Starting from January 18, 2026, Kazakhstan will introduce new rules regarding the detention of cash at the border of the Eurasian Economic Union. These changes, approved by the order of the Minister of Finance on December 30, 2025, are aimed at combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. According to information received from law enforcement and financial authorities, government agencies will act in accordance with the new regulations, as reported by Lada.kz, citing zakon.kz.
Changes to the Rules
Amendments have been made to the existing rules for the detention of cash and monetary instruments, which are applied based on information from law enforcement and authorized bodies.
Among the changes is the expansion of the document's title, emphasizing a more detailed and comprehensive approach by the state to financial control at the customs border.
The document is now titled:
Rules for the Detention (Suspension) of Cash or Monetary Instruments Moving Across the Customs Border of the Eurasian Economic Union Upon Receipt of Information from Law Enforcement or Authorized Bodies Regarding Possible Involvement in Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing, and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Interaction of State Revenue Authorities
The new document emphasizes that state revenue authorities operate in cooperation with:
law enforcement agencies;the authorized body for financial monitoring. This approach is aimed at combating:money laundering;terrorism financing;financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The detention or suspension of the movement of cash across the customs border of the EAEU becomes one of the main tools in this work.
Conditions for Cash Detention
It is important to note that detention measures can only be applied based on information received:
from law enforcement agencies;from the authorized body for financial monitoring.
This applies to situations where there are suspicions of a possible connection between the transferred funds and illegal financial activities, including the financing of terrorist and extremist groups.
International Obligations
The updated rules also state that when detaining cash or monetary instruments, state revenue authorities must adhere to Kazakhstan's international obligations.
In particular, the Agreement on Combating the Legalization (Laundering) of Criminal Proceeds, Terrorism Financing, and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction applies when moving cash across the customs border of the Customs Union.
This agreement was ratified by the Law "On the Ratification of the Agreement on Combating the Legalization (Laundering) of Proceeds from Crime and Terrorism Financing When Moving Cash or Monetary Instruments Across the Customs Border of the Customs Union".
Date of Entry into Force of the Changes
The order of the Minister of Finance will come into effect on January 18, 2026. On this day, the new rules for the detention of cash and monetary instruments will be implemented for practical use by customs and financial authorities.
