From classrooms and research labs to tech hubs and ballet studios, global professionals are choosing to develop their careers in Kazakhstan. Here’s why.
Kazakhstan is emerging as a destination for global professionals drawn by innovation, expanding sectors and new opportunities. In Astana, a growing number of international specialists are building long-term careers across science, education, technology and the arts.
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From California to Central Asia
After earning his PhD in robotics, Huseyin Atakan Varol once imagined his future in sunny California, working for a high-tech company. Instead, life took a different turn. After marrying a Kazakh, the couple decided to move to Kazakhstan for what they thought would be just a year. That short stay has since turned into a 15-year career at one of the region’s leading academic institutions, Nazarbayev University.
“I found myself at Nazarbayev University in 2011, when there was almost nothing here, just a few buildings. It was a fledgling university,” Dr. Varol recalls.
Today, he is Professor of Robotics and Founding Director of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence at Nazarbayev University. With a team of local and international researchers, he develops intelligent robotic solutions for industry — from pipe-inspection robots and virtual-reality control systems to a large language model designed for translation and advanced AI reasoning in Kazakh.
Looking back, Dr. Varol says he has no regrets. The work remains both professionally challenging and deeply rewarding.
Education Without Borders
As Kazakhstan strengthens its position in an increasingly competitive global landscape, it is also expanding multilingual education environments that attract international professionals. Among them is Gianfranco Casarin, who is half Italian, half Venezuelan. He moved to Astana to teach English at the International Steppe School on a three-year contract.
Now midway through his time in Kazakhstan, Casarin says many perceptions about the country quickly dissolve.
“When people think of places where it's really cold, they assume everyone must be unhappy or even hostile,” he says. “But I found that the Kazakh people are very warm and welcoming.”
Having lived in England, Italy and Venezuela, Casarin believes Western professionals often underestimate destinations farther east. Yet stepping outside familiar environments can accelerate professional growth and broaden one’s outlook. Adapting to a new culture, he says, reshapes the way you think and work.
After completing his contract, Casarin hopes to explore other regions of Kazakhstan and perhaps Asia more broadly.
Astana is a regional IT hub
Astana is emerging as a regional tech centre, attracting professionals from across Central Asia and beyond. Anchored by Astana Hub, the country’s leading IT park, the city’s growing startup ecosystem is supported by the Digital Nomad Visa, which offers remote professionals a simplified route to long-term residence.
Among the early applicants is Vladimir Beliankov, an IT specialist from Russia who has decided to relocate to the Kazakh capital.
“For me, Astana is a modern, fast-developing city,” he says. “There is a strong IT culture concentrated here.”
While finalising his paperwork, Beliankov is preparing to move to Astana with his wife and their pet. He says the city’s safe living environment and developed infrastructure make the transition comfortable.
“Another advantage of Astana is its stable and reliable internet connection,” he adds. “Since I work remotely, that’s essential.”
Ballet and artistic growth
Ballet has become a defining part of Kazakhstan’s cultural landscape. At its centre is Astana Opera, led by artistic director Altynai Asylmuratova — a former Mariinsky prima ballerina who has performed at leading stages including Covent Garden, La Scala and American Ballet Theatre.
Today, Astana Opera stages works by renowned choreographer Roland Petit, raising the profile of Kazakh ballet and attracting young dancers from around the world.
Among them is Madoka Yano, a corps de ballet dancer from Japan. Before moving to Astana, she performed in Portugal and Russia, but was drawn by the theatre’s repertoire and the opportunity to work under Asylmuratova’s guidance.
“The theatre environment, the repertoire and the teachers — I cannot get this in another place,” Yano says.
Despite having danced in several countries, she has no immediate plans to move on.
“As long as I am dancing, I would stay here because the environment is so good for me.”
A framework for global mobility
The stories of Varol, Casarin, Beliankov and Yano reflect a broader shift in Kazakhstan’s approach to international mobility. In recent years, the country has eased entry rules, allowing citizens of more than 80 countries to visit visa-free for 14 or 30 days.
For longer stays, Kazakhstan introduced the Neo Nomad Visa, enabling remote professionals to reside in the country for up to one year.
“Kazakhstan is considered a four-season destination,” says Shyryn Mussina, Managing Director of Kazakh Tourism. “Visitors come primarily in spring and summer, but winter tourism is also growing, especially in the Almaty region and the Tian Shan mountains.”
While tourism often serves as the first point of contact, evolving visa policies signal a wider ambition: to transform short visits into long-term engagement. For many global professionals, Kazakhstan is no longer a stopover, but a viable option for life and work.
