AIFC Adds Digital Assets to the List of Investment Instruments under the Investment Tax Residency Programme

Investments in digital assets traded on AIFC licensed platforms will enable foreign investors to obtain Investment Tax Residency

The AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP) is expanding the range of investment instruments available to foreign investors. As part of the continued development of the Programme, a new investment instrument, digital assets, has been introduced, providing participants with an additional option for building their investment portfolios.

AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme allows foreign nationals to make investment to the variety of financial instruments and apply for a long-term investor visas and tax residency under simplified conditions. To participate, applicants must meet the Programme’s eligibility requirements: the applicant must be over 18 years of age, must not be a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a tax resident of the Republic of Kazakhstan during the previous 20 years. Previously, participation in the Programme was available through investments in shares, stakes in the capital, units in funds incorporated in the AIFC, securities listed on the Astana International Exchange (AIX), as well as share capital of companies registered in accordance with the Acting Law of the AIFC. The minimum investment amount to be maintained under both investment instruments is USD 60,000.

Foreign investors may now also invest in digital assets traded on platforms operated by digital asset service providers licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA).  The minimum investment amount under this investment instrument, which must be maintained throughout the entire period of participation in the Programme, is USD 150,000.

The expansion of the Programme reflects the continued development of the digital asset market in Kazakhstan. In 2026, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed the Decree “On Measures to Stimulate and Develop the Digital Asset Industry”, aimed at improving the regulatory framework for the sector, developing digital financial infrastructure and enhancing the country’s investment attractiveness. The inclusion of digital assets in the Programme is aligned with the government’s policy on developing the digital asset industry and reflects the AIFC’s commitment to offering investors modern investment instruments within a regulated ecosystem.

“Our Programme has expanded the range of investment instruments available to international investors by introducing digital assets as a new mechanism for attracting investment. This provides investors with access to investment opportunities within the AIFC ecosystem and supports the development of digital assets as part of the country’s financial and technological infrastructure,” said Ainur Zhumatova, Director of the AIFC Expat Centre.

The launch of this new investment instrument represents another stage in the development of the Programme and strengthens the AIFC’s position as an international platform for attracting capital and providing investors with access to modern financial opportunities.

The new investment instrument, provided for under the Programme Regulations, will come into effect on the date of publication of the Regulations on the Programme’s official source: https://aifc.kz/itrp-1/

For individual consultations: [email protected].

Reference:    

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction where investors and business meet emerging opportunities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in a transparent and sustainable environment backed by the principles of English Common Law. www.aifc.kz     

AIFC Press Office

Ainur Issabayeva, press secretary

E-mail: [email protected]