Most banks in Kyrgyzstan and other CIS countries have stopped issuing cards to Russian citizens remotely due to global restrictions and tightening anti-money-laundering laws. Only a few ways remain to open an account without being physically present.
Why banks are closing remote card issuance
Two factors affect remote card opening: global sanctions restrictions and the tightening of domestic legislation in Russia and CIS countries. Kyrgyzstan and other states are passing laws against money laundering and fraud, forcing banks to limit card issuance by mail and online. Banks are also trying to avoid extra scrutiny from Western regulators. Over four to five years of remote service, most people who wanted accounts have already opened them, making additional audits unprofitable for banks.
The notarized power of attorney requirement
Almost all remaining banks in CIS countries now require a power of attorney to receive a card. At the same time, Russian notaries have started refusing to issue them, although there is no formal ban on this yet. This creates a double problem for those abroad: a notary often needs to be visited in person, and those living in small towns have to travel to the capital and book an appointment in advance.
If one notary refuses, there is no legal obstacle to approaching another. But finding one willing to help is getting harder.
The last option without a power of attorney
As of autumn 2026, only one or two banks in CIS countries still allow opening a card without a power of attorney. This is a rare offer: it was last available in 2025, meaning it has been absent for over nine months already. When such an option appears, it disappears quickly.
The card can be delivered not only to Russia but also to other countries, which is especially valuable for those living abroad. This is currently the only way to get a card from a major CIS bank remotely without a power of attorney.
Advantages of Kyrgyz bank cards
Kyrgyz bank cards remain convenient for transferring money from Russia. They can be topped up in rubles with no fee, at an exchange rate no more than 2 rubles above the Central Bank rate. Money can be withdrawn back to Russia instantly, directly from the bank’s app.
A popular Kyrgyz bank now allows withdrawing money to a Russian card quickly and directly through the app, whereas transfers via ruble bank details used to take a day or two. Cards are issued for five to six years, so if the bank later stops issuing to new clients, already-opened cards will keep working for their full term.
Cards from Kazakhstan: no longer worth it
Kazakhstan no longer offers remote card opening for new clients. It requires either a personal visit or electronic resident status, which must be renewed annually for several hundred dollars. Even with an in-person visit to Kazakhstan, the card is issued for only one year, which is not economically justified.
Kazakh cards opened in the past for a five-year term continue to work flawlessly. Such cards are valid until 2028 and can be used for payments and cash withdrawals abroad.
No bans, just bank policies
There are no official bans on Russian citizens opening cards at CIS banks. The restrictions are policies of the banks themselves, which don’t want unwanted attention from regulators. The situation is changing very quickly, and the option to open a card remotely could disappear at any moment. Those who need a card should act as soon as possible.
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