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Businesses in Kazakhstan have been officially reminded that non-compliance with language legislation is not just a formality. Incorrect translation, absence of information in the state language, and errors in cash register settings can lead not only to administrative fines but also to serious reputational damage.
Where and When Kazakh Is Mandatory
According to Article 21 of the Law on Languages, all public information intended for consumers must be presented in the state language. If necessary, duplication in Russian is permitted. This requirement applies to:
- signs, price tags, and menus;
- advertising materials and product labeling;
- expiration dates and instructions;
- cash register receipts (product and service names must be correctly displayed in Kazakh).
How to Properly Design a Sign
Text in the state language must be placed on the left or at the top, with Russian text on the right or at the bottom. The font size must be identical. Since 2025, sign placement has been on a notification basis: the business owner submits the text to a government authority, which within 5 working days checks it for literacy, content, and correctness of translation. This service is free and helps avoid mistakes.
What Risks Businesses Face
- First violation (lack of information in the state language) — a warning recorded in the unified administrative violations system.
- Repeat violation within one year — a fine ranging from 5 to 25 MCI (Monthly Calculation Index), depending on the size of the business.
Moreover, translation errors and refusal to serve customers in the state language quickly become public through reviews on Google Maps, 2GIS, and social media. This leads to complaints, lower ratings, and unscheduled inspections.
What Businesses Should Do
- Avoid machine translation — it remains the main cause of errors in menus, price tags, and signs.
- Use free Kazakh language courses for employees.
- Check cash register settings to ensure product names are correctly displayed in Kazakh on receipts.
- If translation difficulties arise, contact local culture and language development departments or private translation companies.
How Acsour Can Help
Acsour experts are ready to:
Contact us — we will help bring your business’s public information into compliance with the law and avoid fines.
- advise on the requirements of language legislation;
- audit signs, price tags, menus, and cash receipts for compliance;
- develop internal policies to ensure compliance with language requirements.
Contact us — we will help bring your business’s public information into compliance with the law and avoid fines.