Kazakhstan & Astana: Network School FAQ

10 questions about kazakhstan & astana at Network School in Astana. Each links to a full answer with a note on whether it is confirmed, reported or an estimate.

• What is Astana actually like as a place to live?

  Astana is a young, deliberately built capital: government buildings, glass towers and broad avenues laid out on flat steppe, with a real city of well over a million people around them.

• What is the difference between Astana and Almaty?

  Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city and its former capital: older, greener, denser, set against high mountains, with a milder climate and a stronger cafe and cultural scene.

• How do I get flights to Astana, and what do they cost?

  Astana (NQZ) is well connected regionally and poorly connected long-haul. From Europe, expect one stop via Istanbul, Frankfurt or a Gulf hub.

• What currency does Kazakhstan use, and how much cash do I need?

  The currency is the Kazakhstani tenge (KZT). Cards work in most places, so you need little cash.

• What language do people speak? Will English be enough?

  Kazakh is the state language and Russian is very widely used in daily life, especially in Astana.

• How does Kazakhstan treat crypto?

  Kazakhstan is further along on crypto than most of the region. It has a regulated regime run through the Astana International Financial Centre, licensed exchanges, and a history as a major bitcoin mining country after miners moved there.

• Is Network School backed by the government of Kazakhstan?

  Yes, formally. Network School signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development; it was signed by Balaji Srinivasan and Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of AI and Digital Development.

• Can Network School help me move my company to Kazakhstan?

  Yes. The Astana campus comes with streamlined redomiciliation (moving an existing company's legal home to Kazakhstan), alongside expedited visas and active talent recruitment.

• What tech events can I attend while at Network School?

  Astana has a real tech-event calendar, and Network School is part of it. The biggest event is AI & Digital Bridge, the national IT forum, which runs 1–3 October 2026 at the EXPO International Exhibition Centre, and Balaji Srinivasan is speaking there.

• Why did Network School choose Kazakhstan?

  Network School had offers from more than ten countries and chose Kazakhstan because it is Singapore with space to build.