KZBlog

It has been noted here and elsewhere that there is a lot of bureaucracy in Kazakhstan. One of the most frustrating aspects of this is the number of ID documents and ID numbers one must carry around with one to do anything. Whereas in the US my Social Security card is sitting safely in a bank vault with my birth certificate, here to deposit money in the bank I have to show my original Pension Fund Registration (SIK) and to do most anything else I have to produce my Social Security Card (RNN) and national ID. It’s extremely worrying because I am always afraid to lose them, not to mention the fact that if you forget one, you have to go home, get it, return to whatever office you were at, and get back in line again.

The government is trying to make it easy by introducing the new Individual Identification Number which will be used as a universal identifier. I’m sure we’ll still have to carry a million documents around with us, but at least we’ll only have to remember one number. However as usual, there’s been a lot of confusion and unclear information and gossip and suspicion. How do I get one? What happens if I don’t have one?

So here’s a nice article that appears to clarify what an INN is, who needs an IIN and how to get one [RUS], in an interview with the Chairman of the Committee of Registration Services of the Ministry of Justice, Amirkhan Amanbayev.

The short of it is:

• If you got an ID card in August 1997 or later, you already have an IIN. It’s the other number, the one you never used before with 12 digits printed under your birthdate. You don’t have to do anything.
• If you don’t have one, you have to go to your local TsON (Citizen Service Center), or local office of the Ministry of Justice and bring your national ID, your registration book, and two photographs (3.5 cm x 4 , 5 cm) to apply for one.
• You should apply one before 13 August 2010 because it will be free. After 13 August, you will have to pay to get an IIN.
• On 13 August 2010 the law will go into effect and everyone will be using the IIN instead of the RNN.
• This law affects both citizens and residents of Kazakhstan, so even if you’re a foreigner you might still need to get an IIN.