Owners of vehicles with foreign registration were issued administrative fines totalling more than 2.2 billion tenge over five months of 2026, yet only around 0.8 billion tenge has been paid. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) also admitted that it does not have precise data on the number of such vehicles, as no separate record is kept.
WHAT DATA THE MIA PROVIDED
According to Inbusiness.kz, over five months of 2026, drivers of vehicles with foreign registration plates were issued administrative fines totalling over 2.2 billion tenge. Of this, around 0.8 billion tenge has been paid. The MIA also reported that no separate record of such vehicles is kept.
HOW CONTROL IS EXERCISED
According to the MIA, compliance with the periods of stay for foreign vehicles is monitored by border and customs authorities, and within Kazakhstan by traffic police officers.
Furthermore, the MIA cooperates with law enforcement agencies of other states. Information exchange regarding vehicles and their owners is carried out through the National Central Bureau of Interpol of the MIA, as well as through direct communication channels with the competent authorities of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states.
Together with the State Revenue Committee, the MIA also works to combat the illegal import of vehicles, using border crossing recording systems, data exchange within the EAEU framework, and joint raids.
WHAT THE MP STATED
Majilis deputy Olzhas Kuspekov drew attention to the situation. According to him, the low level of fine collection indicates difficulties in administering violations committed by owners of vehicles registered outside Kazakhstan.
The deputy also stated that the lack of a unified record of foreign vehicles hampers fine collection and creates risks for security and the budget. According to him, most of these cars arrive from EAEU countries — Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.
Among the MP's proposals are the creation of a unified digital database on vehicles, their owners, periods of stay in the country and administrative penalties, as well as an inventory of vehicles with foreign registration already located in Kazakhstan.
WHAT LIABILITY IS PROVIDED
Driving a vehicle without state registration plates or one not registered in the prescribed manner entails liability under Part 2 of Article 590 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ('Violation of vehicle operation rules').
The fine amounts to 10 MCI (43,250 tenge in 2026). For a repeated violation within a year, liability under Part 2-1 of Article 590 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan applies — a fine of 20 MCI or deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of one year.
The MIA also reported that the vehicle may be placed in a specialised impound lot until the violations are rectified. The agency is also continuing to transfer vehicle registration to electronic format via the eGov portal.
CONTEXT
The issue of vehicles with foreign registration and control over their operation has been discussed in Kazakhstan for several years.
In 2023, a campaign to legalise vehicles imported before 1 September 2022 concluded in Kazakhstan. The FBRK editorial team analysed in detail the registration procedure, the specifics of temporarily registering vehicles not deregistered in EAEU countries, as well as the associated risks of illegal registration and fraudulent schemes.
Furthermore, in 2022, after the European Union imposed restrictions against Russian road carriers, some transport companies began moving their operations to Kazakhstan.
In an FBRK investigation into the work of foreign carriers in Kazakhstan, the practice of creating joint ventures, registration of freight transport, issues of using state registration plates, the shortage of foreign permit forms (FPF), as well as repeated changes to international transport rules involving trailer swapping and transhipment, were examined in detail.
