Kazakhstan has change into the most recent nation to embrace digital nomad visas with the launch of its first ever “Neo Nomad Visa”. The scheme, which is geared toward distant employees and freelancers, will allow Brits to dwell and work within the nation for as much as one yr.
The transfer means Kazakhstan would be the first Central Asian nation to open its doorways to digital nomads and be sure that the nation is “a part of the journey map for contemporary nomads”, in keeping with Minister of Tourism and Sports activities, Yerbol Myrzabossynov.
Introduced by the Kazakhstan authorities 5 days in the past, the visa programme continues to be in its early days. Beneath, we’ll clarify what we all know to date, together with the foundations on eligibility.
What do we all know in regards to the Kazakhstan Neo Nomad Visa?
Over 50 nations now provide official digital nomad visas together with Italy, Japan, and Thailand. Eligibility is comparable throughout nations, though revenue necessities will sometimes differ relying on the nation’s GDP. For Kazakhstan, candidates should:
- Earn a secure revenue of not less than $3,000 (round £2,300) monthly
- Have medical health insurance
- Not have a felony document
- Work remotely for a international employer that isn’t based mostly in Kazakhstan
In a put up shared from the Instagram account of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports activities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the division lists a variety of industries that candidates can work in together with programming, advertising and marketing, finance, consulting, design and ecommerce.
How are you going to apply?
Brits can apply for a visa from the Kazakhstan authorities’s visa web site. There’s the choice to submit an e-visa through the portal, which suggests you gained’t have to fill out paper varieties or go to the Kazakh embassy in central London.
It’s unclear how a lot the service will price. Nevertheless, the nation costs $60 for vacationer visa candidates and $80 for companies, so count on the appliance payment to be in that ballpark.
Kazakhstan is estimating that round 500 individuals will apply to obtain a visa per yr, for an financial impression of round 3.6 billion Kazakhstani tenge, or £5.6 million.
Why would you wish to work remotely in Kazakhstan?
Presently, the most well-liked digital nomad vacation spot for wanderlusting Brits is Spain. However for individuals who wish to see a world past European seashore resorts, Kazakhstan offers a really totally different tradition and panorama for distant employees to discover.
The world’s largest landlocked nation, it is among the oldest nomad cultures with Turkic nomads having entered the area from as early because the sixth century. It was additionally one of many key locations on the Steppe route, a precursor to the Silk Street.
From the peaks of the Tian Shan mountain vary, to the miraculous Lake Balkhash that’s one half salt water, one half freshwater (additionally a hotspot for seashore tourism), Kazakhstan is an enormous nation with grassland and sandy areas abound.
For individuals who don’t wish to work in a Kazakh yurt, there’s additionally the cities of Almaty and Astan which each provide a maze of eccentric structure and low retailers with energy shops.
It’s not a path to citizenship
It’s at present unclear whether or not Kazakhstan will enable households to use for the digital nomad visa. LGBTQ+ candidates who’re contemplating bringing their spouses must be conscious that Kazakhstan doesn’t recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions.
That stated, distant employees shouldn’t view the nation as a possible without end house. Not like nations like Portugal, which permits nomads to use for everlasting residence and Portuguese citizenship after 5 years, Kazakhstan is stricter on citizenship.
Virtually uniquely, Kazakhstan doesn’t enable residents to use for twin nationality. If any Kazakh is discovered to have a number of passports they’re fined and stripped of their citizenship.
Candidates due to this fact ought to view the visa as simply an opportunity to work and dwell in some of the fascinating and underexplored nations on the planet. No biggie.
“[The digital nomad population] is over 35 million on the planet,” added Myrzabossynov. “We intend to do every little thing doable to draw them again to our nation.”
Need the digital nomad way of life, however unsure the place to begin? Learn our full information on the way to change into a digital nomad.
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