Citizens of Azerbaijan enter visa-free, but a semester runs past what that allows, so your university applies for a temporary residence permit for study in your first weeks. Almost everything else hangs on the IIN, a 12-digit number from a Government for Citizens centre: without it there is no Kaspi card, which is how Almaty pays for everything from taxis to street food.
Money
Kazakhstani tenge (₸, KZT)
Language
Kazakh and Russian; Russian is the everyday language in Almaty
Time
UTC+5 nationwide since March 2024, no daylight saving (one hour ahead of Baku)
Plugs
Type C and F; 220 V
Tipping
Not expected; many cafés add a 10–15% service charge to the bill
112 is the single number and works free from any phone; 104 is the gas emergency line. Expect operators to speak Kazakh and Russian; do not count on English.
Set these up before you fly
The essentials that take days to arrange or have to work the moment you land.
The international office helps find accommodation rather than guaranteeing a room, so write to it early; its Buddies for International Students scheme assigns a student mentor.
Places, programmes and the minimum cGPA are from ADA’s list. Confirm them with the Office of Global Outreach and Partners before you apply: exchange@ada.edu.az
Payments & banking3
Almaty runs on Kaspi: QR payments and phone-number transfers are how people pay, split bills and pay rent, and a local card needs an IIN.
KG
Kaspi GoldEssential
The debit card and app nearly everyone in Almaty pays with
On arrival
Why you need it: Shops, markets, taxis and classmates expect Kaspi QR or a Kaspi transfer to a phone number; without it you are always the one paying cash.
FreeVaries by residence statusVaries by nationality
Register in the Kaspi.kz app with your Kazakh number
Visit a Kaspi branch with your passport, IIN and proof of legal stay (arrival notification or a university enrolment certificate)
Pay by scanning Kaspi QR codes and send money to phone numbers
Before you rely on itWithout a residence permit (VNZh) it is a branch visit, not an online sign-up. Citizens of Türkiye, Russia, China and OECD countries must also bring their home tax number and address. The same app runs Kaspi Magazin, the online shop many students use for deliveries.
Source: guide.kaspi.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
HB
Halyk Bank
Large national bank; a second option for a local card
Optional
Why you need it: If Kaspi turns you down or you want a backup card, Halyk opens accounts for non-residents at its branches.
Take your passport, IIN, proof of study and proof of your Almaty address to a branch
Fill in the application in person
Install the Halyk app once the card is issued
Before you rely on itNon-residents must apply in person, cannot open an account online or by power of attorney, and are limited to one card valid for 12 months.
Source: halykbank.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
TC
Tenge cash and exchange offices
Cash for the first days, before a Kaspi card exists
On arrival
Why you need it: Until you have an IIN and a Kaspi card, your home card and some tenge carry you through the first week: dorm deposits, a SIM, food.
Tell your bank in Baku you will use your card in Kazakhstan
Bring some US dollars or euros as a backup to your card
Compare the exchange office’s rate with the National Bank’s official rate before you change money
Before you rely on itExchange offices (обменник) post their rates outside; dollars and euros are the safest currencies to bring, and you should not count on changing manat. Buses do not take cash at all.
Source: nationalbank.kz · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Essential apps4
A handful of apps cover the city: 2GIS for maps, WhatsApp and Telegram for university offices, and delivery apps for food and shopping.
2G
2GISEssential
Maps, bus routes and opening hours for every building
Before departure
Why you need it: Locals give directions by 2GIS, it knows which entrance and floor an office is on, and it plans bus and metro trips across Almaty.
Before you rely on itIts business listings are the most complete in the city, but opening hours for government offices can lag; check the office’s own page before a long trip.
Source: 2gis.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
WA
WhatsApp
The messenger visa officers, dorms and landlords use
Before departure
Why you need it: University offices answer on it: KIMEP’s visa manager takes arrival messages by WhatsApp, and AlmaU’s dorm office takes applications through it.
Install the Onay app, or buy a plastic card at an Onay service point
Top up from a bank card, Kaspi or a terminal
Tap on the validator or scan the QR code as you board
Before you rely on itCash has not been accepted since August 2024. A student monthly pass costs 4,200 tenge, against 9,900 tenge for the standard pass, but whether an exchange student qualifies depends on the university, so ask the international office. Check the fare before you travel in case it has been reviewed.
Source: tengrinews.kz · a secondary source · Checked
AM
Almaty Metro
One fast line under the city centre
Optional
Why you need it: It skips the traffic along the centre’s main avenues, which matters at rush hour and in snow.
Paid · 120 tenge a ride (the fare since August 2024)Varies by city
Check whether your campus is near a station in 2GIS
Before you rely on itA single line, so it suits some routes and not others; buses still do most of the work. It runs from 06:20 to midnight. The turnstiles have been fitted for contactless bank cards, but keep Onay as the option that always works.
Source: metroalmaty.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
YG
Yandex GoEssential
Taxis at a fixed price, plus scooters and courier delivery
Before departure
Why you need it: The simplest way from the airport to your dorm on day one: the price is shown before you book and you can pay cash.
Register the number and the phone: dial *693# and enter your passport number
Register each IMEI separately on a dual-SIM phone
Verify an imported phone on kz-imei.kz within 30 days (see IMEI verification)
Before you rely on itRegistration on *693# ties the number and the handset to your passport; it is separate from the state IMEI verification that keeps an imported phone working after 30 days.
Source: beeline.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
AK
activ (Kcell)
Kcell’s prepaid brand; the other big network
Optional
Why you need it: An alternative to Beeline with good coverage in Almaty; pick whichever your classmates use or has the better student offer.
Buy a SIM at an activ or Kcell shop with your passport
Register your phone: send your passport number by SMS or dial *660*1*passportnumber#
Verify an imported phone on kz-imei.kz within 30 days
Before you rely on itPassport numbers are entered without spaces. Kcell also sells postpaid plans under its own name, which a one-semester student rarely needs.
Source: activ.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
IV
IMEI verification (kz-imei.kz)
Keeps a phone brought from abroad working after 30 days
On arrival
Why you need it: A phone bought outside Kazakhstan works on a Kazakh SIM for only 30 days unless you verify it, which catches students in their fifth week.
Get your IIN and a digital signature (EDS) for non-residents at a TsON
Get a border-crossing certificate in the QazETA app
Apply on kz-imei.kz as accompanied baggage, attaching the certificate
Before you rely on itBeeline says photos of an entry stamp or an arrival notification are not accepted; it has to be the QazETA border-crossing certificate. Processing takes up to 72 hours. Not needed if you use only your home SIM in roaming.
Source: beeline.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
Visa, registration & legal5
Visa-free entry for citizens of Azerbaijan, then a study residence permit arranged through your university, and an IIN.
VF
Visa-free entry (90 days in 180)Essential
Entry without a visa, for up to 90 days in any 180
Before departure
Why you need it: You need no visa to fly in, but a spring semester is longer than 90 days, and universities start a study residence permit within your first month, so the visa-free stay alone does not cover it.
Check your passport is valid well beyond your return date
Carry your university’s admission or invitation letter in hand luggage
Keep your boarding pass: the clock counts from the day you cross the border
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists ordinary passports as visa-free for up to 90 days within 180. Many other nationalities get 30 days per entry or need a visa; check the same table. Staying past your permitted period without a residence permit is an offence that can bring a fine and deportation.
Source: gov.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
AN
Arrival notification (registration)Essential
Your host reports your arrival within 3 working days
On arrival
Why you need it: The receiving party must notify the migration service within three working days of every entry, however you entered; for an exchange student that is the university, and it needs your passport details to do it.
Message your university’s visa officer as soon as you land, with your entry date and address
Go to the office on the first working day with your passport, copies, 3×4 photos and your Almaty address
If you live in a private flat, agree how your landlord or the university will notify
Before you rely on itThe legal duty sits with the host, and a late notification brings a fine of 10–20 MCI (the monthly calculation index, the unit Kazakh fines are set in); KIMEP warns that breaking the migration rules can fine both the student and the university. Universities set tighter deadlines of their own: KIMEP wants a message to its visa manager within two calendar days of arrival, and again after every border crossing or change of address; AlmaU asks you to report to its visa officer before and after every trip, in Kazakhstan or abroad. Ask your host university what it needs.
Source: mnu.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
TR
Temporary residence permit for study (RVP)Essential
Lets you stay past 90 days, for the length of your studies
On arrival
Why you need it: A semester runs longer than the visa-free stay, and the study permit is issued on the application of the university that enrolled you, so it starts at the international office.
Cost variesVaries by universityVaries by nationality
Hand the office your passport, photos, address and enrolment order in your first days
Get a fingerprint certificate at a TsON and an IIN if the office asks (KIMEP asks for fingerprints)
Show your health insurance: it is part of the permit file
Check the permit’s end date against your flight home
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan, a CIS country: KBTU says students from CIS countries staying over 30 days need the permit and must hand their passport to its international office within 30 days of arrival; other universities want it sooner, so do it in week one. Universities typically ask for your passport, a fingerprint certificate, your IIN, proof of address and insurance. Ask your university whether any state fee applies.
Source: kbtu.edu.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
II
IIN (individual identification number)Essential
The 12-digit number banks, SIMs, dorms and apps ask for
On arrival
Why you need it: Kaspi, Halyk, AlmaU’s Jastar dorm and phone verification all refuse you without one, so it is the first errand after the international office.
Find a Government for Citizens centre (TsON) near you in 2GIS
Bring your passport and fill in the application there
Keep the certificate as a photo and a printout
Before you rely on itFree and usually issued within one working day. A notarised translation of your passport is needed only if it has no Cyrillic or Latin spelling of your name; Azerbaijani passports have a Latin one, but ask your international office if you are unsure. Do not count on getting an IIN from a Kazakh embassy before you leave; plan to apply in Almaty.
Source: gov.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
HI
Health insuranceEssential
Medical cover valid in Kazakhstan for the whole stay
Before departure
Why you need it: Partner universities expect a policy that works in Kazakhstan, and outside the university clinic you pay for doctors yourself.
Paid · Local policies listed by KIMEP cost about 115,000–335,000 tenge for a year’s cover (2026)Varies by university
Ask your host university what cover it requires and whether it sells a local policy
Check the policy works in Kazakhstan and covers emergencies and hospital care
Carry the policy number and the insurer’s 24-hour line
Before you rely on itKIMEP recommends a local policy bought after arrival, and warns that with a home policy you pay first and claim back once you are home. Insurance is also part of the residence permit file. KIMEP’s on-campus medical centre is free for its students.
Source: kimep.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
Housing & daily life2
All three partner universities have dormitories; private flats in central Almaty are expensive and best found with the university’s help.
UD
University dormitoryEssential
A bed booked through your host university before you arrive
Before departure
Why you need it: Each partner university houses exchange students, and a dorm place makes the arrival notification and permit paperwork simpler.
Paid · About 65,000–100,000 tenge a month at AlmaU (2026); other universities differVaries by university
Book when you apply: KIMEP asks for spring bookings by the end of November
Plan for the medical certificate and chest X-ray in your first days (see Medical certificate)
Bring cash or a card for the deposit
Before you rely on itAlmaU’s two dorms cost 65,000–100,000 tenge a month plus a refundable deposit of 40,000–65,000 tenge, and ask for a medical certificate (Jastar also wants an IIN). KIMEP guarantees exchange students a place. KBTU has limited places, so tell its international office early that you want one.
Source: almau.edu.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
KK
Krisha.kz
The main listings site for flats to rent
Optional
Why you need it: If you want a private flat instead of a dorm, this is where Almaty landlords and agents advertise.
View the flat in person and never pay a deposit before seeing it
Agree in writing who will file your arrival notification
Before you rely on itMany listings are agents who charge a fee, and semester-long leases are harder to find than yearly ones. Your landlord must notify the migration service within three working days, and your university will want the signed rental agreement for your permit.
Source: krisha.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
Student life2
Expect a local medical check before you move into a dorm, and lean on your international office: it files your migration paperwork.
MC
Medical certificate and chest X-ray
Local health certificate (086/u or 075/u) and fluorography
On arrival
Why you need it: Dorms and universities in Almaty ask for a local medical certificate with a chest X-ray, and you get it in Almaty, not Baku.
Ask the international office which form it needs and which clinic it recommends
Bring your passport and vaccination records
Do the chest X-ray (fluorography) and collect the stamped form
Before you rely on itKIMEP asks for a local chest X-ray and form 086/u; AlmaU’s dorms ask for form 075/u with fluorography results; KBTU asks for form 075/u and laboratory tests for HIV and hepatitis B and C. The form and the clinic depend on the university.
Source: kimep.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
HU
Host university international officeEssential
Your migration paperwork, orientation and buddy programme
On arrival
Why you need it: The international office files the arrival notification and the study permit, so it is your first stop and your fallback for everything official.
Email the office your flight details before you travel
Visit on your first working day with your passport
Join orientation and ask for a buddy
Before you rely on itNominations go through ADA. KIMEP will want spring applications by the end of November; ask ADA’s international office for AlmaU’s and KBTU’s dates. KIMEP runs the Globus support centre, whose buddies go with you to the clinic and to buy a SIM; AlmaU runs compulsory introduction days for international students a few days before the semester.
Source: kimep.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
Communication & language2
Russian gets you through Almaty; Kazakh is the state language and a few words of it are warmly received.
GT
Google Translate
Camera and conversation translation, Russian and Kazakh
Before departure
Why you need it: Menus, forms and TsON notices are in Russian and Kazakh; pointing the camera at them saves you every time.
Save the hotline +7 778 000 28 38, the consular section +7 7172 75 55 29 and astana@mission.mfa.gov.az
Keep a scan of your passport in your email or cloud storage
Before you rely on itNot from Azerbaijan? Your own embassy’s page is the one to save. Documents are accepted Monday to Friday, 09:30–13:00. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists only the embassy in Astana and a Consulate General in Aktau, none in Almaty, so call before travelling to ask how they can help.
Source: astana.mfa.gov.az · the provider or a government body · Checked
MF
Ministry for Emergency Situations
Earthquake, mudflow and fire guidance and official alerts
Optional
Why you need it: Almaty sits in an active earthquake zone below mountains prone to mudflows; the ministry publishes what to do and its operational alerts.
Read the ministry’s guidance on behaviour in an emergency
Learn where your dorm’s exits and assembly point are
Keep water, a torch and a charged power bank by your bed
Before you rely on itMuch of the guidance is in Kazakh and Russian. In an earthquake, drop, cover and hold on; do not run for the stairs while the building shakes.
Source: gov.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
Ka
Kazhydromet
Official weather forecasts and air pollution monitoring
Optional
Why you need it: Winter smog in Almaty can be heavy on still days; checking the air before a run or a long walk is worth the habit.
Check the air-quality readings before exercising outdoors on still winter days
Before you rely on itSmog is worst in the lower, northern parts of the city in winter; a well-fitting mask helps on the worst days.
Source: kazhydromet.kz · the provider or a government body · Checked
Culture & practical tips
Hospitality, respect for elders and tea are central; Almaty is relaxed and modern, but some old-fashioned courtesies still matter.
01Up means south, towards the mountains
Almaty slopes up to the mountains in the south, and locals give directions as up (выше) and down (ниже). With the peaks in view, you always know which way you are facing.
02Addresses are often corners
People say “the corner of Abay and Dostyk” rather than a house number, and many streets have been renamed, so the old Soviet name may still be the one you hear. 2GIS knows both.
03Everyone splits bills by Kaspi
Friends pay one person and transfer their share by phone number on the spot. Until your Kaspi card works, keep small cash to settle up.
04Tea is a ritual
At a Kazakh table your cup is refilled only part-way so it stays hot and the host keeps pouring; saying politely that you have had enough is how you stop. Expect generous food when invited home.
05Shoes off at home
Take your shoes off at the door of any home, and often at dorm rooms too; hosts may offer slippers.
06Respect for elders is visible
Greet older people first, offer your seat on the bus and let them go first. Younger people often use “aga” (older brother) and “apa” or “apai” (older woman) as polite address.
07Nauryz is the big spring holiday
Nauryz, around 21–23 March, is a public holiday in the middle of your semester, with festivals, nauryz kozhe soup and closed offices. Check your university calendar for the days off.
08Russian is fine, Kazakh is appreciated
In Almaty almost everyone will answer you in Russian, and nobody expects a visitor to speak Kazakh. A simple “Rakhmet” or “Sälemetsız be” still earns a smile.
09Winter is dry, sunny and smoggy
February is cold with snow, and on still days smog sits over the lower city. By May the city is warm and green, and the mountains above it make easy day trips.
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