IIN, BIN and EDS are three different instruments, but foreign clients often mix them together. In practice, this confusion is one of the reasons projects slow down. A client may think that “a number” has already been obtained, but then it turns out that an IIN is for an individual, a BIN is for a legal entity, and an EDS is needed for signing and working with state portals.
For a foreign business, it is important to understand not only what these abbreviations mean, but also the order in which they are used. In some cases, the IIN is the first step after arrival in Kazakhstan. Without it, the project cannot move further. A BIN for a foreign company is not always needed. An EDS cannot be obtained remotely by a foreign individual. Since 2026, foreign citizens can no longer obtain an IIN or EDS through Kazakh embassies or consulates abroad.
1. What an IIN is and who needs it
An individual identification number (IIN) is issued to a physical person. A foreign citizen may need it in several situations: to become a participant in a Kazakh limited liability partnership, known locally as a TOO and usually translated as an LLP, to be appointed as director, to open a bank card, to be employed, to participate in corporate procedures and to access certain state and banking services.
If a foreign citizen plans to become a participant of an LLP or to act as its director, the IIN must be obtained before registration or before the relevant corporate action. It is not possible to properly register a foreign individual’s participation in an LLP without an IIN.
2. How to obtain an IIN in 2026
A foreign citizen must come to Kazakhstan in person. Entry into Kazakhstan must be made using the national passport. Before arrival, it is advisable to prepare a notarized translation of the passport into Kazakh and Russian, if it is required for the procedure. This saves time because, after arrival, the client can go directly to the relevant state authority.
Since 2026, the issuance of IINs to foreign citizens through Kazakh embassies and consulates abroad has been suspended. A pilot mechanism previously allowed IINs to be obtained through diplomatic missions, but that route is no longer available. Today, a foreign citizen should plan a personal visit to Kazakhstan.
3. What a BIN is and when a foreign company needs it
A business identification number (BIN) is issued to a legal entity. The important point is this: if a foreign company becomes a participant of a Kazakh LLP as the founder, it usually does not need to obtain a Kazakh BIN for the foreign company itself. For the registration of the LLP, the foreign company’s corporate documents are used.
A BIN for a foreign company is needed in other situations. For example, it may be required if the foreign company wants to open a bank account in Kazakhstan directly, without creating an LLP, branch or representative office. A BIN may also be needed for work with Kazakh partners, participation in public or commercial tenders, and certain contractual or banking procedures.
4. Can a foreign company obtain a BIN remotely
Yes. A BIN for a foreign company can be obtained through a power of attorney. For this purpose, the corporate documents of the foreign company, a power of attorney, translations, and apostille or legalization are prepared, depending on the country of origin. Representatives of the foreign company do not have to come to Kazakhstan if the documents are prepared correctly.
However, it is important to understand that obtaining a BIN does not mean automatic opening of a bank account. The bank will conduct its own compliance review and may request additional documents on the ownership structure, beneficial owners, business activity and planned operations.
5. What an EDS is and why it is needed
An electronic digital signature (EDS) is needed for state portals, applications, tax and statistical reporting, official electronic correspondence and signing electronic documents. In some banks, an EDS may also be used for actions in online banking, including signing payments.
If the director is a foreign citizen, obtaining an EDS should be planned during the visit to Kazakhstan. Without an EDS, further work with state systems will be inconvenient or impossible.
6. Can an EDS be obtained remotely
For a foreign citizen, no. Personal presence in Kazakhstan is required. Therefore, the IIN and EDS should be planned as one block. First, the IIN is obtained. Then the application and documents for the EDS are prepared and submitted.
If the client comes to Kazakhstan for a short period, the route should be planned in advance: notarized passport translation, IIN, SIM-card, EDS, bank, powers of attorney and registration actions. This allows several key steps to be completed during one visit.
7. The Kazakh phone number as part of the digital system
The IIN and EDS do not work in isolation from the phone. A Kazakh phone number is often needed for SMS codes, banking applications, state services and access recovery. For this reason, the number should not be treated as a temporary detail. It is part of the client’s digital infrastructure.
We usually recommend a regular SIM-card and a separate device for incoming SMS messages. This is a practical recommendation: if an eSIM is tied to one phone, it is harder to transfer it abroad if the device is lost or damaged.
8. Common client mistakes
The first mistake is to think that an IIN can be obtained remotely. Since 2026, there is no legal route for a foreign citizen to obtain an IIN other than personal presence in Kazakhstan. Services that offer remote IIN issuance for foreigners should be treated with caution. Such actions may be unlawful, and IINs obtained through improper procedures may later be cancelled.
The second mistake is to obtain a BIN for the foreign company “just in case”. If the foreign company simply becomes a participant of a Kazakh LLP, a BIN for the foreign company is usually not needed. It should be obtained when there is a specific reason: a bank account, a tender or another separate procedure.
The third mistake is to plan the IIN and EDS through an embassy. In 2026, that route does not work for foreign citizens.
The fourth mistake is not preserving access to the Kazakh phone number. Later, the client cannot log in to the bank, receive SMS codes or confirm actions.
9. How Qozhan Consulting helps
We determine what the client actually needs: IIN, BIN, EDS or all of them. We prepare documents, translations, powers of attorney and applications, accompany the client before state authorities and build the sequence of actions so that the client does not complete unnecessary procedures.
Conclusion
IIN, BIN and EDS each have their own purpose and their own procedure. The correct sequence saves time: first the structure is checked, then the IIN and EDS are obtained, the BIN for the foreign company is arranged only if needed, and only then the bank and further procedures are handled.