Let's go through the current rules for 2026: at what amounts documents are required, which ones exactly, and what's changing in these requirements.

Current NBK rules (in effect for 2026)

All exchange operations in Kazakhstan are governed by Resolution No. 49 of the National Bank of Kazakhstan's Board, dated April 4, 2019, "On approving the Rules for conducting exchange operations with foreign cash currency in Kazakhstan," with subsequent amendments.

Under the current rules for 2026:

For exchanges of up to 500,000 tenge equivalent (both buying and selling currency):

• What goes in the register: the client's full name and IIN (Individual Identification Number, if available).
• An ID document may be requested for verifying details, but formally its presentation is not mandatory for all transactions.

For exchanges above 500,000 tenge equivalent:

• Mandatory: an ID document (Kazakhstan passport, ID card, or foreigner's certificate).
• What goes in the register: full name, IIN, document details (type, date of issue, number, validity period), and legal address.

In other words, the mandatory ID-identification threshold is 500,000 tenge equivalent.

What that is in different currencies

To make it concrete, here's 500,000 tenge converted into the main currencies (at the May 2026 rate):

• USD: roughly USD 1,080–1,100
• EUR: roughly EUR 970–990
• RUB: roughly RUB 260,000–270,000
• CNY: roughly CNY 7,300–7,400
• GBP: roughly GBP 820–840

Meaning that for any amount from USD 1,100, EUR 1,000, RUB 270,000, CNY 7,400 and up, you need an ID with you.

Which documents work

For Kazakhstan citizens:

• ID card
• Kazakhstan passport (for travel abroad)
• Birth certificate (for those under 16 — in theory; in practice the exchange for children is done by parents)
• Military ID (accepted in some cases)

For foreign citizens:

• Foreign passport from the country of citizenship
• Kazakhstan residence permit (if issued)
• Refugee certificate

What does NOT work:

• Driver's license
• Student ID
• Pensioner's certificate

The document must be valid — with a current expiration date.

IIN — what it's for

The Individual Identification Number (IIN) is Kazakhstan's equivalent of a tax ID. Every Kazakhstan resident has an IIN.

When exchanging currency, the IIN is always requested (even for small amounts). It's part of the client identification procedure under anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing (AML/CTF) legislation.

For foreigners: if you don't have an IIN, most major banks will still complete the operation against your foreign passport. Small exchange offices may ask you to "register" — in practice, that's just entering your passport number into the register.

Don't share your IIN with third parties — it's personal data.

What gets recorded in the transaction register

For exchanges above 500,000 tenge, the register captures:

• Full name
• IIN (for Kazakhstan residents)
• Type of document (for example, "Kazakhstan ID")
• Document series and number
• Date of issue and validity period
• Legal address (registered address)
• Operation amount in foreign currency and tenge
• Exchange rate
• Date and time of the operation

This information is kept at the exchange office and may be requested by the NBK or financial monitoring authorities if needed.

When you may be asked for ID even on a small amount

On amounts below 500,000 tenge, a bank or exchange office may, in theory, ask for an ID in several cases:

• If there's suspicion the client is trying to break a large operation into several smaller ones (structuring).
• If during the day the client has already made several operations at this exchange office.
• Under the bank's internal rules (some major banks always require ID to register the client in their system).

In these cases the teller has the right to request the document. Refusing to present it is grounds for refusing the operation.

What's changing in the rules

In 2025 the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARFR) proposed lowering the mandatory identification threshold from 500,000 to 200,000 tenge. The goal is to step up the fight against money laundering.

As of May 2026, this proposal hadn't been implemented — the previous 500,000 tenge threshold still applies. But the rules may change in the future. If you're planning large operations, track updates on the official NBK site.

Pre-exchange checklist

• you know what amount you want to exchange
• if the amount is USD 1,000+ / EUR 1,000+ / RUB 270,000+ / CNY 7,400+ — you've grabbed an ID
• you've checked the ID's expiration date (it must be current)
• you know your IIN (you'll need it either way)
• if you regularly exchange large amounts — it makes sense to keep a standard document set on hand

Notes for non-residents

Foreign citizens can exchange currency in Kazakhstan on the same terms as Kazakhstan citizens. There are no amount limits specific to foreigners.

What you need:

• Foreign passport from your country of citizenship
• For amounts above 500,000 tenge — the same requirements as for residents (document + address in your country of residence)

An IIN is not required in this case, but can be entered if the foreigner has one.

Anonymous exchange — no such thing

In Kazakhstan, anonymous currency exchange does not exist. Even for operations under 500,000 tenge, the full name and IIN are recorded. This is part of the anti-money-laundering requirements that apply across the EAEU and most countries in the world.

If someone offers "exchange without documents," that's most likely an illegal operation.

Common mistakes

Going to the bank without an ID, planning to exchange USD 2,000. That's already above the threshold — without an ID they won't process it.

Bringing an expired document. The ID must be valid. With an expired one, they may refuse.

Not knowing your IIN. Saves time at the bank if you have your IIN ready.

Trying to "split" a large amount into parts. If you make several 400,000 tenge operations at the same exchange office, the teller sees the daily total and may require ID. Formally, this also counts as structuring, which falls under monitoring.

Handing your ID to a third party for exchange. Legally, you must be present in person for the operation. A power of attorney doesn't work at the exchange till.

Frequently asked questions

At what amount do I need a passport for currency exchange in Kazakhstan? At amounts above 500,000 tenge equivalent (about USD 1,100, EUR 990, RUB 270,000).

Can I exchange currency without an ID? Up to 500,000 tenge equivalent — formally, a document isn't mandatory. The IIN and full name are requested in any case.

Which documents are accepted for exchange? Kazakhstan ID, ID card, Kazakhstan passport (for travel), and foreign passport for foreigners. Driver's licenses are not accepted.

Do I need an IIN? Yes, the IIN is requested almost always. For foreigners, it's not mandatory, but desirable if you have one.

Can I exchange currency by power of attorney? No. The operation requires the client's personal presence.

What gets recorded in the register? Full name, IIN, document details (for amounts above 500,000 tenge), amount, rate, date.

Can a bank refuse to exchange because I don't have a document? If the amount is above 500,000 tenge — yes, mandatory. If the amount is smaller — the bank may ask for a document under its internal rules.

The bottom line

Remember one number: 500,000 tenge equivalent. That's the mandatory ID-identification threshold in Kazakhstan.

• Up to 500,000 tenge — full name + IIN (a document may be asked for, but isn't mandatory).
• Above 500,000 tenge — ID document + IIN + address required.

Bring your ID with you any time you're exchanging from USD 1,000 or equivalent. It'll save you time and nerves.

And remember: the rules may change. If the ARFR's proposal to lower the threshold to 200,000 tenge goes through, the limit will drop. Before large operations, it's worth checking the current rules on the NBK site.