Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC): a Special Jurisdiction for International Business in Central Asia

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is a special legal and regulatory jurisdiction established in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan to stimulate investment activity, develop financial technologies, and strengthen the country’s status as a regional hub in the fields of finance and law. The AIFC officially commenced its operations in 2018 and functions on the model of leading international centres such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Singapore International Financial Centre (IFSC).

Key advantages for AIFC participants
The AIFC offers unique conditions for doing business, including:

• full exemption from taxation of corporate income, dividends and capital gains until 1 January 2066;
  
  
• a simple and remote procedure for registering a legal entity, including online submission of documents;
  
  
• a simplified visa and migration regime enabling the prompt issuance of residence and work permits;
  
  
• a liberal currency regime, providing for the absence of restrictions on foreign exchange transactions within the AIFC jurisdiction;
  
  
• access to an independent justice system, including the International Arbitration Centre (IAC) and the AIFC Court, operating under the norms of English common law with the participation of international judges and arbitrators.
  
  

Who is the AIFC intended for?
The AIFC is oriented towards a broad range of international and regional business participants, including:

• foreign investors interested in a secure and transparent platform for capital placement;
  
  
• financial technology companies and start-ups operating in the fields of digital payments, blockchain solutions, electronic platforms and innovative finance;
  
  
• legal, consulting, trust and investment organisations, including banks, insurance and audit companies;
  
  
• IT companies seeking to conduct their activities in a legal environment based on international standards and the Anglo-Saxon legal system.
  
  

Jurisdictional and legal features
The AIFC represents an “island of international law” within the territory of Kazakhstan. Within the Centre, its own legal system operates, based on the principles and norms of English common law, which makes the jurisdiction attractive for foreign companies that do not have prior experience working with Kazakhstan’s national legislation.

The advantages include:

• the possibility of establishing companies with full foreign participation;
  
  
• attracting foreign specialists with a simplified migration procedure;
  
  
• participation in special programmes such as Fintech Lab (a regulatory sandbox for fintech experiments) and Green Finance (support for sustainable financing).
  
  

Conclusion
The AIFC offers a legally protected, flexible and competitive platform for implementing international projects and expanding business into the markets of Central Asia and the CIS. For foreign entrepreneurs and investors, participation in the AIFC jurisdiction can become an effective tool for strategic expansion and for reducing administrative and tax barriers.