The official languages are Russian and Kazakh, one of the Turkic languages. According to government decisions, the Russian Cyrillic alphabet is to be replaced by the Turkish version of the Latin alphabet. So far, however, the Cyrillic alphabet is still generally used. The city dwellers and the people in the north of the country speak Russian, whereas the rural population partially speaks only Kazakh. Turkish is widely spoken, but occasionally Ukrainian, Uyghur, Kyrgyz, Tatar or Uzbek is also spoken. The young population is also increasingly learning English, but the language is still not very widespread. Tour guides usually speak English. Knowledge of Russian brings great advantages,
Idioms
Helpful words in Kazakh: Goodbye = Сау болыңыз [Sau bolingis] Eight = сегіз [segis] Exit = шығу [shighu] Beer = сыра [syra] Please = Оқасы жоқ [Oqasi yoq] Thank you = Рахмет [Rakhmet] Tuesday [енсейс] Tuesday = Рахмет [Rakhmet] seysenbi] doctor = дәрігер [dəriger] Thursday = бейсенбі [beysenbi] three = үш [ush] entrance = кіру [kiru] one hundred = жүз [zүz] one = бір [bir] Friday = жұма [zұma] five = бес [bes] Hallo = Сәлем [Sälem] Hotel = қонақ үй [hotel] I don’t speak Kazakh. = Мен қазақша сөйлей алмаймын. [Men qasaqsha söyley almaymin. ] Yes = иә [iä] My name is …… = … Менің атым [ Mening atim … ] Wednesday = сәрсенбі [särsenbi] Monday = дүйсенбі [duysenbi] No = жоқ [yoq] Nine = тоғыз [toghis] Saturday = сенб.і [senbi.і ] Six = алты [alti] Seven = жеті [yeti] Sunday = жексенбі [yeksenbi] Menu = жеті [asmərizi] Do you speak German/English? = toilet = дәретхана [dərethana] four = төрт [tört] wine = шарап [sarap] How much is …? =… қанша тұрады? [… qansha turadi?] ten = он [on] two = екі [eki]
Muslim holidays are observed according to the lunar calendar and may differ from the dates given. Eid al-Adha lasts between 2-10 days depending on the region.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be imported duty-free into Kazakhstan in hand luggage (persons aged 18 and over): 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco products/tobacco; 3 liters of alcoholic beverages or wine; perfume for personal use; Other goods for personal use up to a value of €500 and a total weight of up to 25 kg (by land) or up to a value of €10,000 and a total weight of up to 50 kg (by air). Upon entry, a customs declaration must be filled out, which should be kept carefully until you leave the country. All personal belongings, including valuables and currency, are noted on this form. With careful customs control, customs formalities can take a long time,
Import regulations
Only Kazakh goods that can be proven to have been purchased with foreign currency may be exported. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Imports
Weapons, ammunition, drugs and anything that can be considered paraphernalia for drug use, propaganda material directed against Kazakhstan, pornography and third party items to be imported for that person. More detailed information from the embassies, among others (see contact addresses).
Prohibited Exports
Weapons, precious metals, furs, jewellery, precious stones and antlers. A special permit is required for antiques, works of art and carpets. More information on customs regulations can be obtained from the Kazakh Ministry of Finance.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Melchenbühlweg 79
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (31) 351 79 69 and +41 (79) 435 80 97.
https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-bern?lang=de
https:/ /www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-bern?lang=de
Branch of the embassy in Bonn. Consulate General in Frankfurt/M., consulate in Munich, honorary consulates in Bremen, Dresden, Hamburg, Hanover and Stuttgart.
Consular section: Mon-Fri from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., telephone information Mon-Fri from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding Kazakh public holidays).
Business
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-18.00.
Business contacts
Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, Breite Straße 29, 10178 Berlin, Germany Visiting address: Gertraudenstraße 20 Tel. +49 (0)30 206 16 71 16. Website: www.ostausschuss.de Economic Chamber of Austria, Foreign Trade Kazakhstan Straße der Wiener Wirtschaft 1, 1020 Vienna, Austria Tel. +43 (0)1 51 45 00. Website: www.wko.at Joint Chamber of Commerce (JCC) c/o DPS Communications GmbH Kasernenstrasse 11, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland Tel. +41 ( 0)44 226 90 61. Website: www.jointchambers.ch Delegation of German Business for Central Asia (Association of German Business in Kazakhstan) Business Center Koktem Square, Bostandykski rayon, Mkr. Koktem 1, dom 15 a, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan Tel. +7 (0)727 356 10 61/62/63/64/65/66. Website: centralasia.ahk.de/
GSM 900, 3G (2100) and 4G (1800Mhz). Mobile phone companies include Kcell and Altel, among others. The reception/transmission range covers the whole country except for more remote areas. Roaming agreements exist with Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among others. It may still be worth purchasing a local prepaid SIM card. These are sold in supermarkets, kiosks, petrol stations and shopping centers, among other places.
Internet
The main provider is Astel, among others. There are hardly any internet cafés left in Kazakhstan, the few that remain are primarily computer gaming venues. Most hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants offer WiFi. There is also free Wi-Fi in train stations and airports in the country’s largest cities. Attention: The Internet is subject to state censorship in Kazakhstan.
Post office
There is a comprehensive postal service in all the cities’ main post offices. The main post office in Almaty is located on Ulitsa Kurmangazy. There are also post offices in the larger hotels. Letters to Western Europe take one to two weeks. Postal addresses should be written on the envelope in the following order: country, zip code, city, street, house number, addressee’s name. Post offices are open daily from 09.00-18.00, post offices in smaller towns are only open on weekdays.
