Kazakhstan has launched a pilot project enabling foreign nationals to obtain an Individual Identification Number (IIN) via the QazETA mobile application. Internal Affairs Minister Yerzhan Sadenov signed the decree authorizing the rollout, Tengrinews.kz reported.
The online service is available to foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily staying in Kazakhstan.
To obtain an IIN, an applicant must register in the application, consent to the collection and processing of personal data, take a photo of their identity document, and complete biometric authentication.
Once the user selects the service, the system verifies their border crossing against the Berkut integrated database. The applicant must then verify their mobile geolocation and pass a liveness detection check to confirm that a real person is interacting with the system.
A pre-filled application will then appear in the app, requiring the applicant to verify the information and add their place of birth, ethnicity, and contact details.
After completing these steps, the applicant submits the form for review. The system checks whether an IIN was previously issued to the individual and matches their biometrics against the master immigrant database. This ensures, among other security measures, that multiple identification profiles are not registered to a single person.
The service takes one business day to process, excluding the day of application.
The result appears directly in the application. If approved, the applicant can view their IIN and download a PDF registration certificate. If the application is rejected, the user receives a notification stating the reason.
Grounds for denial include fraudulent documents or information, as well as discrepancies between the submitted records and regulatory requirements.
The Interior Ministry decree took effect on November 9 and will remain in force for one year.
An IIN is required in Kazakhstan to access public services and open bank accounts or obtain payment cards. Currently, foreign citizens must apply in person at public service centers, with remote registration previously limited to the eResidency program.
QazETA is an electronic travel authorization platform that Kazakhstan recently began rolling out. It applies to citizens of visa-exempt countries, including Russia. Starting July 1, 2027, travelers without this authorization will be denied entry, barring designated exceptions.
