Kazakhstan to hold foreign bank-account mules liable under the same criminal articles as citizens

Foreigners who come to Kazakhstan to open bank accounts for transfer to third parties will face the same legal liability as citizens, with warnings already posted at border checkpoints. For PSPs, acquirers, and banks, this is a clear signal that account-opening controls on non-residents are getting tighter, not looser.

1. According to the authorities, foreigners who arrive in Kazakhstan to open bank accounts and hand them over to third parties will be prosecuted under the same articles as Kazakh citizens. There is no lighter regime for foreign nationals.
2. The stated minimum penalties are a fine and administrative arrest of up to 50 days. On the criminal side, the punishment can reach heavy fines and up to 3 years in prison.
3. The authorities say people who became money mules by mistake and come forward voluntarily may avoid punishment. Those caught by law enforcement, by contrast, are said to receive an actual prison term.
4. Preventive notices are already being displayed at border crossing points to warn incoming travelers about the consequences. In other words, the message is being pushed before the account is opened, not after the fraud is already on the books.
5. For the payments industry, the practical takeaway is straightforward: Kazakhstan is closing a channel used by international criminal groups for cash-out schemes through drop accounts, and banks are expected to scrutinize foreign clients more carefully at onboarding.

The measure fits the wider fight against money mules and cross-border laundering structures. For high-risk operators, that usually means more friction in KYC, more attention to non-resident account activity, and less tolerance for accounts that appear to be opened for immediate onward transfer.