Astana Hub registration in 2026: who the relief now suits, and who will lose it
In short:
In short: 90% of revenue must come from priority activities and exclusive rights to the software are mandatory. Existing participants must re-sign the agreement by 1 July 2026.
From 1 January 2026 Astana Hub stopped being a place almost any business with “IT” in its description could join. The new rules, approved by Order No. 703/NQ, have turned the technology park into a closed club for technology exporters, with a hard filter on where revenue comes from.
This is not another cheerful registration guide. It is an assessment of who Astana Hub genuinely benefits in 2026, and who risks obtaining status only to lose it a year later along with a tax reassessment. We run these projects at Osmar Group and see both sides: companies saving tens of millions of tenge lawfully, and companies that lost their relief over a single line in their registered activities.
What changed in 2026
The main change is the requirement on where revenue comes from. At least 90% of a participant’s revenue must now come from priority activities. Alongside that, oversight of exclusive rights to the software being developed has tightened.
A company earning from government contracts, reselling equipment or providing services only loosely connected to IT no longer qualifies. Second in importance: existing participants are affected too. Companies that obtained status before March 2026 must sign up to the new standard agreement no later than 1 July 2026. Missing that deadline means losing status automatically.
Third, the selection procedure itself has become a filter rather than a formality. Applications now go before a committee that assesses the business plan and the fit with the priority areas on their merits.
Tax relief in 2026
Corporate tax down to 0%
A 100% reduction in assessed corporate income tax on income from priority activities — but only where separate accounting is properly maintained.
Payroll taxes
Exemption from personal income tax and social payments on the salaries of qualified IT specialists.
Beyond corporate tax, the status carries VAT exemption on the sale of the company’s own work, services and products. An important detail: Astana Hub participant relief does not automatically extend to payments made to non-residents, such as foreign licences or royalties. Those payments are taxed under the general provisions.
Who the status genuinely suits
- Developers of their own software or SaaS: companies that hold the exclusive rights and export the product or sell it on the open market.
- Product startups: with revenue transparently tied to licences or subscriptions.
- Relocating IT teams: companies from other countries moving development to Kazakhstan, solving both optimisation and lawful employment.
Who it will cause more trouble than it is worth
- Companies with government contracts: a noticeable share of public-sector income costs you the relief because of the 90% threshold.
- No rights to the software: subcontracted development without an assignment of rights, or building on someone else’s work.
- Mixed business models: where IT sits alongside trading or consultancy without a clear separation in the accounts.
How registration works
The procedure is free and runs online at registration.astanahub.com. You submit a business plan, a certificate confirming no tax arrears and details of the company. The process takes around 15 business days (five days for moderation plus the committee’s selection).
The bottleneck is not the timetable but the substance. A business plan written to tick a box lays a mine that goes off at the first tax inspection.
Checklist before applying
- Do your registered activity codes match the priority activities?
- Does 90% of income come from priority activities, without a significant share of government contracts?
- Are the exclusive proprietary rights to the software documented?
- Are priority and non-core revenue separated in the accounts?
- Have you modelled the tax on payments to non-residents?
Conclusion
Astana Hub remains one of the most advantageous tax regimes available in 2026, but the relief now has to be actively maintained — through the right revenue structure, documented rights to the software and sound accounting.
If you are planning to register, or need to move to the new agreement before 1 July, the lawyers at Osmar Group run the diagnostic and support companies at every stage, from structuring through to preparing the business plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Astana Hub registration cost?
Filing the application is free and done online through the fund’s portal. The cost sits in the preparation: structuring the revenue correctly, documenting the rights to the software and preparing a business plan that will stand up to the committee.
How long does registration take?
With the documents properly prepared, around 15 business days: roughly five days for moderation and then review by the selection committee.
What is the corporate tax rate for Astana Hub participants in 2026?
Participants apply a 100% reduction in assessed corporate income tax on income from priority activities, which amounts to an effective rate of 0% — provided the accounting is correct and the activity is confirmed as qualifying.
Can the relief be lost after registration?
Yes. The main causes are failing the 90% revenue test, not holding exclusive rights to the software, errors in reporting and — for existing participants — not moving to the new standard agreement by 1 July 2026.
Does Astana Hub suit a company with government contracts?
In most cases no. The 2026 rules impose a hard filter on public-sector income, and a noticeable share of government work in the revenue mix costs you the relief.