Property
Private ownership of buildings, but agricultural land closed to foreigners
The Land Code permits private ownership of land for citizens and Kazakh legal entities. Foreign nationals may own buildings and hold land on long lease, but not own agricultural land.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Rights are registered with the State Corporation Government for Citizens. Border-zone land carries additional restrictions.
Governing law
- Land Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan2003
- Civil Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Law on State Registration of Rights to Immovable Property
In practice
Foreign individuals and foreign-controlled entities are barred from owning agricultural land, a restriction reaffirmed after public protests, and long leases to foreigners over farmland were also curtailed. Residential and commercial property may be owned outright, including by foreigners, though a residence permit is needed in practice for some transactions. Land-use rights for industrial projects are typically granted by lease of up to 49 years. Mortgages are registered and enforceable, with a notarised or judicial route to sale.