In Kazakhstan, foreigners applying for a residence permit (RP) have faced changes in migration requirements. According to reports from Telegram chats of relocants, as of April 13, citizens of Russia and Ukraine, including kandas—ethnic Kazakhs who previously lived abroad, began receiving refusals when submitting applications.
Many applicants fail the mandatory testing for knowledge of the Kazakh language, writes Deutsche Welle citing an anonymous government official.
According to applicants, instead of the declared A1 level, a B1 level may now be required, and in some cases, a higher level of language proficiency.
Official confirmation of the changes in requirements has not yet been published.
Conversations with several government officials indicate that changes have indeed occurred in the country’s migration policy. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection is now responsible for processing RPs. Since February 13, a “digital scoring” system has been implemented—an automated assessment of the reliability and solvency of foreign citizens.
Within this system, applicants undergo a comprehensive check, including a Kazakh language test at the B1 level, as well as an assessment of education, work experience, professional skills, health status, family composition, and the presence of relatives in Kazakhstan. According to sources, priority remains with specialists in demand for the economy. The first stage of scoring previously required an A1 level.
The largest cities of Kazakhstan have restricted access for obtaining RP
Regional restrictions on application submissions have also been introduced. Documents can be submitted only in certain regions, including parts of Akmola, East Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan regions, as well as the Abai and Ulytau regions. At the same time, Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent are not included in the list of priority regions, which effectively limits the possibility of obtaining RPs in the country’s largest cities.
Additionally, applicants must undergo a mandatory interview with local executive bodies.
“If a candidate successfully passes all stages of scoring, they are issued a notification based on which they can submit documents to the migration service for permanent residence,” sources told DW.
The reasons for the delay in the official publication of the new rules have not yet been explained, but the updated requirements are expected to be announced on government resources in the coming days.
According to sources, the new norms will apply to all foreign citizens, including those from Central Asian countries and China, whose numbers in Kazakhstan have noticeably increased in recent years.
