On February 13, 2026, a joint order entered into force (published in the Reference Control Bank of Regulatory Legal Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan) “On the Launch and Implementation of a Pilot Project for the Provision of Public Service "Issuance of a Residence Permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan to Foreigners and Stateless Persons" and "Assignment and Extension of Kandas Status" (joint order of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population No. 41, the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 60 and the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development No. 47 as of January 30, 2026), which establishes the procedure for granting kandas status.
Ethnic Kazakhs who have undergone an assessment of migration potential and received a corresponding approval issued by local executive bodies of regions designated for the reception of kandas may apply for kandas status through the migration processes portal (migration.enbek.kz), via an information system (mobile application), through foreign missions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the State Corporation, or the e-Gov portal (www.egov.kz). Applicants must submit the following documents:
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an application;
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an autobiography (in any form);
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copies of identity documents of the applicant and their family members (if any), with notarized translations into Kazakh or Russian (birth certificates, foreign passports, stateless person identification documents, or other official documents issued by competent authorities of the country of origin of ethnic Kazakhs);
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copies of documents confirming that the applicant meets the requirements set out in subparagraph 18) of paragraph 2 of the Rules for Granting Kandas Status (a foreigner or a stateless person of Kazakh nationality);
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notification on successful completion of the eligibility assessment for immigrants seeking permanent residence in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The assignment of kandas status is carried out by local executive bodies of settlement regions designated by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The local executive body, within 30 working days from the date of registration of the application, shall make a decision on granting kandas status to ethnic Kazakhs and their family members and issue a kandas certificate, or provide a reasoned refusal to grant kandas status.
Following the decision, the local executive body sends the approval for the assignment of kandas status.
If the applicant fails to arrive within the term specified in the preliminary decision, the approval for granting kandas status shall be annulled.
The local executive body shall refuse to grant kandas status in the following cases:
1) failure of the applicant to meet the requirements established by subparagraph 1) of Article 20 of the Law “On Population Migration”;
2) establishment of the inaccuracy of documents submitted by the applicant for the provision of the public service and/or the data (information) contained therein;
3) the existence of compromising information regarding the commission of offences by ethnic Kazakhs applying for kandas status and/or inclusion in the regional kandas admission quota on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as information about their affiliation with terrorist or extremist organizations;
4) absence of the consent of the ethnic Kazakh, provided in accordance with Article 8 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Personal Data and Their Protection”, for access to personal data of restricted access;
5) absence of a regional kandas admission quota in the relevant administrative-territorial unit or refusal of the ethnic Kazakh to relocate to the administrative-territorial unit proposed for settlement.
Other grounds for refusal to provide the public service are set out in Article 19–1 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Services”.
To provide adaptation and integration services, kandas adaptation and integration centers are established.
At the center, kandas and their family members are provided with free-of-charge temporary accommodation. The center creates conditions aimed at the rapid adaptation and integration of kandas into society. The procedure and duration of stay of kandas and their family members at the adaptation and integration center, as well as the procedure for the provision of adaptation and integration services, are determined by the authorized body responsible for population migration.
In the absence of official or privately owned housing, kandas may be temporarily registered at kandas adaptation and integration centers or temporary accommodation centers for a period not exceeding one year.
Kandas status is granted only upon mandatory resettlement to regions designated by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for a period of five (5) years, without the right of extension.
The kandas Status is terminated after he receives the citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
