Country Guide: Kazakhstan

Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Copy of Passport
• Detailed inventory
• Original Bill of Lading (BOL) / Air Waybill (AWB)
• Pro-forma Invoice (on letterhead of booking agent with the value of goods)
• Copy of Kazakh Visa (foreigners)
• Customs Declaration
• Brokerage Agreement (foreigners, shipments above 200 kgs and returning citizens)
• EC-POA on employer letterhead (foreigners)
• Notarized copy of ID (returning citizens)
• Foreign Affairs Participant Card (returning citizens)
• Notarized copy of updated Tax Registration Number Form (TRN) (returning citizens)
• Letter of Employment on employer letterhead (shipments above 200 kgs)

 

Specific Information

• Customs may inspect any non-diplomatic shipments upon arrival.
• Do not send insurance or any other documents showing the true value of household goods and personal effects with the shipment to avoid the payment of heavy import duties.
• All in-bound non-diplomatic shipments are subject to the payment of Customs duties and taxes calculated based on the cost, insurance and freight value of the shipment
• Only shipments between Russia, Belorussia and Kazakhstan are duty free.
• All in-bound shipments are subject to issuance of a Declaration for each Harmonized System code (HS code); the cost of the Customs declaration(s) will be determined during the Customs clearance process.
• Customs clearance takes between 5-7 working days after permission from the National Security Committee is received.
• Shipments above 200 kgs are cleared under a cargo Customs Declaration.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• Copy of Technical Passport / Certificate of Title
• Pro-forma Invoice with vehicle details (chassis, engine number, production year, model, color and reasonable Customs value)
• OBL / AWB
• Original Customs Declaration
• Commitment Letter (for temporary importation up to 1 year)

 

Specific Information

• Right-hand vehicles cannot be imported.
• Vehicles are Customs cleared separately from the household goods and personal effects shipment.
• Diplomatic vehicles must be registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
• Vehicles are charged Customs duties, value added tax (VAT), fees, and some vehicles may be charged an excise tax.

Pets

Documents Required

• Certificate of Vaccination
• Veterinary Health Certificate
• Pet Passport
• Pro-forma Invoice with Customs value
• Copy of owner’s Passport
• Copy of owner’s Visa

 

Specific Information

• Cats, dogs and birds must be accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate.
• The Veterinary Health Certificate must be issued by the local Board of Health within 10 days of arrival.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Precious jewelry, stones, medicines, and currency can be imported only as accompanied baggage and must be declared with Customs authorities at the time of arrival.
• The following items may qualify for free import within the limits indicated:
  • Cigarettes (200), cigars (50), tobacco products (200 g)
  • Alcoholic beverages or wine (3 L)
  • Perfume (a reasonable quantity)
• Food products (compliance with veterinary and phytosanitary regulations is required)
• Live animals (a special permit is required)

Prohibited Items

• Detergent
• Stuffed animals
• Religious items
• New items
• Food items (dry, canned, spices, etc.)
• Beverages including spirits / alcohol drinks
• Medicines including medical kits
• New liquids (gel, shampoo, etc.)
• Weapons of any kind
• Pornography
• Narcotics / drugs
• Toxic and radioactive materials

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

 

 

 

Helpful Website(s):

http://www.kazconsulny.org/en/page.php?id=1a

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1150.html