Kazakhstan: lending & credit regulation

Regulated

Lending regulated by CBA; AIFC offers common law alternative for fintech

Lead regulator: Central Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan (CBA)
Also involved: AIFC Authority (for AIFC-licensed entities) · Financial Monitoring Committee (AML/CFT)
Core law: Law on Banks and Banking Activities (2014)
Entry capital: KZT 10 billion (Commercial Bank)
Approval timeline: 6-12 months for banking license; 3-6 months for microfinance
Customer assets: Segregated accounts required for microfinance; banking rules for banks
Data protection: Law on Personal Data and Its Protection (2013)
Sandbox: Yes - CBA Regulatory Sandbox

Traditional lending is strictly regulated by the CBA under the Law on Banks and Banking Activities. Microfinance is a distinct licensed activity with lower capital requirements. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) provides a separate common-law regime for financial services, including lending, governed by the AIFC Law and specific prudential guidelines.

Which licence do you need?

Your activity	Requirement	Capital	Timeline	Authority
Consumer lending	LicenceBanking License or Microfinance License^[1] Banks dominate; microfinance firms have lower capital but stricter interest caps	KZT 10 billion (Bank); KZT 500 million (Microfinance)	6-12 months	CBA
SME / commercial lending	LicenceBanking License Commercial banks are the primary SME lenders; no specific SME-only license	KZT 10 billion	6-12 months	CBA
Microfinance	LicenceMicrofinance Organization License Distinct from banks; subject to specific microfinance regulations	KZT 500 million	3-6 months	CBA
Buy-now-pay-later	LicenceBanking License or Microfinance License BNPL is treated as consumer credit; requires existing lending license	KZT 10 billion (Bank); KZT 500 million (Microfinance)	6-12 months	CBA
P2P lending platform	LicenceBanking License or Microfinance Licenseverify with regulator No specific P2P license; platforms must operate under existing lending licenses	KZT 10 billion (Bank); KZT 500 million (Microfinance)	6-12 months	CBA
Credit bureau / scoring	RegistrationCredit Bureau Registration Credit bureaus must be registered with the CBA	—	—	CBA
Debt collection	LicenceCollection Agency License Collection agencies require specific licensing under CBA regulations	—	—	CBA

New — what changed recently

2021-01-01AIFC Law Amendments — Enhanced regulatory framework for financial services within the AIFC, aligning with international standards^[1]
2020-06-01CBA Microfinance Regulations — Updated capital and operational requirements for microfinance organizations

Market-entry checklist

1Secure CBA Banking LicenseMeet KZT 10 billion capital requirement and submit comprehensive business plan
2Register as Microfinance OrgIf targeting smaller loans, apply for microfinance license with KZT 500m capital
3Establish AIFC EntityConsider AIFC for common-law benefits and streamlined fintech licensing
4Implement AML/CFT SystemsRegister with Financial Monitoring Committee and deploy robust compliance tools
5Register Credit BureauIf offering scoring, register with CBA as a credit bureau entity

Sources

AIFC Banking Prudential Guideline · 2020-01-27

This guide is compiled automatically from 1 primary-source documents published by Kazakhstan's regulators, reviewed by RegAlert, and refreshed monthly (last updated 2026-07-12). It is not legal advice — always confirm requirements with the regulator or local counsel before acting.