How Kazakhstan becomes a digital state

20 ago, Kazakhstanis obtained official certificates by visiting government offices. Today, they can execute a power of attorney via video call, prohibit loans from being issued in their name, and present their identity documents on a smartphone. El.kz reports on how public services have evolved and what unexpected capabilities e-government has introduced.

In April 2026, Kazakhstan’s eGov portal marked its 20th anniversary. Over this period, the country has moved from paper-based apps and queues to electronic documents, proactive public services, and digital notarial services. Some capabilities that are commonplace today seemed technically complex only a few years ago, such as processing documents online without visiting a government office.

When public services were to be delivered through internet cafés

In 2004, the Government of Kazakhstan approved a programme to establish e-government. At the time, internet access was limited, so the developers envisaged an unconventional approach to public service delivery by today’s standards: services would be accessible through schools, libraries, post offices, and internet cafés.

By the end of 2007, at least 50 public access points for e-government services were planned. Some were expected to provide services free of charge or at preferential rates.

Even at that stage, the authorities intended to move tax returns, residential registration, and submissions to government bodies to an electronic format. For businesses, the plans included remote company registration and participation in public procurement.

How public service centres and the eGov portal emerged

Before large-scale digitalisation, processing documents often required visits to several government offices. Agencies maintained their own databases and paper archives, while citizens had to collect the required certificates themselves.

In 2005, the Government began establishing Public Service Centres based on the “one-stop shop” principle. Applicants could submit documents through a single service point rather than approaching each government agency individually.

On April,12 2006, the eGov.kz portal became operational. Initially, it primarily provided reference information, including government office addresses, document application procedures, application requirements, and information on state fees.

The first electronic services were introduced as government agencies connected their information systems to the portal. In 2010, users gained the ability to pay certain taxes, state fees, and traffic fines online.

Why E-Government would not have worked without the IIN

In the early stages of digitalisation, personal information was stored across different government agencies using multiple identifiers. These included the taxpayer registration number and the individual social code.

A single citizen identifier was needed to integrate information systems. This role was assumed by the Individual Identification Number (IIN), which is used to match records across government registers.

In practice, this enabled data exchange between government agencies. For example, when a person applies for an electronic public service, the system can verify the applicant’s information against a government register, provided that such verification is legally authorised.

How Kazakhstan Phased Out the Address Certificate

One of the most illustrative examples of digitalisation concerns a document that was once routinely required when applying for various services.

On November, 1, 2019, Kazakhstan abolished the public service for issuing address certificates. Government bodies and organisations were instructed to stop requiring citizens to provide this document.

Registration information is now available to users through their personal accounts on eGov. Organisations that require the relevant information can obtain it through designated electronic channels, subject to personal data protection requirements.

However, the change in Kazakhstan’s procedures has created difficulties when dealing with certain foreign services. In October 2026, a Reddit user reported that Google Play Console had rejected screenshots from eGov submitted to verify their address. Other participants in the discussion recommended using a utility bill instead. The incident was reported by the user and has not been independently verified, but it illustrates a specific difficulty that can arise when verifying address information on foreign platforms.

A Missing Record Prevented Access to a Service

When using electronic documents, even a technical detail such as the Address Registration Code (ARC) can be significant. The code is used to identify address objects in government information systems.

The Migration Service Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs cited a case involving a citizen whose registered address did not appear on eGov. An investigation revealed that the person’s record lacked an ARC. Once the record had been corrected, the registration information became available.

Such cases require the underlying information to be corrected in the source register. Resubmitting an application through the portal does not, in itself, resolve an error in the original data.

When the National Identity Card Moved to the Smartphone

In 2012, Kazakhstan launched the mGov application. Users could obtain certain certificates, check property information, and pay fines and taxes through the app. The service gradually expanded and was renamed eGov Mobile in 2019.

A “Digital Documents” section was subsequently introduced in the application. It provides electronic versions of identity cards, driving licences, birth certificates, and other documents. These can be presented in circumstances permitted by law, using QR-code-based verification.

According to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, eGov Mobile had more than 13.2 million users as of October 2026. The application offered over 1,100 services and functionalities.

How to Execute a Power of Attorney from Home

In April 2023, Kazakhstan launched a pilot digital notary project. Citizens gained the ability to execute certain types of notarised powers of attorney remotely through eGov Mobile.

The procedure involves submitting an application, identity verification, and a video call with a notary. Once notarised, the document becomes available in the Digital Documents section. It can be presented to organisations that support the corresponding verification method.

However, not all powers of attorney can be executed remotely. In particular, powers of attorney relating to the disposal of property are excluded.

Kazakhstanis Can Prohibit Loans from Being Issued in Their Name

eGov provides access to a voluntary opt-out service for bank loans and microloans, known as “Stop Credit”. It was developed as an additional tool to protect citizens against credit fraud.

Once the opt-out has been registered, the information is transmitted to credit bureaus. Banks and microfinance organisations receive information about the restriction when assessing a prospective borrower. The restriction can subsequently be lifted.

According to the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, the service had been used 6.3 million times by June 2026. However, the mechanism does not cover pawnshops or organisations that do not use credit bureau information.

Organ Donation Decisions Can Be Registered Through eGov

Among the less widely known public services is the option to register, during one’s lifetime, consent to or refusal of posthumous organ and tissue donation.

Any legally competent adult citizen may submit the relevant declaration through e-government. Those who consent may specify particular organs and tissues. The decision can be amended at a later date.

According to the Ministry of Healthcare, 184,191 declarations concerning posthumous organ donation had been registered through eGov by September 2026. Of these, 17,158 people had expressed consent.

The electronic record documents the citizen’s decision. The actual performance of a transplant remains subject to separate medical and legal requirements.

How Certificates Began Arriving After a Single SMS

One of the changes concerns the registration of a child’s birth. Once the necessary information has been transmitted by the healthcare organisation, parents may receive a text message from the short code 1414.

The service offers a proactive birth registration process. Parents confirm their consent and provide any missing information by SMS. Through linked services, they can also submit applications for the relevant benefits.

This process is available when the prescribed conditions are met, including registration of the mobile number in the Mobile Citizens Database. If the procedure cannot be completed automatically, other established application channels remain available.

What Foreign Users’ Experiences Reveal

Electronic public services are not available to all categories of users on identical terms. This is also evident from discussions involving foreign nationals who need Kazakhstani documents.

In November 2025, a Reddit user reported being unable to register on eGov despite having an IIN and a linked telephone number. Other participants said they had obtained an electronic digital signature through a Public Service Centre. The cause of the original user’s problem cannot be established from the post.

In February 2026, another user sought a way to obtain a Kazakhstani certificate of no criminal record while abroad. The user later reported having resolved the matter through the Consulate of Kazakhstan. This is an individual case and does not support general conclusions about the performance of the e-government system as a whole.

What Has Changed in Twenty Years?

According to official figures, more than 15 million users had registered on eGov.kz by April 2026. Since the portal was launched, it had delivered more than 508 million public services.

Another measure of progress is the number of documents that are no longer required. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kazakhstan used to issue up to 10 million address certificates annually before the service was abolished. Following the change, government bodies began obtaining registration information directly from information systems.

Property owners can now check information about citizens registered at their address through their eGov personal account. If necessary, the information can be downloaded. Previously, citizens had to request the relevant information through a Public Service Centre or via a separate service on the portal.

Kazakhstan continues to develop digital public services, including artificial intelligence tools for searching for and explaining government services. However, the most significant changes are already evident in specific procedures: address certificates have been abolished, certain notarial acts can be completed via video call, and birth registration can be initiated through SMS.