Kazakhstan (KZ)
Kazakhstan is the world's ninth-largest country by area and the largest landlocked nation — a vast Central Asian republic stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains, encompassing endless steppes, dramatic canyons, and the remnants of the ancient Silk Road.
Country Profile
Everything you need to know before you arrive.
Kazakhstan is the world's ninth-largest country by area and the largest landlocked nation — a vast Central Asian republic stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains, encompassing endless steppes, dramatic canyons, and the remnants of the ancient Silk Road. A major oil and gas producer, it is the economic powerhouse of Central Asia, drawing thousands of expats to its energy sector, financial services, and growing tech industry. Almaty, the former capital, remains the commercial and cultural hub, while the futuristic planned capital Astana (renamed from Nur-Sultan in 2022) showcases ambitious architecture on the steppe. With a flat 10% income tax rate, no capital gains tax on most assets, and a low cost of living, Kazakhstan offers compelling financial advantages for expats willing to navigate its bureaucracy and adapt to its continental climate and distinct cultural norms.
Climate
March–May: -5 to +20°C. Highly variable. Astana can see late snowfall in April. Almaty sees warmer temperatures earlier, with blossoming apricot trees in April.
June–August: 25–40°C. Very hot and dry, especially in the south and west. Astana summers are warm (28–35°C) with occasional severe thunderstorms. Almaty is pleasant at altitude.
September–November: 5–20°C in September, dropping rapidly. October brings golden steppe colours. November brings early frosts in the north.
December–February: -15 to -40°C in Astana and the north. One of the coldest capitals in the world. Almaty winters are milder (-5 to -15°C) with mountain views. Blizzards (buran) are possible.
Demographics
Religion
Social Culture & Etiquette
Men greet with a handshake and a slight bow. Close male friends may embrace. Women greet women with a hug or cheek kiss. Men and women may not shake hands in more traditional or religious settings — follow the other person's lead. Address elders and strangers formally. Kazakh forms of address use "-eke" (uncle/respected person) or "-apa" (aunt/respected woman) as honorifics.
Punctuality norms are relaxed by Western standards. For business meetings, being 10–15 minutes late is common and not considered rude. Social gatherings may start 30–60 minutes after the stated time. However, government offices and official appointments expect promptness.
Conservative dress is appreciated in traditional and rural settings. Women should cover shoulders and knees in mosques. Business attire is formal in Astana's corporate sector. Almaty's younger crowd dresses very fashionably. During extreme winters, practical warm clothing takes priority over style.
- ✕ Do not whistle indoors — it is believed to whistle away wealth and good fortune.
- ✕ Do not step on the threshold of a traditional yurt or home doorstep — step over it.
- ✕ Declining food or tea offered by a host is considered impolite — accept at least a small amount.
- ✕ Do not point the soles of your feet toward other people, particularly elders.
- ✕ Avoid discussing politics, the January 2022 protests, or Nazarbayev's legacy in mixed company.
- ✕ Do not touch or photograph people without permission, especially in rural or traditional settings.
- ✓ Elders are deeply respected — always greet them first, offer them the best seat, and serve them food and drink first.
- ✓ Hospitality (qonaqjailyq) is sacred — a guest's needs are always met. Hosts will insist on feeding visitors.
- ✓ The dastarkhan (spread table) is central to Kazakh culture — meals are social ceremonies, not just eating.
- ✓ Kaspi Bank's app is used for almost everything: payments, transfers, utilities, tickets — install it immediately.
- ✓ Learning even basic Kazakh phrases (Rakhmet = thank you, Salam = hello) is greatly appreciated by locals.
🍽️ Traditional Food & Drink
The national dish — slow-cooked lamb or horse meat served on wide flat noodles, topped with onion sauce (tuzdyk). The name means "five fingers" as it is traditionally eaten by hand.
Traditional horse sausage made from horsemeat and fat, cured and smoked. A festive delicacy served at celebrations and to honoured guests.
Fragrant rice dish with lamb, carrots, onions and spices, cooked in a large kazan (cauldron). A staple across Central Asia with regional Kazakh variations.
Baked or fried pastry filled with seasoned lamb or beef and onion. A popular street food found at every bazaar and chaikhana (teahouse).
Large steamed dumplings filled with minced lamb and onion, similar to Chinese baozi. Served with sour cream (smetana) or vinegar.
Skewered and grilled lamb, chicken, or beef marinated in onion and spices. The universal Central Asian BBQ, cooked over charcoal at every outdoor gathering.
Fermented mare's milk — the ancient drink of the Kazakh nomads. Mildly alcoholic (1–3%), slightly sour and effervescent. Traditionally consumed in summer and at celebrations. Available in yurt camps and speciality shops.
Fermented camel milk, thicker and more sour than kumiss. Particularly popular in western Kazakhstan near camel-herding regions. Considered highly nutritious and medicinal.
Black tea with milk (süt), served in piyala (small bowls). Kazakh hospitality centres on tea — refusing a cup is impolite. Every home visit begins with tea and bread.
📍 Tourist Highlights
Kazakhstan's answer to the Grand Canyon — 90km of dramatic red sandstone formations carved by the Charyn River. Day trip from Almaty.
Iconic spherical glass building from the 2017 World Expo, now a museum of future energy. Symbol of Astana's futuristic architecture.
Stunning turquoise glacial lake at 2,500m elevation in the Tian Shan mountains. Hiking, photography, and alpine scenery.
World's first and largest operational space launch facility, leased to Russia. Rocket launches visible to visitors with advance booking.
Three glacial lakes in the Northern Tian Shan mountains, popular for trekking and horse riding with stunning mountain reflections.
📖 Brief History
Kazakhstan's territory was home to nomadic Kazakh tribes who formed the Kazakh Khanate in the 15th century, creating a rich culture of horsemanship, oral poetry (zhyrau), and the iconic yurt (ger). The Russian Empire gradually absorbed the Kazakh steppe throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and Soviet collectivisation in the 1930s devastated the nomadic way of life, causing a catastrophic famine that killed over a million Kazakhs. During the Soviet era, Kazakhstan became a major industrial and agricultural centre, and Baikonur Cosmodrome launched Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin into space. Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991, the last Soviet republic to do so. Nursultan Nazarbayev ruled as president from independence until 2019, building the new capital Astana and guiding rapid economic development fuelled by oil revenues. His successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev oversaw significant political changes following the January 2022 protests (Bloody January / Qandy Qantar), embarking on reforms toward a 'New Kazakhstan' and renaming the capital back to Astana in 2022.