Importer of Record in Kazakhstan

BIN requirement and legal entity

Every customs declaration filed via ASTANA-1 requires a valid BIN (Business Identification Number), the 12-digit identifier issued to all legal entities registered in Kazakhstan. Foreign companies cannot obtain a BIN without incorporating a local entity. As a result, every non-resident company shipping goods into Kazakhstan must engage a locally registered IOR. TFTIOR holds an active Kazakhstan-registered entity with a BIN, acting as the official declarant on all import entries.

ASTANA-1 customs system

ASTANA-1 is Kazakhstan's unified electronic customs information system, operated by the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of the Ministry of Finance. All customs declarations, including import, transit, and re-export filings, must be submitted electronically through ASTANA-1. The system integrates with the EAEU's common customs information space. TFTIOR is the official declarant in every ASTANA-1 submission, managing the full filing and responding to any customs authority queries through to release.

EAC certification and TR CU technical regulations

Products imported into Kazakhstan that fall within EAEU technical regulation scope require an EAC (Eurasian Conformity) certificate or declaration bearing the EAC mark. Key technical regulations (TR CU) applicable to IT and industrial imports include:

• TR CU 004/2011: Low-voltage electrical equipment safety (LV Directive equivalent)
• TR CU 020/2011: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC Directive equivalent)
• TR CU 037/2016: Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS equivalent)

Products outside EAEU TR CU scope may require a national GOST K conformity certificate issued by a Kazakhstan-accredited body. TFTIOR verifies applicable certification requirements (EAC, GOST K, or both) before the shipment leaves origin. An EAC certificate issued in Kazakhstan is valid for circulation across all EAEU member states including Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

Duties, VAT and tariff structure

Kazakhstan applies the EAEU Common External Tariff (CET). Import duty rates typically range from 0% to 20% depending on the HS code. Most IT hardware including servers, switches and routers attracts 0% under IPA commitments; consumer electronics and some industrial goods attract 5–20%. VAT is 12%, applied on the customs value plus applicable duties, and is paid to the State Revenue Committee at the point of customs clearance.

Kazakhstan has preferential duty arrangements under the EAEU's free trade agreements with Vietnam, Serbia, Iran and Singapore. For eligible goods, a Certificate of Origin in the applicable FTA format reduces or eliminates customs duty. TFTIOR prepares origin documentation where applicable.

Foreign companies cannot self-declare imports in Kazakhstan. The Importer of Record (IOR) must be a locally registered entity responsible for compliance with Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) regulations and national laws.

Without a local IOR, shipments will stall at customs. We remove this barrier by managing the entire process, including filings through the ASTANA-1 system and handling complex certifications.

Our Kazakhstan-IOR service enables international companies to import equipment legally without opening a local business presence. We act as the responsible party throughout the import process so your project can proceed without delays or administrative complications.

• Pre-Shipment Compliance: Identifying HS codes and required certifications (EAC, GOST K).
• Customs Filing: Submitting accurate declarations via ASTANA-1.
• Financial Management: Handling payment of duties and 12% VAT.
• Technical Compliance: Ensuring conformity with EAEU and national standards.
• Documentation: Aligning invoices and packing lists with local requirements.
• Final Delivery: Coordinating logistics to your site in Almaty, Astana, or beyond.

1. Preparation: We confirm HS codes and identify required certifications (EAC, GOST K).
2. Documentation: We align invoices and packing lists with ASTANA-1 requirements.
3. Filing: We submit the customs declaration and prepay duties and VAT.
4. Clearance: We manage inspections and secure official release.
5. Final Delivery: We coordinate logistics to your designated site in Kazakhstan.