“Lifetime IDs“ in Kazakhstan: Ministry of Internal Affairs answers if they need to be replaced

Tengrinews.kz — Social media users in Kazakhstan were surprised by an ID card with an expiration date set for 2051. Users debated whether such a document needs to be replaced and if it might cause issues at Public Service Centers (PSCs) or banks. Tengrinews.kz sought clarification from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"They won't change it until they're 90": Why this happened
The discussion was sparked by a post from a Kazakhstani woman on Threads. She shared a photo of her father's ID card, pointing out its unusual validity period: the document was issued in February 2007 and is valid until December 2051.

"Have you ever seen anything like this? God willing (qudai qalasa), my dad won't have to change his ID until he's 90. Has anyone else seen such dates?" the author wrote.

Photo by user @dr.albina_cossmo on Threads
"Better to replace it": What Kazakhstanis are saying
In the comments, other Kazakhstanis shared that their relatives also possess similar long-term IDs.
However, users advised not waiting until the expiration date and suggested replacing the old IDs in advance. According to them, these documents sometimes cause difficulties at PSCs and when accessing other services.

"It's better to change it; my dad's was valid until 2046. This year, when he tried to renew his driver's license, they wouldn't issue it until he replaced his ID card. My mother and I had to act as witnesses and write an explanatory note. In short, it's a long story—better change it now," one user wrote.

Comments under the Threads post
Another participant in the discussion shared a similar experience.

"It's better to change it this year because if any documentation issues arise, PSCs and similar organizations won't accept the old ID. I'm saying this because I've been in that situation," she noted.

Meanwhile, other commenters claimed they continue to use old-style ID cards without any issues.
The origin of "lifetime" IDs
The Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that from 1995 until August 2009, the validity period of an ID card depended on the owner's age:

from 16 to 25 years old;
from 25 to 45 years old;
from 45 years old — for life or for a long term.

Consequently, during those years, individuals over 45 could indeed receive an ID card valid for several decades or for life.
The rules changed in August 2009. Currently, ID cards in Kazakhstan are issued for a 10-year period.
Does the old ID card need to be replaced?
No. The Ministry of Internal Affairs clarified that there is no requirement to replace an ID card simply because it is an old version. If the document has not expired and there are no other reasons for replacement, it remains valid for use.

"Old-style ID cards, including those without an electronic storage medium, are not subject to mandatory replacement solely because they belong to a previous design, provided their expiration date has not passed. If an ID card specifies a validity period, such as until 2051, it remains legally valid until that date," the Ministry stated.

However, the owner may choose to replace it earlier if they wish.
Mandatory replacement is required if, for example:

the expiration date has passed,
the owner's personal data has changed,
the document is damaged or worn out,
or it is no longer possible to identify the person from the document.

What if an old ID is refused?
The Ministry also addressed potential issues with old documents. When providing certain services, an organization may perform additional verification of the document's data through digital systems.

"In the event of a refusal to accept a valid ID card, citizens are advised to clarify the reason for the refusal and contact the relevant organization to conduct an additional verification of the document's details," the Ministry added.

Half a million Kazakhstanis still use old ID cards
According to Ministry of Internal Affairs data as of August 28, 2026, approximately 500,000 Kazakhstanis are still using valid, laminated old-style ID cards.
Since the beginning of 2026, another 500,000 people have replaced their IDs after they expired. In 2025, there were approximately one million such applications.
Can you be fined for an expired ID card?
Yes. Liability for residing with an invalid ID card is established under Article 492 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasized that fines are not issued immediately upon the expiration of a document. Individuals living with an expired ID for a period ranging from 10 days to one month will receive a formal warning. If the delay exceeds one month, a fine of 7 MRP (30,275 tenge for 2026) will be imposed.
Since the beginning of 2026, approximately 200,000 people have been held administratively liable under Article 492 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, compared to 177,000 during the same period in 2025.
Note:However, these statistics include not only expired IDs but also cases of individuals living without any identification documents or registration.
Additionally, since 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been proactively reminding Kazakhstanis to renew their documents: an SMS notification is sent 30 days before an ID card is set to expire.