Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development has announced the issuance of the first visa under the Digital Nomad Visa program — the recipient is Abdelmadjid Belmekki, an IT specialist from Algeria,  El.kz reports citing the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry (MDDIAI).

According to Belmekki, he chose Kazakhstan over several other countries — including Singapore, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan — due to the simplicity of the process, affordable cost ($300), and the absence of a minimum income requirement. He rated the program “10 out of 10” and expressed his intention to actively contribute to the country’s digital development.

“I’m impressed by the Digital Nomad Visa program and grateful for the opportunity to be part of Kazakhstan’s innovative ecosystem,” the specialist said.

The program was launched following the directive of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and consists of two pathways:

• Digital Nomad Visa — for citizens of countries requiring a visa to enter Kazakhstan;

• Digital Nomad Residency — for citizens of visa-free countries, allowing them to obtain a residence permit.

To date, over 150 applications have been received from the USA, Canada, Turkey, Algeria, and CIS countries. Most candidates work in programming, automation, and cybersecurity.

To ensure the successful launch of the program, an acceleration group was formed with the participation of government agencies. Despite the complexity of migration procedures, Kazakhstan has introduced a transparent and fast visa process for IT specialists.