Changes for Kazakhstan residents in December

Tengrinews.kz - Find out what changes await Kazakhstani citizens in December 2024 in this Tengrinews.kz article.
New rules for vehicle imports
Starting December 1, Kazakhstan introduces new regulations for importing vehicles less than three years old. These vehicles can only be imported by individuals officially listed in the VTA document (Vehicle Type Approval), which verifies the car's compliance with technical regulations.
The VTA document is exclusively available to legal entities. Previously, vehicles could be imported under VTA by any declared individuals. Now, only those explicitly listed in the VTA are authorized to import vehicles. VTA is issued only to legal entities and can be used if the declarant (the party registering the import) is the entity specified in the VTA.
Private individuals can import vehicles using a special SBKTS certificate (certificate of safety design of the vehicle), issued for used vehicles brought from abroad. Under this document, an individual can import only one vehicle per year and exclusively for personal use.
Fines for drivers
From December 1 to March 1, all vehicle owners in Kazakhstan are required to use winter tires. Failure to "switch tires" in time can result in a fine starting from 5 5 monthly calculation indices (MCI) 18,460 tenge in 2024 and above.
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Fines for average speed
Starting December 4, new traffic regulations in Kazakhstan will introduce fines for exceeding the average speed limit on international and national highways. The fines will range from 5 to 40 MCI (18,460 to 147,680 tenge in 2024). Drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 60 km/h will face fines of nearly 150,000 tenge.
Additionally, changes affect individuals detained for driving under the influence without a driver's license. They will be prohibited from taking the driving license exam for seven years. Similar restrictions apply to those who refuse medical examination for intoxication.
The responsibility has also been increased for road maintenance employees regarding repeated violations in road upkeep. Fines for such violations may range from 15 to 40 MCI, depending on the business entity.
Kazakhstan imposes ban on steel billet exports
Starting December 1, a six-month ban will be introduced on the export of iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms (excluding iron under tariff code 7203) and semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel by all modes of transport from Kazakhstan.
The ban aims to encourage domestic metallurgical enterprises to expand the steel industry by producing higher-value-added finished products in midstream and downstream processing.
Mobile services and internet to become more expensive
Starting December 11, Beeline will increase subscription fees on more than 20 plans by 300 to 1,000 tenge per month. From December 13, Activ will raise prices on 15 tariff plans by an average of 400 tenge.
Winter break for students
This year, winter break for schoolchildren will last 10 calendar days, from December 30, 2024, to January 8, 2025, inclusive. Afterward, Kazakhstani students will study for 10 consecutive weeks and then take their next break from March 21 to March 31. As usual, first graders will have an additional seven-day break from February 3 to February 9, 2025.
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Air Astana resumes flights to Abu Dhabi
Starting December 12, Air Astana will operate flights on the Almaty–Abu Dhabi (UAE) route twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, according to the Ministry of Transport's press service. The flight duration will be 4 hours 55 minutes to Abu Dhabi and 4 hours 35 minutes on the return leg.
Karaganda–Moscow train service resumes
The Karaganda–Moscow express train will resume operations on December 17. Departures from Karaganda will be on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while departures from Moscow will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays.
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Astana vs Chelsea
On December 12, Astana will play against London’s Chelsea, a two-time UEFA Champions League winner, in the group stage of the UEFA Conference League.
New heat energy consumption standards approved
New standards for heat energy consumption will come into effect on December 28, following an order by the Ministry of Industry and Construction. The standards (in gigacalories per square meter) apply exclusively to residential properties.
Weather in December
December 2024 in Kazakhstan will be marked by frequent cyclones. Most of the country will experience snowfalls, blizzards, and gusty winds. In southern regions, precipitation will include rain and wet snow, with heavy snowfalls possible in mountainous areas. The west and south of the country will often face icy conditions and dense fog.
In the north and central parts of Kazakhstan, nighttime temperatures in the first half of the month will range from -18°C to -23°C, with daytime temperatures between -4°C and +1°C or -8°C to -13°C. In the second half of December, nights will become colder, dropping to -25°C to -37°C, while daytime temperatures will range from -15°C to -25°C. Some days may see temporary relief from the severe frost.
In the south and southeast, nighttime temperatures will range from -10°C to -18°C and from 0°C to -5°C. Daytime temperatures will vary between 0°C and -5°C or rise to +3°C to +12°C. Towards the end of December, colder conditions will set in, with nighttime lows of -15°C to -22°C and daytime temperatures of -5°C to -13°C.
Holidays
December 2024 will bring not only festive cheer but also additional days off for Kazakhstanis. Independence Day, on December 16, falls on a Monday this year.
December 14, Saturday, will be a working day for those with a six-day workweek and a day off for those with a five-day schedule. December 15, Sunday, is a regular day off.
December 30 and 31 will be regular working days.
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December is also rich in professional holidays celebrated across various sectors:

December 5 – Advocacy Day;
December 6 – Prosecutor's Day;
Third Sunday of December (December 15) – Power Engineers' Day;
December 20 – Day of the State Courier Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
December 22 – Archivist's Day.