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Gold

Kazakhstan

Checked 2026-09-22 · Version r1 · Reviewed

Public law and official guidance, published as research. Not legal, tax or financial advice.

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Industrial mining originCentral-bank buyer

Industrial gold origin whose central bank buys most domestic output. Miners hold Subsoil Code licences (mining licence up to 25 years; artisanal licences for citizens only). Law 444-V (2016) requires mined gold and raw materials (doré, cathode, zinc precipitate, concentrates) to be refined by Kazakh producers on the authorised body's list; raw material may be exported only with refusals from all listed producers and a feasibility conclusion. The NBK has the state's priority right to buy refined gold (art. 9): half-yearly forecasts and limits, market price less transport and LBMA quality adjustments, VAT 0% (Tax Code 2025 art. 472). Refined gold may be exported only with proof of NBK refusal, an export licence and a per-shipment act of state control (Order 375, in force Dec 2024). MET on gold rose from 7.5% flat to a 7.5-11% price-banded scale from 1 Jan 2026; VAT rose to 16%. Since 2025 the NBK sterilises gold purchases by selling dollars ('mirroring'). AML reporting threshold for precious metals is 50m KZT.

How sure this page is

  • Primary law 46
  • Official guidance 2
  • Standard 1
  • Secondary 7
  • Industry practice 5
  • Unverified 6
  • No confidence level recorded 9
  • Researcher's note 24
  • Blocked 9
  • Not recorded 14
  • Text 1
  • Not stated 22

Regulators

  • Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM)

    Financial intelligence unit receiving threshold and suspicious-operation reports under Law 191-IV

    No confidence level recorded
    No source recorded

  • State Revenue Committee, Ministry of Finance

    Customs clearance (EAEU Customs Code) and tax administration (MET, VAT)

    No confidence level recorded
    No source recorded

  • LBMA

    Good Delivery List (Tau-Ken Altyn and Kazzinc listed); private standard, not Kazakh law

    No confidence level recordedNot recorded

  • Local executive body of the oblast (akimat)

    Receives applications for and issues artisanal (старательство) licences under the Subsoil Code

    No confidence level recorded
    No source recorded

  • Ministry of Industry and Construction (authorised body for precious metals)

    Law 444-V authorised body: rules on import/export, list of precious-metal producers, notifications, state control acts per shipment, conclusions on economic feasibility of extraction, export licences (Order 375)

    No confidence level recordedBlockedNot recorded

  • National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NBK)

    Exercises the state's priority right to buy refined gold; sets the procedure; control testing of samples; currency control and registration of currency contracts

    No confidence level recordedNot recordedBlocked

  • Authorised body in the field of solid minerals

    Regulates and supervises operations for exploration and mining of solid minerals other than uranium (Subsoil Code, authorised body article). It is not the body that grants exploration or mining licences: that is the competent authority.

    No confidence level recorded
    No source recorded

  • Competent authority for subsoil use (компетентный орган)

    Central executive body designated by the Government; grants and terminates subsoil-use rights for exploration and mining of solid minerals, and monitors licence conditions (Subsoil Code, competent authority article)

    No confidence level recorded
    No source recorded

Laws

  • Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones'

    Refining obligation (art. 8), NBK priority right (art. 9), import/export notification and control testing (art. 7). Amended 2021 (62-VII), 2024 (71-VIII, 115-VIII) and reportedly to 12.07.2026.

    Citation
    Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 444-V of 14 January 2016
    Kind
    Act
    In force from
    2016-02-06
    Primary lawNot recordedBlocked

    Researcher's note: In-force date and 2026 amendment date from the prg.kz summarising fetch.

  • Law 191-IV 'On countering the legalisation (laundering) of proceeds of crime and financing of terrorism'

    Dealers in precious metals are subjects of financial monitoring; threshold 50m KZT for purchase/sale of precious metals.

    Citation
    Law No. 191-IV of 28 August 2009
    Kind
    Act
    Primary lawBlocked

  • EEC Board Decision No. 30 of 21.04.2015 'On non-tariff regulation measures' (export licensing of precious metals, section 2.10)

    EAEU-level basis for export licences on gold to third countries.

    Kind
    Treaty
    Unverified

    Researcher's note: Not opened in this pass; Order 375 requires an export licence but the alta.ru extract did not cite the EEC decision. Included by analogy with the Russian module.

    No source recorded

  • NBK Rules for exercising the state's priority right to purchase refined gold to replenish assets in precious metals

    Operational procedure for the priority right (art. 5(2) Law 444-V).

    Citation
    NBK resolution registered as V1600013617 (2016)
    Kind
    Regulation
    UnverifiedBlocked

    Researcher's note: Text not obtained (adilet JavaScript-only, mirrors 404/500). Existence known from search result title only; current edition unknown.

  • Rules for import from non-EAEU countries and export to them of precious metals and raw materials containing precious metals

    Export licence, state control act per shipment, NBK refusal for refined gold, refiners' refusals and feasibility conclusions for raw materials.

    Citation
    Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024 (reg. V2400035297)
    Kind
    Regulation
    In force from
    2024-12-13
    Primary lawBlockedNot recorded

    Researcher's note: In-force date: zakon.kz says 13 Dec 2024, the alta.ru summary says 14 Dec 2024.

  • Code 'On subsoil and subsoil use'

    Exploration, mining and artisanal licences for solid minerals and precious metals.

    Citation
    Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «О недрах и недропользовании» (number and date in refs)
    Kind
    Act
    Primary law

    Researcher's note: [unconfirmed] The held Subsoil Code text is the FAOLEX consolidation (Russian), older than the text in force; amendments made since then are not checked, because the official Adilet text is a wall.

  • Tax Code of 25 December 2017 No. 120-VI (previous code)

    MET on gold 7.5% flat until end-2025.

    Kind
    Act
    Repealed on
    2026-01-01
    SecondaryNot recorded

  • Tax Code 'On taxes and other obligatory payments to the budget'

    MET on gold, the VAT standard rate, and VAT «по нулевой ставке» on exports and on sales of refined gold to the NBK (articles in refs).

    Citation
    Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «О налогах и других обязательных платежах в бюджет» (number and date in refs)
    Kind
    Act
    In force from
    2026-01-01
    Primary lawBlocked

  • Law 167-VI 'On currency regulation and currency control'

    Repatriation of export proceeds; registration numbers for currency contracts.

    Citation
    Law No. 167-VI of 2 July 2018
    Kind
    Act
    Primary lawBlocked

Laws concerning gold in Kazakhstan

From the law library: the laws tagged with this commodity, with their sources. They are not research findings; the sections above are.

The library holds no laws tagged with Gold for Kazakhstan.

Procedures

Artisanal (placer) mining to a Kazakh producer

Applies when: Kazakhstan is the origin (artisanal placer gold)

Channel: artisanal

  1. Processing

    Deliver the gold to a listed precious-metal producer for processing/refining (general refining obligation)

    Who
    Artisanal miner (holder of an artisanal licence; Kazakh citizens only)
    With
    Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
    Primary lawNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 8(1)

    Researcher's note: The Subsoil Code articles read do not say to whom artisanal gold is sold; the general art. 8(1) obligation is applied. Practical channel not researched.

Domestic trade in precious metals by dealers

Applies when: Gold is traded inside Kazakhstan (dealers, jewellery)

  1. Due diligence

    Identify the customer and report purchases/sales of precious metals of 50,000,000 KZT or more (cash or non-cash) to the AFM; jewellery threshold 5,000,000 KZT; pawnshops 3,000,000 KZT

    Who
    Individual entrepreneur or company trading precious metals domestically
    Issues
    Report to the AFM on an operation subject to financial monitoring
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Law 191-IV, art. 4

Repatriation of export proceeds

Applies when: After an export of gold or raw materials

  1. Payment

    Repatriate the proceeds to a Kazakh bank account within the term of the currency contract; the bank monitors the contract

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    With
    Kazakh commercial bank servicing the currency contract
    Needs
    EAEU goods declaration for export (ДТ)
    Issues
    Receipt of export proceeds on the exporter's Kazakh bank account
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Law 167-VI, art. 9

    Researcher's note: Threshold and exact deadline rules are in NBK export-import currency control rules (not read). No mandatory sale of FX proceeds found in the law.

Export of doré, concentrate or other raw materials containing precious metals

Applies when: Kazakhstan is the origin and unrefined material leaves the country

Channel: raw-material export (exception)

  1. Licensing

    Obtain refusals to process/refine from every producer on the authorised body's list, or the authorised body's confirmation that such refusals exist

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    Issues
    Refusals of all listed precious-metal producers to process/refine the raw material (or authorised-body confirmation)
    Primary lawNot recordedBlocked

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 8(2)

  2. Licensing

    Issue the conclusion on the possibility and economic feasibility of industrial extraction of precious metals in Kazakhstan; export is allowed only if extraction is not feasible (a separate conclusion is needed for processing abroad)

    Who
    Authorised body for precious metals (Ministry of Industry and Construction)
    With
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, para. 20; Annex 1

  3. Customs

    Obtain the export licence, laboratory document and act of state control for the batch, then declare to customs as for refined gold

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    Needs
    Refusals of all listed precious-metal producers to process/refine the raw material (or authorised-body confirmation); Notification of start/cessation of activity with precious metals (import/export)
    Issues
    EAEU goods declaration for export (ДТ)
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, paras 17-21

Export of refined gold to a non-EAEU country

Applies when: Kazakhstan is the origin and refined gold is exported after NBK refusal

Channel: private export after NBK refusal

  1. Pricing

    Sign the foreign-trade contract with a specification (full assortment, quantity, mass) and issue the invoice or value-confirmation document with the precious-metal content calculation

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    With
    Foreign buyer or refiner outside the EAEU
    Issues
    Foreign-trade contract with specification (submitted for licence and state control act); Invoice or value-confirmation document
    Primary lawBlockedNot recorded

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, para. 18

  2. Licensing

    Obtain the document confirming the NBK's refusal to exercise the priority right on the refined gold

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, para. 19

  3. Assay

    Obtain a laboratory document on precious-metal content from an accredited testing laboratory

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    With
    Accredited testing laboratory
    Issues
    Accredited testing laboratory document on precious-metal content
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, para. 18

  4. Licensing

    Obtain an export licence for the foreign-trade contract from the authorised body

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    With
    Authorised body for precious metals (Ministry of Industry and Construction)
    Needs
    Notification of start/cessation of activity with precious metals (import/export); Foreign-trade contract with specification (submitted for licence and state control act)
    Primary lawBlockedNot recorded

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, paras 17-18

    Researcher's note: Issuing procedure and EAEU basis (EEC Decision 30) not read.

  5. Reporting

    Assign a registration number to the currency contract where it meets the NBK monitoring criteria

    Who
    Kazakh commercial bank servicing the currency contract
    With
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    Issues
    Registration (accounting) number of a currency contract
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Law 167-VI, arts 13-14

    Researcher's note: Threshold is set in NBK rules, not read.

  6. Inspection

    Apply through the e-government portal for the act of state control, presenting the whole batch and the licence, contract, specification, invoice, content calculation, notification, ownership documents and laboratory document

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    With
    Authorised body for precious metals (Ministry of Industry and Construction)
    Needs
    Foreign-trade contract with specification (submitted for licence and state control act); Invoice or value-confirmation document; Accredited testing laboratory document on precious-metal content; Notification of start/cessation of activity with precious metals (import/export)
    Primary lawBlockedNot recorded

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, paras 9, 18, 19, 21

  7. Assay

    Carry out control testing of samples when the content documents do not match the contract or technical documentation

    Who
    National Bank of Kazakhstan (state buyer, priority right)
    Primary lawNot recordedBlocked

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 7(1)

  8. Inspection

    Issue the act of state control for the shipment (content, source, market valuation, compliance with contract); refuse if documents incomplete or price below metal value

    Who
    Authorised body for precious metals (Ministry of Industry and Construction)
    With
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    Primary lawBlockedNot recorded

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, para. 10

  9. Customs

    Obtain a certificate of origin if the buyer or destination requires it

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    Issues
    Certificate of origin (general form) for exported goods
    Unverified

    Researcher's note: Not researched; included because hand-off checks may ask for it.

    No source recorded
  10. Customs

    Lodge the export goods declaration with the state control act and export licence; customs releases the goods

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    With
    State Revenue Committee customs post
    Issues
    EAEU goods declaration for export (ДТ)
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, para. 17

  11. Transport

    Ship the bars to the foreign buyer

    Who
    Secure carrier (cash-in-transit / valuables logistics)
    With
    Foreign buyer or refiner outside the EAEU
    Needs
    EAEU goods declaration for export (ДТ)
    Issues
    Air waybill for export shipment
    Industry practiceBlocked

    Researcher's note: Order 375 governs release; carriage arrangements are industry practice.

Import of precious metals or raw materials from a non-EAEU country

Applies when: Kazakhstan receives gold or raw material (e.g. for toll refining)

  1. Inspection

    Present the whole batch with contract and content documents for an act of state control on each import batch

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    With
    Authorised body for precious metals (Ministry of Industry and Construction)
    Needs
    Notification of start/cessation of activity with precious metals (import/export)
    Primary lawBlocked

    Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, paras 8, 21

  2. Assay

    Control-test samples if content documents do not match the contract

    Who
    National Bank of Kazakhstan (state buyer, priority right)
    Primary lawNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 7(1)

  3. Customs

    Lodge the import declaration and clear customs

    Who
    Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
    With
    State Revenue Committee customs post
    Issues
    EAEU goods declaration for import (ДТ)
    SecondaryBlocked

    Researcher's note: Import VAT treatment of gold not researched.

Industrial mine to Kazakh refinery

Applies when: Kazakhstan is the origin (industrial gold)

  1. Processing

    Contract with a producer on the authorised body's list for refining (tolling) or sale; mined gold and raw materials must go to Kazakh producers for processing/refining (nuggets not subject to refining excepted)

    Who
    Holder of a mining licence for solid minerals (industrial gold miner)
    With
    Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
    Issues
    Refining (tolling) or purchase agreement with a listed Kazakh refiner
    Primary lawNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 8(1)

  2. Reporting

    Record the transfer of ownership (or pledge) of raw materials before refining under the authorised body's rules on recording such transactions

    Who
    Holder of a mining licence for solid minerals (industrial gold miner)
    Issues
    Record of a transaction transferring ownership of (or pledging) mineral raw materials before refining
    Primary lawNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 4(10-1)

    Researcher's note: Only art. 4(10-1) delegating the rules was read; how and by whom the record is made is not confirmed.

  3. Transport

    Move doré under secure escort from the mine to the refinery

    Who
    Secure carrier (cash-in-transit / valuables logistics)
    With
    Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
    Industry practiceNot recorded
  4. Assay

    Weigh, sample and assay the incoming doré; agree the outturn

    Who
    Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
    Industry practiceNot recorded
  5. Refining

    Refine to 99.99% gold (standard 12 kg bars, 100 g-1 kg bars or granules); LBMA Good Delivery-listed refiners stamp bars of international standard

    Who
    Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
    Issues
    Refiner's quality certificate / bar list for refined gold (999.9)
    Industry practiceNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 8(1)

Sale of refined gold to the NBK under the state's priority right

Applies when: Refined gold produced from Kazakh (or processed) material; default outlet

Channel: state buyer (NBK)

  1. Reporting

    Submit forecast of refined gold output to the NBK: by 1 November for the first half of next year, by 1 May for the second half of the current year

    Who
    Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
    With
    National Bank of Kazakhstan (state buyer, priority right)
    Issues
    Half-year forecast of refined gold output submitted to NBK
    Primary lawNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 9(3)

  2. Pricing

    Set purchase limits from the forecasts and market conditions and notify producers by 1 December / 1 June

    Who
    National Bank of Kazakhstan (state buyer, priority right)
    Primary lawNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 9(4)

  3. Transport

    Offer and deliver refined gold (produced in Kazakhstan or abroad) to the NBK in priority, within the limit

    Who
    Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
    With
    National Bank of Kazakhstan (state buyer, priority right)
    Needs
    Refiner's quality certificate / bar list for refined gold (999.9)
    Primary lawNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 9(2)

    Researcher's note: Delivery place and bar form are in the NBK Rules (not obtained).

  4. Payment

    Price the gold on international market prices less transport costs and quality adjustments by LBMA standards, and pay

    Who
    National Bank of Kazakhstan (state buyer, priority right)
    With
    Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
    Issues
    NBK payment for refined gold
    Primary lawNot recorded

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 9(6)

    Researcher's note: Payment currency and timing not confirmed (NBK Rules not obtained).

  5. Licensing

    Refuse the priority right when the limit is reached or purchase is inexpedient; the refused gold may then be sold to third parties (including for export)

    Who
    National Bank of Kazakhstan (state buyer, priority right)
    Primary lawNot recordedBlocked

    Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 9(8)-(9)

Periodic tax and output reporting

Applies when: Kazakhstan is the origin

    Licences and registrations

    • LBMA Good Delivery listing

      Good Delivery List entry

      Held by
      Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
      Issued by
      LBMA
      StandardNot recorded

      Legal basis: LBMA Good Delivery List Rules

    • Contract on general terms of sale of refined gold to the NBK

      Signed contract on the general terms of sale of refined gold to the National Bank; one of the documents confirming the VAT treatment of the sale (Tax Code, refined gold article)

      Held by
      Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
      Issued by
      National Bank of Kazakhstan
      Valid for
      Term not known
      No confidence level recorded

      Legal basis: Tax Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Law on precious metals and precious stones (not held)

      No source recorded

    • Notification of start of activity in import/export of precious metals and raw materials

      Registered notification (copy attached to state-control applications)

      Held by
      Exporter of precious metals or raw materials (notified entity holding a per-contract export licence)
      Issued by
      Authorised body for precious metals (e-licensing)
      Primary lawNot recordedBlocked

      Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones'; Law 'On permits and notifications', art. 7(4)

    • Notification of start of activity in import/export of precious metals (refiner)

      Held by
      Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
      Issued by
      Authorised body for precious metals
      Primary lawNot recorded

      Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 7(4)

    • Inclusion in the list of subjects of production of precious metals

      Entry on the published list; the list defines whose refusals are needed before raw materials may be exported

      Held by
      Subject of production of precious metals on the authorised body's list (refinery)
      Issued by
      Authorised body for precious metals
      Primary lawNot recorded

      Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 4(10), art. 8(2)

    • Subject of financial monitoring: AML internal-control programme, CDD, threshold and suspicious-operation reporting

      Held by
      Individual entrepreneur or company trading precious metals domestically
      Issued by
      Agency for Financial Monitoring
      Primary lawBlocked

      Legal basis: Law 191-IV, arts 3, 4

      Researcher's note: Whether a separate AFM registration/notification is required for dealers was not confirmed.

    • Artisanal mining licence (лицензия на старательство)

      Artisanal licence: placer and technogenic deposits of precious metals and precious stones; citizens of Kazakhstan only; a single licence per person; plot «не менее пятисот квадратных метров и не более пяти гектаров»; transfer or encumbrance of the right prohibited

      Held by
      Artisanal miner (holder of an artisanal licence; Kazakh citizens only)
      Issued by
      Local executive body of the region (местный исполнительный орган области)
      Valid for
      «сроком на три года», renewable once «на три года» on the holder's application
      Primary law

      Legal basis: Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on subsoil and subsoil use (articles in refs)

      Researcher's note: [unconfirmed] The held Subsoil Code text is the FAOLEX consolidation (Russian), older than the text in force; amendments made since then are not checked, because the official Adilet text is a wall.

    • Banking licence incl. currency operations

      Held by
      Kazakh commercial bank servicing the currency contract
      Issued by
      National Bank / ARDFM
      Unverified

      Legal basis: Law on banks and banking activity

      Researcher's note: General knowledge; not researched in this pass.

      No source recorded

    • Licence for exploration of solid minerals

      Exploration licence

      Held by
      Holder of a mining licence for solid minerals (industrial gold miner)
      Issued by
      Competent authority (компетентный орган), the central executive body that grants subsoil-use rights for exploration and mining of solid minerals
      Primary law

      Legal basis: Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on subsoil and subsoil use (articles in refs)

      Researcher's note: [unconfirmed] The held Subsoil Code text is the FAOLEX consolidation (Russian), older than the text in force; amendments made since then are not checked, because the official Adilet text is a wall.

    • Licence for mining solid minerals (лицензия на добычу твердых полезных ископаемых)

      Mining licence

      Held by
      Holder of a mining licence for solid minerals (industrial gold miner)
      Issued by
      Competent authority (компетентный орган), the central executive body that grants subsoil-use rights for exploration and mining of solid minerals
      Valid for
      Not more than «двадцать пять последовательных лет»; renewable on the subsoil user's application for a period not exceeding the original term; the number of renewals is not limited; the renewal application is filed «не ранее чем за четыре года до истечения срока лицензии»
      Primary law

      Legal basis: Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on subsoil and subsoil use (articles in refs)

      Researcher's note: [unconfirmed] The held Subsoil Code text is the FAOLEX consolidation (Russian), older than the text in force; amendments made since then are not checked, because the official Adilet text is a wall.

    Taxes and fees

    • Export customs duty on gold

      Rate
      None identified
      Unverified

      Researcher's note: No export duty on gold found; the Government's list of export duty rates was not checked.

      No source recorded

    • Mineral extraction tax on gold (Tax Code 2017)

      Rate
      7.5%
      Paid by
      Subsoil user
      Collected by
      State Revenue Committee
      SecondaryNot recorded

      Legal basis: Tax Code 120-VI (2017)

    • Mineral extraction tax (НДПИ) on gold, price-banded

      Gold extracted (all forms)

      Rate
      7.5% at average price up to USD 2,800/oz; 8% to 3,000; 8.5% to 3,200; 9% to 3,400; 9.5% to 3,600; 10% to 3,800; 11% above 3,800
      Base
      Value of the taxable volume of gold for the tax period, at average LBMA AM/PM prices and the average official exchange rate
      Paid by
      Subsoil user
      Collected by
      State Revenue Committee
      Primary lawBlockedNot recorded

      Legal basis: Tax Code 214-VIII (18.07.2025), arts 780-781

    • VAT zero rate on export of goods

      Exported gold and raw materials

      Rate
      0%
      SecondaryNot recorded

      Legal basis: Tax Code 214-VIII (18.07.2025)

    • VAT zero rate on sale of refined gold to the NBK

      Refined gold from own or purchased raw material sold to the NBK to replenish its precious-metal assets

      Rate
      0%
      Paid by
      Producer or owner after processing
      Collected by
      State Revenue Committee
      Primary lawBlocked

      Legal basis: Tax Code 214-VIII (18.07.2025), art. 472

    • VAT, standard rate

      Domestic sales of gold not otherwise zero-rated or exempt

      Rate
      16% (from 1 Jan 2026)
      SecondaryNot recorded

      Legal basis: Tax Code 214-VIII (18.07.2025)

    Controls

    • Dealers in precious metals and stones are subjects of financial monitoring; purchase/sale of precious metals and stones of 50,000,000 KZT or more is reportable; jewellery 5,000,000 KZT; pawnshop operations 3,000,000 KZT. Retail jewellery purchases by individuals up to 500,000 KZT have simplified CDD.

      Kind
      Anti-money laundering
      Threshold
      50,000,000 KZT (precious metals)
      Primary lawBlocked

      Legal basis: Law 191-IV, arts 3, 4, 5

    • Export of precious metals and raw materials to non-EAEU countries needs an export licence and a per-shipment act of state control from the authorised body; refined gold also needs proof of NBK refusal.

      Kind
      Other
      Valid from
      2024-12-13
      Primary lawBlocked

      Legal basis: Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, paras 10, 17-19

    • Mined gold and raw materials (doré, cathode metal, zinc precipitate, scrap, ores and concentrates) must go to Kazakh precious-metal producers for processing/refining. Export of raw materials requires refusals from all listed producers and a conclusion that domestic extraction is not feasible.

      Kind
      Local refining requirement
      Primary lawNot recordedBlocked

      Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones'; Order of the Minister of Industry and Construction No. 375 of 29.10.2024, art. 8(1)-(2); Order 375 para. 20

    • The state has a priority right to buy refined gold for NBK assets. Producers and owners of refined gold after processing must sell refined gold, produced in Kazakhstan or abroad, to the NBK first, within half-yearly limits set from their forecasts; only gold the NBK refuses may go to third parties. In practice the NBK buys most refined output.

      Kind
      State monopoly
      Primary lawNot recorded

      Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 9

    • Individual entrepreneurs and companies must notify the authorised body before starting import/export of refined and other precious metals and raw materials (the NBK is exempt).

      Kind
      Other
      Primary lawNot recorded

      Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 7(4)

    • Cross-border carriage of cash and goods by individuals follows the EAEU Customs Code (written declaration above USD 10,000 cash equivalent).

      Kind
      Cross-border declaration
      Threshold
      USD 10,000 (cash)
      Unverified

      Researcher's note: General EAEU rule, not checked in this pass; rules on carrying gold bars by individuals not researched.

      No source recorded

    • On import from or export to non-EAEU countries, if documents on precious-metal content do not match the contract, samples are control-tested by the NBK.

      Kind
      Other
      Primary lawNot recorded

      Legal basis: Law 444-V 'On precious metals and precious stones', art. 7(1); art. 5(3)

    • Resident exporters must repatriate proceeds under export currency contracts within the contract term; contracts meeting NBK criteria receive registration numbers. No mandatory sale of FX proceeds found in the law.

      Kind
      Currency control
      Primary lawBlocked

      Legal basis: Law 167-VI, arts 9, 13-14

    Trade flows

    • NBK purchases of domestic refined gold

      Figures: About 70 t planned for 2025 (about USD 6 bn); Q1 2025 dollar sales of ~750 bn KZT mirrored Q4 2024 gold purchases

      Official guidanceNot recorded

    • Domestic refining capacity

      Figures: Tau-Ken Altyn: design capacity 25 t gold/yr (potential 70 t), 346.1 t refined 2014-2024; three refineries (Tau-Ken Altyn, Kazzinc, Kazakhmys Smelting) supply NBK, two LBMA-listed

      Industry practiceNot recorded

    • NBK gold holdings and reserves

      Figures: 372.8 t (USD 21.1 bn, 69% of reserves) in July 2022; FX reserves reported at a historic high of USD 45.8 bn at end-2024

      SecondaryNot recorded

      Researcher's note: 2026 tonnage not obtained.

    Where practice departs from the law

    What credible sources show happening that the law does not provide for.

    • Since 2025 the NBK offsets the tenge issued for gold purchases by selling equal amounts of US dollars on the domestic market (the 'mirroring mechanism'). This changes the macro effect of the purchases, not the legal duty of producers to offer gold.

      Official guidanceNot recorded

    • By law the NBK holds a priority right, not a monopoly: gold it refuses may be sold to anyone and exported. In practice nearly all refined output is sold to the NBK, so private export of refined gold is rare and the lawful export route for Kazakh gold is mainly the NBK's own reserve management.

      SecondaryNot recorded

      Researcher's note: Share of output bought by NBK not quantified from a primary source.

    What we could not obtain

    Documents the research needed and could not get, where they might be, and why.

    • To whom artisanal miners lawfully sell gold (and the artisanal licence issuer and term) not confirmed

      Affects
      kz.st-09kz.cr-artisanal-licence

    • Domestic cash-payment limits between businesses (Law on payments) and cross-border carriage of gold by individuals not checked

      Affects
      kz.ctl-cash-declaration

    • Certificate of origin issuer and use for gold not researched

      Affects
      kz.st-25

    • Basis and procedure of the export licence (EEC Decision 30, Kazakh licensing rules, issuing committee, validity)

      Missing document
      EEC Board Decision No. 30 of 21.04.2015 section 2.10; Kazakh licensing rules
      Where it might be
      eaeunion.org; elicense.kz
      Why not obtained
      Search budget exhausted
      Affects
      kz.st-20kz.law-eaeu-30

    • Whether any export customs duty applies to gold

      Missing document
      Government resolution on export customs duty rates
      Affects
      kz.tax-export-duty

    • NBK Rules on the priority right (price formula detail, currency, delivery place, bar standard, forms) not read

      Missing document
      NBK resolution registered V1600013617 (current edition)
      Where it might be
      https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/V1600013617
      Why not obtained
      adilet renders only with JavaScript; mirror sites returned 404/500
      Affects
      kz.st-13kz.st-15kz.law-nbk-rules

    • Re-export and sanctions-evasion concerns (Russian-origin gold transiting Kazakhstan, EU/UK/US scrutiny) not documented from any source

      Why not obtained
      No source located within the 5-search budget
      Affects
      kz.ctl-export-licence

    • 2025 amendments to the Subsoil Code (Law Z2500000249 and Law 180 of 09.04.2025) not read

      Where it might be
      https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z2500000249
      Why not obtained
      adilet JavaScript-only; mirror 404

    Routes through Kazakhstan

    Country pairs

    Sources

    Every source this country's research cites, with how much of it was read and how.