Alcohol regulations in Kazakhstan

Licences needed

License for the production of alcoholic products (or license for the production of ethyl alcohol).

Authority

State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan (via elicense.kz / egov.kz).

Documents

Application; proof of payment of state license fee; production passport approved by the manufacturer; production capacity calculations with equipment passports; fixed asset accounting records proving ownership of production equipment; qualification forms confirming premises and technical standards; sanitary-epidemiological conclusion (SES).

Fees

3,000 MCI (Monthly Calculation Indicators) for alcoholic beverages other than beer.

Time to obtain

15 business days statutory review time via elicense.kz.

Who can import

Kazakhstani legal entities holding a state license for the storage and wholesale of alcoholic products (or licensed domestic manufacturers importing bulk spirits for processing).

Licences or registrations

License for storage and wholesale of alcoholic products, registration as an excisable goods importer with the tax authorities, and registration for Accounting and Control Marks (UKM / excise stamps).

Authority

State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Documents

Foreign trade contract, shipping documents (CMR/air waybill/bill of lading), commercial invoice, packing list, EAC Declaration of Conformity, product PIN code certificate, certificate of origin, proof of stamp security/excise duty payment.

Fees

Wholesale alcohol license fee: 200 MCI; nominal administrative/printing fee per excise stamp.

Time to obtain

15 business days for wholesale license issuance; 10 to 30 days for excise stamp processing and customs clearance.

Required: yes Process: Spirits must undergo conformity assessment under EAEU technical regulations (TR CU 021/2011 'On Food Safety', TR CU 022/2011 'Food Labeling', and TR EAEU 047/2018 'On Safety of Alcoholic Products') to…

Imports must be cleared by a local licensed importer of record. There is no state trading monopoly, but all spirits must have Accounting and Control Marks (UKM / excise stamps) applied to bottles prior to customs release.…

Determined by the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Common Customs Tariff: spirits under HS 2208 (including whisky, rum, gin, vodka, and liqueurs) are subject to a specific customs duty typically set at €1.40 to €1.50 per litre of 100% pure ethyl alcohol (e.g., HS 2208 30 whisky: €1.50 per litre of 100% alcohol; HS 2208 20 grape brandy: €1.40 to €1.50 per litre of 100% alcohol).

Excise tax on distilled spirits (HS 2208): 2,550 KZT per litre of 100% pure alcohol (scheduled to 2,805 KZT per litre of 100% alcohol under Tax Code reforms). Standard VAT rate is 12% assessed on the landed customs value plus…

Private licensed retailers, supermarkets, and hospitality venues (no state monopoly). Retailers must hold a location-specific alcohol retail license. Off-premise stores are restricted by statutory hours: spirits with ABV over 30%…

banned; under Law No. 429-I and national internal trade regulations, alcohol sales must occur strictly inside stationary physical premises with a sales floor; remote, internet, and courier delivery sales are prohibited.

Mandatory bilingual labeling in both Kazakh and Russian (TR CU 022/2011, Law on Languages). Labels must show: product name/type, country of origin, producer and importer names and addresses, net volume, ABV (% vol.), ingredients,…

Banned; Law 'On Advertising' (Article 13) strictly prohibits any advertising of ethyl alcohol and alcoholic products (as well as products imitating alcoholic beverages) in mass media, outdoor/billboards, print, internet…

Regulated by EAEU Technical Regulation TR EAEU 047/2018 and interstate GOST standards: Vodka must have a minimum ABV of 37.5% (or 40.0% for traditional standard); Whisky must be distilled from fermented cereal mash, aged in…

Over 400 rural villages and auls nationwide have adopted community-driven alcohol bans ('sober/dry villages') supported by local elders and police councils. By law, alcohol sales are strictly prohibited within educational…

Tax Code reform enacted in 2025 (effective 2026) mandates a 10% upward revision on excise duties for alcoholic beverages, lifting the base rate for spirits to 2,805 KZT per litre of 100% alcohol. In late 2025, the Ministry of…

Kazakhstan presents an expanding market for premium international spirits, notably Scotch and Irish whiskies, authentic cognac, and craft gins, which enjoy strong aspirational demand in metropolitan hubs such as Almaty and…

1. State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Licensing for Alcohol Production
2. Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 429-I on State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Ethyl Alcohol and Alcoholic Products
3. International Trade Administration (trade.gov) - Kazakhstan Labeling and Marking Requirements
4. Times of Central Asia - Kazakhstan Steps Up Restrictions on Alcohol Sales
5. Tengrinews - Kazakhstan Ministry of Internal Affairs Proposes Restricting Alcohol Sales
6. Uchet.kz / Bizmedia - Excise Rates and Tax Code Changes on Alcohol in Kazakhstan