Kazakhstan introduces Neo Nomad visa for foreign tourists
Kazakhstan has introduced Neo Nomad visa for the so-called "modern nomads" – foreign tourists who work remotely while traveling around the world, Kazinform News Agency reports citing the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.
More than 50 countries have successfully implemented similar programs after the coronavirus pandemic.
To apply for the visa, foreign nationals must have a stable income amounting to at least $3,000 outside Kazakhstan. Apart from other income requirements, they should also submit a health insurance card and a certificate of no criminal record.
The visa is designed for the tourists working remotely in various spheres - from programming, marketing and finance to consulting, design and e-commerce.
With this type of visa, foreign tourists will be eligible to stay in Kazakhstan for up to one year while being employed by their companies.
The project’s economic benefit for Kazakhstan is estimated at around 3.6 billion tenge per year, if 500 people obtain the Neo Nomad visa.
The most important aspect of this program is that the foreigners will not compete in the local labour market, but will live and spend their money in Kazakhstan, the ministry highlights.
“There are more than 35 million of neo-nomads around the world, and we intend to create all the conditions to attract them to our country. Astana and Almaty cities have already been ranked among the world’s Top-150 cities attractive for neo-nomads,” Minister of Tourism and Sport Yerbol Myrzabossynov says.