How to Open an LLP in Kazakhstan in 2024

A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is a type of business activity that allows to carry out legal business operations in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. LLP is suitable for businesses of various scales, from small companies with up to 15 employees to large organizations employing up to 250 employees.

To successfully open an LLP in Almaty or other cities in Kazakhstan, you need to be aware of many nuances, which we will discuss in this article.

How to Register an LLP in Kazakhstan?

An LLP can be founded by either a single person (a Kazakhstani citizen or a foreigner with or without a residence permit but holding a business immigrant visa) or a group of individuals (including foreign citizens) united by a common business idea. The registration of an LLP involves several stages.

Preparatory Stage

The first step is to determine the legal address and choose a name for your future business. An LLP can have a legal address at the founder's place of residence or at a leased or purchased premises. It is important that the name of your business is unique and does not duplicate already registered companies. Moreover, when naming your company, you should take into account that the name must be registered in three languages: Kazakh, Russian, and English.

Next, you need to determine the types of activities your company will carry out and classify them according to the CCEA (Common Classifier of Economic Activity).

Another important step is to decide the scale of your business. You can open a small company or a large enterprise. The scale of the upcoming activities determines the size of the authorized capital. Zero tenge is the authorized capital for micro-businesses only. Founders of companies classified as medium and large businesses need to deposit at least 100 MCIs into the future company's account. In monetary terms, this equals KZT 3,692,000 in 2024.

You should also consider which tax regime to choose.

Document Preparation

At this stage, a businessman (or a group of businessmen) must address the following tasks:

1. Prepare the foundation agreement (required if there are two or more company founders).
2. Document the decision to open a partnership.
3. Approve the Charter. This document can be developed based on standard forms or individually, in which case legal assistance may be required.
4. Obtain an electronic digital signature (EDS). All company founders must have an EDS if there are several founders.

LLP Registration

An LLP can be registered in Kazakhstan in two ways – in person at the Public Service Center (PSC) or online. In the first case, the founder should visit the PSC at the place of registration with a prepared package of documents. You need to have the foundation agreement and a document certifying the Company’s address. After this, you must write an application and, if your business is classified as large one, pay the state duty.

For online registration, you will need far fewer documents – this is one of the advantages of this method. In the application window, it is enough to attach scanned documents (charter, document with founders’ sample signatures, and other documents as requested by the system). All other documents are automatically uploaded from the government databases.

Let's consider online registration in more detail.

How to Open an LLP in Kazakhstan Online?

Online registration saves time, therefore, many entrepreneurs actively use it. It is done through the e-government portal Egov.kz and includes several simple steps:

1. Log in to the portal.
2. Go to the Business section, select the Business Registration and Development tab. On the new page, click the Business Registration and Liquidation.
3. In the list of services that opens, select the State Registration of Legal Entities, Record Registration of Their Branches and Representative Offices, Taking into Account the Opening of a Bank Account and Mandatory Insurance of an Employee Against Accidents in the Performance of (Job) Duties.
4. Click the orange Order Service Online button located in the upper right part of the page.
5. Next, check the State (Record) Registration of a Legal Entity... section.
6. Enter details in the proposed form (information about founders, company location, classification by CCEA, etc.). Note that the CEO needs to enter Kazakhstani IIN.
7. At the final stage, you need to decide on the bank where you will become a corporate customer and choose a reliable insurer. Thus, you can register a company, open an account, and insure liability on one portal. Instead of three separate organizations – just a few clicks, which significantly simplifies the procedure.
8. Pay the duty (only if you are registering a large enterprise).
9. Sign the form using an EDS. If several founders are involved in creating the business, each co-founder must sign the form (through their personal account).

The registration takes no more than one day. Upon completion of the procedure, you will receive a certificate in electronic form stating that the legal entity is registered. The certificate is issued free of charge.

Opening a Bank Account for LLP

To complete the LLP registration and start commercial activities, you need to open a settlement bank account and contact an insurance company to insure your liability as an employer.

Open an account for an LLP at Bank CenterCredit

To open an account, the company founders must submit an application to the bank, providing a certificate of legal entity registration, the charter (original and copy), and have their civil passports.

For the insurance company, you need to provide the charter and the staffing table. At the insurer's office, you will need to write an application.

What Does a Foreigner Need To Register an LLP in Kazakhstan?

A foreign citizen can open an LLP in Kazakhstan by undergoing a similar registration procedure. However, the company founders should be prepared to provide additional documents. Note that documentation must be notarized and translated into Kazakh and Russian.

Additionally, you need to prepare a copy of your passport and obtain a Kazakhstani IIN at the Public Service Center or online via Egov.kz. In the second case, you will need a power of attorney for a Kazakhstani citizen who has an EDS. If a citizen of a non-CIS country is opening the LLP, such citizen will need a business immigrant visa C5. It is issued for up to 24 months.

Furthermore, if the foreigner is a citizen of a non-EAEU country and plans to manage the partnership independently, such foreigner will need a temporary residence permit (TRP). A work permit is required as well. Both documents are issued at the PSC, but you can obtain them at Egov.kz.

How to Register an LLP Online or In-Person if It Involves a Foreign Legal Entity?

In this case, you need to provide an extract from the trade register confirming that the company is registered in the applicant's home country under its legislation. Documents must be notarized in your home country, and in Kazakhstan, they should be apostilled or legalized. There is an exception only for businesses from CIS countries. It is simpler for legal entities from neighboring CIS countries to open an LLP as there is no need to obtain a visa or a work permit.

Registering an LLP is a convenient way to conduct business in Kazakhstan. This format is often chosen because it allows for the registration of a company not by one person but by several founders. Moreover, the government creates comfortable conditions for quick and easy registration of partnerships not only for its citizens but also for foreign entrepreneurs. All procedures for opening a partnership are available online, minimizing time costs.