(11 March 2026 | Source: Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan)
A package of legislative amendments regulating the activities of private detectives has been submitted for consideration in Kazakhstan. The draft laws establish qualification requirements for entering the profession, introduce administrative liability for violations, and determine the procedural status of the results of detective work in criminal proceedings.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND LICENSING
According to the draft of the main law, a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan at least 30 years of age can become a private detective. The candidate must have either work experience in operational-investigative units of at least 7 years, or legal work experience of at least 10 years.
A licence to carry out private detective activities is issued for a period of 5 years. The draft law restricts access to the profession for persons with a criminal record, those dismissed from state bodies for negative reasons, as well as citizens registered on medical records.
The document also prohibits the participation of foreign citizens and companies in the creation of detective agencies and excludes foreign financing of such activities.
STATUS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan provide for the possibility of involving private detectives by participants in criminal proceedings. Suspects, victims and their representatives will be able to enter into an agreement with a detective or detective agency to gather information, documents and items.
When collecting such materials, the detective is obliged to within 24 hours notify in writing the investigator, prosecutor or court in whose proceedings the criminal case is pending.
The obtained documents and items may be used in criminal proceedings only after verification and assessment by the body handling the case. The detective themselves may be questioned as a witness.
RESTRICTIONS ON ACTIVITIES
The draft law prohibits the use of special technical means for the covert acquisition of information.
Audio and video recording in official and other premises is permitted only with the written consent of the relevant officials or private individuals.
An obligation is also established for detectives to immediately report to law enforcement agencies any facts of impending or committed crimes that come to their attention.
ADMINISTRATIVE LIABILITY
Amendments to the Administrative Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan introduce a new article providing for fines for violations in the field of private detective activities.
In particular:
- for issuing a licence or hiring persons who do not meet the requirements of the law — fines of up to 100 MCI (432,500 tenge);
- for failure to inform law enforcement agencies about crimes — up to 120 MCI (519,000 tenge) for large business entities;
- for repeated violations within a year — up to 170 MCI (735,250 tenge) with a possible ban on carrying out activities.
The main law on private detective activities comes into force six months after official publication. The amendments to the Administrative Code and Criminal Procedure Code will come into force 60 calendar days after publication.
Compliance with the legislation will be monitored by an authorised state body determined by the government. Supervision of legality is entrusted to the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.