Kazakhstan has three mobile operator groups that offer eSIM: Kcell (with its second brand activ), Beeline, and Tele2 with its sister brand Altel. All of them sell eSIM through their own apps, but each eSIM comes with a Kazakh number that has to be registered to you. Since January 2026, a new Kazakh number only starts working after a biometric identity check. If you're visiting and just need mobile data, a travel eSIM you install at home skips all of that. This guide covers what each Kazakh provider offers, the ID and phone (IMEI) rules for visitors, and how to have data the moment you land.
Just need mobile data in Kazakhstan? These data-only eSIMs work in Kazakhstan and you can install them before your trip.
Data-only plans for Kazakhstan · 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB · See all eSIMs for Kazakhstan
Which eSIM providers in Kazakhstan can you choose from?
Here's what each Kazakh operator says about eSIM on its own website, checked in October 2026.
Kcell eSIM (and activ)
Kcell and activ are two brands of the same company and share one network. Kcell says its eSIM is issued through the Kcell app, and activ also lets you replace your plastic SIM with an eSIM. Here's how it works:
- What you need: a phone that supports eSIM, a stable Wi-Fi connection, some credit on your balance, and a Kcell number registered in your name.
- Not while roaming: Kcell says you can't swap a plastic SIM for an eSIM while you're in roaming, so do it in Kazakhstan.
- New phone: Kcell has an "eSIM Transfer" service in its app to move your eSIM to another phone.
Looking for a Kcell tourist SIM or a Kcell eSIM you can buy online before your trip? We couldn't find one on Kcell's website. Its eSIM is tied to a Kazakh number, which you open in the app or in a Kcell office with ID.
Beeline Kazakhstan
Beeline sells eSIM in its "My Beeline" app (Beeline: eSIM). You can buy a new number, move your number from another operator, or swap your Beeline SIM for an eSIM. The steps in the app are:
- Connect to Wi-Fi and open the My Beeline app.
- Choose a new number, or the option to switch with your own number.
- Go through the identity check.
- Choose eSIM as the delivery method and pay.
- Scan the QR code you get in your phone's settings.
Beeline says one QR code can be scanned up to 10 times, so keep it safe. If you lose access to the phone with your eSIM, you get a new SIM in a Beeline office.
Tele2 and Altel
Tele2 and Altel are sister brands and run eSIM the same way (Tele2: eSIM, Altel: eSIM). In the Tele2 or Altel app, you pick "Become a client", choose a number and select eSIM. Existing customers can swap their plastic SIM for an eSIM in the app, and you can also move your number from another operator straight onto an eSIM.
Can you get a Kazakh eSIM as a tourist?
Possibly, but plan for the paperwork. Two sets of rules apply to visitors who want a Kazakh number.
ID and biometric check
Since 3 January 2026, a new SIM card or eSIM only starts working once the subscriber's identity is confirmed with a biometric check, wherever you bought the number. You can do the check in the operator's app or in an official operator office (Zakon.kz: the digital ministry on the new SIM rules). We couldn't find a page on the operators' websites that explains how a visitor without a Kazakh ID can do this in the app. So bring your passport and plan to visit an official Kcell, Beeline or Tele2 office.
Phone registration (IMEI)
Kazakhstan checks every phone that connects to its networks by its IMEI number. If you put a Kazakh SIM or eSIM in a phone you bought abroad:
- 30 days: a new phone that isn't verified loses mobile service 30 calendar days after it first connects to a Kazakh network.
- How to verify: online, on the government's IMEI verification portal or in the eGov Mobile app. You need a Kazakh IIN (an individual ID number) to log in. Foreigners can get one at a Public Service Center.
- Proof of entry: foreigners attach a border-crossing certificate from the QazETA app, or a customs declaration.
- Cost: free for phones you brought in for personal use.
For a short trip, those 30 days may cover your whole stay. For a longer stay, plan for the IIN and the verification. Kcell also asks its customers to register each phone to their number (Kcell: IMEI registration). Want to find your phone's IMEI? Here's what an IMEI is and how to find it.
What about a travel eSIM?
With a travel eSIM, your phone roams on a Kazakh network, just like with your home SIM. Kcell says roamers don't need to register their devices in Kazakhstan. There's no Kazakh number to open, so no store visit or biometric check either.
Already have a phone plan from home? Check roaming first
Kazakhstan isn't part of the EU, so EU "Roam like at home" rules don't apply there. Plans from the EU, the UK, the UAE, the US and most other countries use their carrier's own roaming prices in Kazakhstan. Check them before you go. If they're high, a travel eSIM for data is a simple way to avoid roaming charges.
Kazakh provider or travel eSIM: which fits your trip?
A Kazakh provider's eSIM is better if
- You live in Kazakhstan or stay for several months.
- You need a Kazakh (+7) number, for example for work, a rental or local apps.
- You're happy to get an IIN, pass the biometric check and verify your phone.
A travel eSIM is easier if
- You're in Kazakhstan for a holiday or a business trip.
- You want data the moment you land in Almaty or Astana, with no office visit.
- You don't want to deal with IMEI verification for your phone.
- You want to keep your home number on your phone for calls and texts.
The SimOptions Kazakhstan plans are data-only, and you can top them up if you run low. You call and message with apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime. Here's how to make calls with a data-only eSIM.
Visiting more of Central Asia or the Gulf?
If your trip goes beyond Kazakhstan, one regional plan saves you from buying an eSIM in every country. The SimOptions Asia plans cover 26 countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. They're data-only too.
Asia 10GB gives you 10 GB for 30 days, which fits a two-country trip such as Almaty and Bishkek, or a stopover in Dubai on the way. Going on to Tajikistan? See eSIM providers in Tajikistan.
Install your travel eSIM before you fly
At home, on Wi-Fi
- Check your phone. It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Dial *#06#: if you see an EID, it supports eSIM. More in our guide to checking eSIM compatibility.
- Buy your plan. Your QR code comes by email.
- Install it on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly. Scan the QR code and follow the steps on screen. Our guide to activating an eSIM with a QR code walks you through it on iPhone and Android.
- Leave it there. The eSIM connects when you arrive in a covered country, so you don't need to do anything else before you land.
When you land in Kazakhstan
- Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM). On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (Google: dual SIMs on Pixel). On a Samsung Galaxy, look under Settings > Connections > SIM manager.
- Turn on data roaming for the travel eSIM. Travel eSIMs usually roam on Kazakh networks, so data won't work without it.
- Turn off data roaming on your home line, so it can't use data abroad. Keep the home line switched on if you want to receive calls and texts. See the correct roaming settings for an eSIM.
Apple's guide to using eSIM while traveling covers the same steps for iPhone. Going beyond Kazakhstan? See all Asia eSIMs, or find your destination.
FAQs
Does Kcell have eSIM?
Yes. Kcell issues eSIM through the Kcell app, for a Kcell number registered in your name. You can also swap your plastic Kcell SIM for an eSIM in the app, but not while you're in roaming.
Can I buy a Kcell tourist SIM or eSIM online?
We couldn't find a Kcell tourist eSIM sold online for visitors. A new Kazakh number has to pass a biometric identity check before it works. If you want an eSIM you can buy and install before your trip, a travel eSIM is the simpler choice.
How do I activate a Kcell eSIM?
Connect to Wi-Fi, request the eSIM in the Kcell app, then scan the QR code in your phone's settings. Make sure your number is registered in your name and has some credit on the balance.
Which operators in Kazakhstan support eSIM?
Kcell and activ, Beeline, Tele2 and Altel all offer eSIM. Each one sells it in its own app, and you can also move your number from another operator onto an eSIM.
Do I need a passport for a SIM card in Kazakhstan?
You need to prove who you are. Since January 2026, a new number only works after a biometric identity check. As a visitor, bring your passport and use an official operator office.
Do I need to register my phone in Kazakhstan?
Only if you use it with a Kazakh SIM or eSIM. A phone bought abroad then needs IMEI verification, or it loses mobile service after 30 days. Kcell says roamers don't need to register their devices, and a travel eSIM roams like your home SIM.
Do I get a Kazakh number with a travel eSIM?
No. The SimOptions Kazakhstan and Asia plans are data-only. You keep your home number on your phone, and you call and message with apps over data.
