Kazakhstan Relocation Index

How Kazakhstan scores

There are defined legal pathways for work/residence and formal administrative procedures. | General non-war personal safety is not uniformly catastrophic across the country.

• Peace and conflict safety46
• Immigrant safety55
• Visa accessibility50
• Residence permit realism50
• Labor market access58
• Healthcare53
• Civil rights50
• Discrimination safety54
• Status security48
• Infrastructure reliability56
• Cost of living sustainability64

Recent news impact

Recent official updates indicate both incremental process/support improvements for foreign nationals and administrative tightening/changes affecting entry to sensitive areas and boundary procedures. Separately, a 2026 conscription decree and counter-intelligence/regulated coastal regime notes add mild short-term uncertainty for relocation linked to safety, access to restricted zones, and administrative predictability. Overall, the net effect is slightly negative but not severe.

• Residence Policy Change

  Kazakhstan introduced/clarified a digital one-stop platform (QazETA) for key immigration/migration services for foreign nationals, which can reduce friction in accessing procedures.

• Border Restriction

  Kazakhstan announced abolition of issuance of permits for entry into the border zone for foreign nationals and stateless persons, changing access requirements to restricted areas.

• Militarization

  A presidential order was signed for an additional 2026 conscription call-up, which can marginally raise relocation uncertainty for people tied to affected demographics and for broader risk perceptions.

Sources

• Issuance to foreigners and stateless persons of a temporary residence permit in the Republic of KazakhstanGov.kz (Government of Kazakhstan)
• How to obtain residence permit in Kazakhstan (temporary/permanent residence guidance and refusal/revocation grounds)Gov.kz (Government of Kazakhstan)
• Migration resources portal: hiring foreign workers and foreign labor permit procedure (legal framework references)Gov.kz (Government of Kazakhstan)
• On Approval of the Rules for Issuing Temporary and Permanent Residence Permits to Foreigners and Stateless Persons in the Republic of KazakhstanAdilet (Kazakhstan legal information system)
• Kazakhstan: Freedom in the World 2025 Country ReportFreedom House
• World Report 2026: KazakhstanHuman Rights Watch
• Administrative expulsion of foreign persons or stateless persons beyond the borders of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Code article PDF)ILO NATLEX
• 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Kazakhstan (Discrimination & legal protections)U.S. Department of State