Kazakhstan stopped issuing residence permits in cities with millions of inhabitants

The Kazakh authorities have tightened the access of foreigners to permanent residence in the country, as well as expanded the list of grounds for expulsion.

A joint order of several ministries introduces changes to the pilot project on issuing permanent residence permits to foreigners. The main change - foreigners will no longer be able to obtain a residence permit in the cities with a million inhabitants: the capital Astana (including adjacent areas), Almaty and Shymkent. Also, Almaty, West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, Atyrau, Mangistau, Kyzylorda, Karaganda, Turkestan, Zhambyl and Zhetysu regions are now closed for residence permits.

Thus, out of 20 regions of Kazakhstan, only seven are now available for residence permits: Akmola region (except for the city of Kossy, Arshalyn and Tselinograd districts), East Kazakhstan, Kostanai, Ulytau, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan and Abay regions. After obtaining a residence permit in these regions, moving in the first five years will be prohibited, otherwise the residence permit may be revoked. During these five years, it will be necessary to annually confirm the availability of funds for living in the amount of 1,320 MRP ("monthly calculation indices") - for 2026 this is 5.7 million tenge.

Exceptions are specialists on the list of "most in-demand professions", who make a significant contribution to economic development, participate in the implementation of priority economic and social projects or have unique competencies and achievements.

Also, the decree increases therequirements for "passing score" to obtain a residence permit. Until February, scoring was not applied to applicants, then there was a requirement to score 400 points, now - 600.

For passing the Kazakh language test, 120 points are given (the decree raises the knowledge requirement to B1 level or 70% of correct answers according to Kaztest), and for English or Russian - 60 points each. Points are also awarded and deducted for age - up to 110 points, another 150 points can be obtained for education, up to 80 points can bring experience of study and work in Kazakhstan, and the same amount - experience abroad and "adaptability of professional competencies". All this is multiplied by the "health coefficient" (based on a medical report), after which up to 200 points are added for additional conditions.

Finally, the list of reasons for refusal or revocation of residence permits has been partially revised. In particular, previously, a refusal was allowed if the applicant was held administratively liable for offenses in the field of migration, tax and labor legislation of Kazakhstan within a year. Now misdemeanors without a one-year statute of limitations have been added: for example, for encroachments on the institution of state power, encroachments on public order and morality (more than once) and traffic rules (more than three times).

The head of the firm "Chichkov and Partners" Alexander Chichkov notes that the changes will not affect existing holders of residence permits: "Only the rules for obtaining a residence permit are changing. Renewal of a residence permit is only a replacement of the document, the status of permanent residence is not limited by the term".

There are some relaxations in the regulation: citizens of countries whose law does not require the consent of the authorities for departure do not need to submit a "departure slip". People over 60 years of age are completely exempted from the language proficiency test when reuniting with their families. People who make a significant contribution to economic development may also be allowed not to take the test.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as of March 1, 2026, 241 thousand permanently residing foreigners were registered in Kazakhstan, of which 97.5 thousand were Russian citizens (40.4 percent). According to the Ministry, most often Russians registered residence permits in Almaty, Astana, Karaganda, East Kazakhstan, Kostanai and Pavlodar regions.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor