Destinations / Kazakhstan
Driving in Kazakhstan as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Kazakhstan drives on the right under the 1968 Vienna Convention and uses Cyrillic, so an IDP is advised to translate non-Cyrillic licences.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Kazakhstan expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 140 km/h on signed motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in KZT. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Alcohol | Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%). |
|---|---|
| Lights | Headlights on outside cities. |
| Local practice | Long, remote highways between cities. |
On the road in Kazakhstan
At the pump
Stations sell petrol by octane (AI-92, AI-95, AI-98) and diesel, are typically attendant- or prepay-served, and are common in cities but sparse in the steppe, so top up before remote stretches; cash is safest as some rural stations decline cards.
After a crash
Call 102 for police or the unified emergency number 112, do not move the vehicles, and wait for the traffic police (whose report is required for insurance and the rental firm) before clearing the road.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · internationaltravelpermits.com · kaztag.kz · rhinocarhire.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Kazakhstan?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Kazakhstan drives on the right under the 1968 Vienna Convention and uses Cyrillic, so an IDP is advised to translate non-Cyrillic licences.
Which translation format is used for Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan uses the 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Kazakhstan ask for a translation?
Almaty and Astana desks ask for an IDP with non-Cyrillic licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Kazakhstan?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Asia
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.