Can foreigners drive in Kazakhstan?

Yes, foreigners can indeed drive rented vehicle from a car rental in the country using an International Driving Permit (IDP). An IDP is a document, as agreed by the Geneva convention on road traffic, that allows foreign visitors to drive within the country. It acts as a document that supports your valid driver’s license and translates it into 12 of the most widely used languages in the world.

These are the following countries in which our IDP is recognized, including 165+ countries:

• South Korea
• Spain
• Italy
• Ecuador
• Congo
• Pakistan
• Kuwait
• Netherland
• Moldova
• South Africa
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Indonesia
• Croatia
• Canada
• Brazil
• Belarus
• Latvia
• Chile
• Uruguay
• Lithuania
• Russia
• Laos
• Costa Rica
• Cambodia
• Switzerland
• Finland
• Bahrain
• Japan
• Thailand
• Egypt
• Cuba
• Uzbekistan
• Saudi Arabia
• Liechtenstein
• Brunei
• Turkmenistan
• Iceland
• Guyana
• Cyprus
• Macedonia
• Cote D’ivoire
• Bulgaria
• Zimbabwe
• Romania

What is the validity of international driving permit in Kazakhstan?

The validity period of an International Driving Permit (IDP) in Kazakhstan is from 1 -3 years. If you’re looking into driving longer within Kazakhstan, then you can choose to drive for three years within the country.

What are the requirements for international driver's license in Kazakhstan?

There is no such thing as an international driving license. What exists, however, is an International Driving Permit as mentioned above. These are the only requirements being sought for those who intend to get their IDPs:

• Valid driving license
• Passport-size photo
• Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, credit card

Kazakhstan is a large country with a wide land area, primarily with vast steppes without trees. It is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest country in the world in terms of land area. As a former Soviet republic, the primary language is Russian, which is why the traffic police require an International Driving Permit in Kazakhstan, so your information is easily readable for them.

First President's Park

Almaty in the day during pleasant weather is a wonder to behold. It is a complete city but usually not as hectic as other cities. The First President’s Park is a good starting point to get a feel of the city. They have concerts at the amphitheater and other entertainment programs.

The Beatles’ Monument

This is a must for all music lovers. A bronze statue of the Fab Four in Kok-tobe Hill will bring back all the moptop memories of any Beatles fan. John Lennon plays guitar on a bench while Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr surround them. This was only built in 2007 but has already been recognized around them.

Medeu Skating Rink

From the Kok-tobe Hill, a short drive through Gornaya street takes you to the valley of Medeo. The main attraction of Medeo is the world’s largest speed skating rink. This is where ice skaters can live out their “frozen” dreams and skate the day away until the night comes in. It is also a fitness challenge as you need to climb 842 steps to get there, located 5,500 feet above sea level.

Zelenyy Bazar

Before you plan your trip to Kazakhstan, shopping is always on the cards.

The place is not just for tourists as it also contains wet market fare like meats, fruits, vegetables, and any spice that you may need. You can also buy clothes and fabrics, which are also must-haves for tourists visiting Central Asia.

Chukotka

Right at the marketplace, Chukotka is the perfect nighttime party place in Kazakhstan, This is where the hip crowd like artists and creatives, young professionals, and the LGBT hang out. They have bars, music lounges, and even cafés that serve any kind of beverage with live bands, performers, musicians, and DJs serving up the music. Don’t sleep on Chukotka as a party place.

National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

You can take a crash course on Kazakhstan's heritage, from the prehistoric to the contemporary, in the National Museum. Artifacts and artwork are all housed in a building complex area of 74,000 square meters. This is the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The immense structure is sparkling new for museum standards built in 2014, boasting 14,000 square meters of exhibit space. Your international driver’s permit in Kazakhstan won’t need an update, but your camera storage may be full when you finish.

Bayterek Tower

You can’t miss the Bayterek Tower as it is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Central Asia, not to mention it is also a spectacular site itself. Drive in Nur-sultan with your local driver license and International Driver License in Kazakhstan, and you can spot several villages in Nur-sultan in this 105-meter tower.

Bayterek is a memorable monument where you can get a 360-degree view of Astana and its neighboring regions. The tower was inspired by a Kazakh legend about the tree of life and a mythical bird of happiness named Samruk. The bird had laid its egg between branches of a poplar tree.

Kazakhstan, while sharing similarities with global driving norms, possesses its own unique set of Kazakhstan driving rules due to its distinctive geographical and cultural context. Driving on the right side of the road is prevalent, so those hailing from the US and western countries may find this aspect familiar. However, the expansive steppes of Kazakhstan heavily influence its driving rules, resulting in a unique driving experience. Kazakhstan's legislators have carefully tailored these driving rules, considering the specific needs of both local and foreign motorists, thereby ensuring a comprehensive understanding of Kazakhstan driving rules is essential for road safety.

Zero Alcohol Tolerance

Perhaps the most unique driving rule of Kazakhstan, although it applies to many other Islamic States, is that they have zero tolerance for drunk driving. You might be accustomed to being able to drink and drive, as long as you keep it to a tolerable level (one for the road) to pass the breathalyzer test. In Kazakhstan, they will not allow you to have even a whiff of alcohol when you drive. “Drunk driving” does not necessarily mean you are drunk or tipsy--it simply means that you consumed alcohol of any amount.