For compliance records, use the BIN as the anchor identifier rather than the name, which may vary across transliterations.

What’s the turnaround time?

BIN lookups at stat.gov.kz and kgd.gov.kz return results instantly. Electronic registration certificates through egov.kz are generated on demand once the system processes the request, typically within minutes for online channels. Certified paper extracts from Public Service Centres typically take 1-3 business days. In Astana and Almaty, same-day service is available at major PSC branches for standard requests.

Is there an API?

No public API for the Statistical Business Register or egov.kz corporate services is documented for external developer access as of May 2026. OpenSanctions (opensanctions.org) includes a Kazakhstan State Register dataset derived from public stat.gov.kz data, updated periodically. This dataset is useful for bulk sanctions screening workflows but should not replace direct BIN verification for compliance purposes.

What you legally cannot do

Kazakhstan’s Law on Personal Data and its Protection (Law No. 94-V, 2013, as amended) governs the handling of personal data derived from registry records. The stat.gov.kz and egov.kz Terms of Use prohibit:

• Bulk automated scraping of registry portals for commercial redistribution
• Using personal data of directors and shareholders obtained from registry records for marketing or profiling
• Republishing official registry data commercially without authorization

Compliance buyers using registry data for KYC, counterparty screening, or AML monitoring are within permitted use under the stated purpose framework. Document the stated purpose of each lookup as part of your internal audit file.

US Executive Order 14114 (December 2023) expanded OFAC secondary sanctions to cover entities in third countries that facilitate Russia-related sanctions evasion. Multiple Kazakhstani companies have been designated under US and EU Russia-related sanctions packages. Screen all Kazakhstani counterparties against the OFAC SDN list and the EU Consolidated Sanctions List before engagement.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• BIN is the anchor identifier. The 12-digit BIN is stable across company name changes and is the primary cross-reference used by Kazakhstan’s tax authority, customs, banking system, and courts. Always request and verify the BIN from a Kazakhstani counterparty before onboarding. The first four digits encode the year and month of registration, providing an implicit incorporation-date check.
• EAEU membership creates Russia exposure. Kazakhstan is a founding member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), alongside Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. EAEU membership means deep trade and financial flows between Kazakhstani and Russian entities. EU and US authorities have documented the use of Kazakhstani intermediaries to circumvent Russia-related sanctions, including the re-export of restricted dual-use goods. Apply enhanced due diligence to Kazakhstani companies in sectors susceptible to transshipment (electronics, industrial equipment, logistics).
• Specific OFAC designations have targeted Kazakhstani entities. Companies including Kazakhstan-based logistics, trading, and electronics firms have been individually designated in US and EU Russia-related sanctions packages. A clear-BIN search result does not substitute for a current SDN list check. Run both.
• AIFC-registered entities require a separate check. Companies incorporated within the Astana International Financial Centre are not registered in the National Statistics BIN system; they hold AFSA registration numbers and appear in the AIFC Public Register at publicreg.myafsa.com. If a counterparty claims to be an AIFC company, verify its registration on the AFSA register directly (see below for details).
• Kazakh vs. Russian language names. Kazakhstan’s official language policy promotes Kazakh; many companies have both Kazakh and Russian registered names. Registered name searches should be conducted in both Cyrillic Kazakh and Russian script if a name match is critical. The BIN is language-neutral.
• Tax-debt flag on kgd.gov.kz. The State Revenue Committee portal flags entities with outstanding tax arrears on its public search. For counterparties in the supply chain, a tax-arrears indicator is a material risk signal: it may indicate financial distress, regulatory non-compliance, or both. This check is free and takes 30 seconds. For the global context on EAEU jurisdictions and sanctions-adjacency, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Alternatives if you cannot access the national registry directly

• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates and OpenSanctions index Kazakhstani company data but lag official sources. Useful for initial screening; not for compliance-grade verification.
• AIFC Public Register (publicreg.myafsa.com): Free, English-language public register for all AIFC-registered entities. No account required. Contains name, BIN, registration date, entity type, directors, shareholders, and authorized capital for over 5,600 registered AIFC entities.
• State Revenue Committee taxpayer search (kgd.gov.kz): Supplements the BIN search with tax registration status and arrears information.

The AIFC: a separate compliance regime

The Astana International Financial Centre is a special economic zone established in 2018 under Constitutional Law, operating under English common law and administered by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA). AIFC entities are not subject to the general Kazakhstani commercial code; they operate under AIFC Acts modeled on English law, with their own courts (AIFC Court) and arbitration centre.

For compliance buyers, the AIFC functions as a separate offshore-style regime comparable to Dubai DIFC or Singapore’s variable capital company framework. It has its own UBO register and AML/CFT rules aligned with FATF standards (25% beneficial ownership threshold). Its public register at publicreg.myafsa.com lists over 5,600 registered entities with names, directors, shareholders, and registration status. Any counterparty claiming AIFC incorporation that does not appear in that register warrants heightened scrutiny.

Local data suppliers

• Interfax Kazakhstan (interfax.kz). Commercial credit reports and company profiles for Kazakhstani entities, drawing on State Register, court, and trade data. Used by banks and international corporates for counterparty due diligence.
• CredInform (credinform.ru/kz). Regional provider covering Kazakhstan and other CIS states. Company financial profiles, director data, and court records. Russian-language primary interface.

Use the national registry portals for primary-source BIN verification. Use a commercial provider when you need payment history, financial risk scoring, or consolidated cross-CIS profiles.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Kazakhstan registry directly?

Yes. The BIN search at stat.gov.kz and the taxpayer lookup at kgd.gov.kz are freely accessible to any internet user without a Kazakhstani account. Basic company profile data is available at no cost. Detailed electronic certificates and full filing records through egov.kz require a Kazakhstani Electronic Digital Signature (EDS), which is not available to foreign nationals. Foreign buyers typically use a local Kazakhstani attorney or commercial data provider for certified extracts.

What is the BIN in Kazakhstan?

The Business Identification Number (BIN) is a 12-digit code assigned to all legal entities registered in Kazakhstan. The first two digits are the last two digits of the registration year; digits three and four are the registration month; the remaining eight digits are a sequential number with a check digit. Sole proprietors use their personal IIN (Individual Identification Number) instead of a BIN. The BIN is issued automatically at registration at no charge and is mandatory for all formal business activities including tax filing, banking, and customs.

What entity types are registered with the national business register?

Kazakhstan’s registry covers limited liability partnerships (LLP, the most common form), joint-stock companies (JSC), state enterprises, cooperatives, non-commercial organizations, and branches and representative offices of foreign legal entities. Most foreign companies entering Kazakhstan establish an LLP or a branch office. AIFC-registered entities (private companies, funds, and authorized firms) are registered separately with AFSA and do not appear in the national BIN system.

Does Kazakhstan have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Partially. Kazakhstan requires legal entities to identify and disclose UBOs (natural persons with 25% or more ownership or effective control) to financial institutions and notaries under the Law on Counteracting the Legalization of Proceeds from Crime (Law No. 191-V), aligned with FATF Recommendation 24. There is no centralized public UBO register accessible online; the data is held by financial institutions and competent authorities. The AIFC maintains a separate UBO register under AFSA Rules with the same 25% threshold.

How current is the data in the Kazakhstan registry?

The BIN search at stat.gov.kz reflects registration status as processed by the registration authority. Standard updates (director changes, address changes, capital amendments) appear within a few business days of the filing event. Tax status at kgd.gov.kz is updated more frequently. Treat online data as a current-status indicator and request a formal extract from a PSC or local attorney for any transaction requiring a primary-source document.

Is Kazakhstan on the FATF grey list?

No. Kazakhstan is not on the FATF Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (grey list) as of May 2026. A FATF Mutual Evaluation of Kazakhstan was conducted in 2023 under the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG). Kazakhstan was placed in the standard post-evaluation follow-up process. This is not equivalent to grey-listing. See fatf-gafi.org for current status.

What’s the difference between the national registry and the AIFC register?

The national Business Register (stat.gov.kz / egov.kz) covers all companies incorporated under Kazakhstani law, with BINs issued by the registration authority. The AIFC Public Register (publicreg.myafsa.com) covers companies incorporated under AIFC Acts, registered with AFSA, and operating within the special economic zone framework in Astana. The two registries do not overlap: an entity appears in one or the other, not both. AIFC companies operate under English common law and are subject to AFSA supervision; national register companies operate under Kazakhstani civil law and are subject to Kazakhstani financial authorities.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan (stat.gov.kz); Kazakhstan State Revenue Committee (kgd.gov.kz); AIFC Public Register / AFSA (publicreg.myafsa.com); FATF Mutual Evaluation Report of Kazakhstan, 2023 (fatf-gafi.org); Foreign Policy Research Institute, “The Impact of Russia Sanctions on Central Asia,” December 2024. For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.