Open a Travel Agency in Kazakhstan

Investors can open a travel agency in Kazakhstan by following the standard registration principles applicable to commercial companies. Along with the basic formalities, investors must take into consideration certain procedures imposed in this industry. Our consultants, who are specialized in offering professional company formation services, can assist throughout all the steps.

What types of companies should I choose for a travel agency?

When carrying out business activities in the tourism industry, it is best to select a legal entity that has its own legal personality, because this option reduces the burden of the investors in case of debt and other issues. In this sense, our consultants recommend you to select one of the following:

1. the limited liability partnership;
2. the joint stock company.

What are the main registration steps I should be aware of?

After you have decided on a legal entity suitable to your investment budget and business plans, you must start the process of company formation in Kazakhstan. This entails a set of mandatory steps, regardless of the industry in which you will operate. These are:

1. selecting a suitable trade name;
2. establishing the company’s business address;
3. drawing up and signing the company’s bylaws;
4. subscribing the minimum share capital, in accordance with the legal entity selected for incorporation;
5. submitting the paperwork with the Public Service Centers;
6. obtaining a business identification number;
7. opening a corporate bank account;
8. completing mandatory state tax registration steps;
9. paying the processing fee charged by the state authorities.

What are the capital requirements?

Local companies must have a minimum share capital if they have legal personality. In Kazakhstan, for the legal entities we have presented above, the minimum share capital for the limited liability partnership is zero for small businesses and minimum 100 Monthly Calculation Index for medium and large ones (around KZT 432,500 in 2026) or minimum 50,000 Monthly Calculation Index for the joint stock company (KZT 216 million).

Do I need to obtain a license?

No. If you will open a travel agency in Kazakhstan, please mind that you do not need to obtain any specific license issued in this industry (other tourism businesses can have this obligation, as it is the case of tour operators). The only obligation you have in this sense is to submit a notification on starting business activities with the local authorities.

Who can I hire as employees in my travel agency?

You are free to hire any individual who is suitable for carrying out activities as travel agents. There aren’t any mandatory licensing obligations for these employees.

What types of activities can a travel agency develop?

Travel agencies usually engage in activities related to the logistics of a trip of locals or foreign tourists. In this sense, the travel agency will intermediate the following activities:

1. hotel reservations;
2. transfers from one transportation means to another;
3. booking tickets;
4. assistance for foreigners (visa-related matters);
5. translation services;
6. event organization;
7. tailored assistance for specific categories of clients (for example, business-related travels).

Is there an authority supervising travel agencies in Kazakhstan?

Yes. Businesses that operate as travel agencies in this country are supervised by the Tourism Industry Committee of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, which keeps an online register established in accordance with the rules of the Law on Republic of Kazakhstan “On Tourism Activities”. Please mind that travel agents are entered in this register on the basis of the mandatory notification on starting their activity.

We invite businessmen to contact our team of specialists in company formation in Kazakhstan for further information on any other question you may have concerning the registration of a travel agency in this country.