The legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not provide for an alternative form of mandatory military service.

However, under Article 12 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Military Service and the Status of Servicemen”, citizens who, for various reasons, have not been called up for mandatory military service may undergo training in military-technical and other specialties at military technical schools of the Ministry of Defense on a fee-paying basis and obtain a military occupational specialty.

Upon successful completion of training and final examinations, graduates of military technical schools receive certificates confirming the completion of their training and take the military oath. Local military administration authorities assign them the military rank of "Private", issue military identification cards, and place them on the reserve list of persons liable for military service. Citizens who have completed such training are not subject to conscription for mandatory military service.

Who can enroll in a military technical school of the Ministry of Defense and obtain a military profession?

Military training on a fee-paying basis at a military technical school is available to individuals over the age of 24 who are deemed fit or fit with minor restrictions for military service on health grounds, including those who have been granted a deferment from military conscription.

Please note that deferments may be granted on the following grounds:

• family circumstances;
• continuation of education;
• health reasons;
• other reasons.

Training is conducted in accordance with the Rules for Training in Military-Technical and Other Specialties approved by the Ministry of Defense.

What does the training involve?

A training agreement is concluded between the military technical school and the trainee.

The duration of training depends on the specialty being acquired and generally ranges from 40 to 46 calendar days, including weekends and public holidays that fall within the training period.

Training groups are formed throughout the year. Information on upcoming training sessions may be obtained from local military administration authorities or directly from military technical schools.

Specialties are determined by the Ministry of Defense based on the requirements of the military-trained reserve.

Training is conducted in person, in groups (platoons) of no more than 30 participants, and includes:

• theoretical instruction;
• laboratory and practical training;
• practical exercises (field training);
• field exercises and live-fire weapons training.

Instruction is delivered by highly qualified teaching staff with military service experience in the Armed Forces, other troops, and military formations of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

The daily routine and living arrangements of trainees are governed by the General military regulations of the armed forces, other troops and military formations of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved by Presidential Decree No. 364 as of July 5, 2007.

During the training period, trainees are provided with field uniforms of the Armed Forces, round-the-clock accommodation at the military technical school, three meals per day, and laundry services. These services are included in the cost of the training programme.

Under the terms of the training agreement, a trainee may be dismissed from the programme in the following cases:

• at their own request*;
• due to unsatisfactory academic performance*;
• due to disciplinary violations*;
• for health reasons, provided that supporting medical documentation and medical indications are available**.

* Dismissal due to unsatisfactory academic performance, disciplinary violations (including absence from classes exceeding a total of 40 instructional hours), or at the trainee’s own request is carried out without reimbursement of costs incurred.

** Dismissal for health reasons (after completing more than 40 instructional hours of training) is carried out with recovery of the costs of training and maintenance.

How much does the training cost?

The fee for training citizens in military-technical and other specialties is set at KZT 545 000 in accordance with Order No. 1507 of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan as of December 30 2024 “On approval of prices for goods (works, services) produced and sold by the military technical school of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan".

Conscripts and persons liable for military service must make payment for training to the bank account of the specialized organization of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

How can one apply for training?

The referral of citizens to military technical schools of the Ministry of Defense for training in military-technical and other specialties is carried out through the provision of the following public services:

• Registration of conscripts and reservists for assignment to training in military-technical and other specialties;
•  Assignment of conscripts and reservists for training in military-technical and other specialties.

These public services are provided by the Ministry of Defense through local military administration authorities.

To obtain the public service “Registration of conscripts and reservists for assignment to training in military-technical and other specialties” an applicant must submit an application via the www.egov.kz. The applicant must attach an electronic copy of the medical examination record confirming fitness for military service (see appendix). The medical examination record remains valid for 10 working days from the date on which the fitness-for-service assessment is issued.

The medical examination is conducted at the place of military registration by the district (city) military medical commission. Following the examination, the commission prepares and issues a medical examination record in the form prescribed by Appendix 3 to the Rules for the selection of conscripts and persons liable for military service for paid and free training, the organization of the educational process, and the duration of training in military-technical and other specialties at specialised organisations of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved by Order No. 357 of the Minister of Defense as of July 17 2017 (form attached).

The public service delivery result is a notification in the user’s personal account on the e-Gov portal confirming placement on the waiting list for referral to training in military-technical and other specialties. The processing time for this public service is two working days.

The public service “Assignment of conscripts and reservists for training in military-technical and other specialties” is provided to applicants who are on the waiting list for referral to training in military-technical and other specialties and who have registered the mobile phone number linked to their cellular device on the e-Gov portal through the proactive service format.

The linkage of a subscriber’s mobile phone number to a portal account is carried out in accordance with the Rules for the registration and linking of a subscriber’s mobile phone number, provided by a mobile network operator, to a user account on the e-Gov portal for obtaining public and other services electronically through a mobile communication device. These Rules were approved by Order No. 58 of the Acting Minister for Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan as of January 25 2016 (registered in the State Register of Regulatory Legal Acts under No. 13195).

The list of core requirements for the provision of the public service, including process characteristics, application forms, service content and outcomes, as well as other relevant information taking into account the specific features of the service, is set out in the List of core requirements for the provision of public services attached as Appendix 12 to these Rules.

No later than three working days before the next scheduled training intake, the Information System of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan automatically verifies applicants on the waiting list with respect to:

• their status as a registered conscript or person liable for military service;
• the existence of a registered disability;
• whether they are under ongoing medical supervision at dermatology, oncology, tuberculosis (phthisiology), psychiatry, or narcology treatment centres. Following the verification process, the Ministry of Defense information system automatically generates the public service delivery result.

The public service delivery result:

• where the applicant’s status as a conscript or person liable for military service is confirmed, and no disability or ongoing medical supervision is identified, a referral for training in military-technical and other specialties is issued in the form set out in Appendix 13 to these Rules;
• where the applicant has been removed from military registration, has been assigned a disability status, or is under ongoing medical supervision, a notification of refusal to provide the proactive service is issued in the form set out in Appendix 14 to these Rules, and the applicant is removed from the waiting list for referral to training in military-technical and other specialties.

What about existing employment or studies?

In accordance with paragraphs 11 and 12 of Article 12 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Military Service and the Status of Servicemen”, employers are required to grant educational leave to employees undergoing training at specialized organizations of the Ministry of Defense. During the training period, such employees retain their position (job title) and may not be dismissed at the employer’s initiative. Likewise, students undergoing training may not be expelled from their educational institution at the initiative of the head of that institution.