Kazakhstan Reportedly Raises Kazakh Language Requirement for Residency Permits

Russians opposed to the war in Ukraine or fearful of being sent to fight there have fled to Kazakhstan in their hundreds of thousands

Russians who have relocated to Kazakhstan say the country has raised its language requirement for residency permits, with some reporting that applicants must now demonstrate Kazakh proficiency at the B2 level (қазақ тілін B2 деңгейінде меңгеру) [qazaq tilin B2 deñgeiinde meñgeru]. These claims, circulating widely online, have fueled discussion about stricter residency permit requirements (тұруға рұқсат талаптары) [turūğa ruxsat talaptary] for foreign nationals seeking long-term status in the country.

Viktoria Laukhina, who moved to Kazakhstan from Russia, reported the change on TikTok, drawing attention to what she described as a new language certification standard (тіл сертификаты стандарты) [til sertifikaty standarty]. Vadim Yermolaev, a Russian national who went through every stage of the new residency permit process and was rejected, also described the system, pointing to stricter evaluation procedures and possible changes in application assessment criteria (өтінішті бағалау критерийлері) [ötinişti bağalau kriteriyleri]. Reports about a requirement for a certificate confirming B2 (upper-intermediate) proficiency are circulating in relevant social media groups, the Kazakh news outlet Liter.kz reported.

As of April 13, Kazakhstan’s authorities had published no official information about any change to residency permit requirements, leaving the situation unclear and prompting uncertainty among applicants. The absence of confirmation has led observers to question whether these reports reflect actual policy changes or simply misunderstandings regarding the existing immigration regulations (иммиграциялық ережелер) [immigraciyalıq erejeler].

A video guide on the official Kazakhstan Migration website states only that applicants must confirm A1 (beginner) language proficiency (A1 деңгейіндегі тіл білу) [A1 deñgeiindegi til bilu] with a KAZTEST certificate. The website of the National Testing Center, which administers KAZTEST with certificates ranging from A1 to C1 (advanced), also makes no mention of any new residency permit requirement. The KAZTEST certification system (KAZTEST сертификаттау жүйесі) [KAZTEST sertifikattau jüyesi] remains the primary standardized method for evaluating Kazakh language skills.

Kazakhstan has required proof of Kazakh language proficiency at the A1 level for residency permit applications since February 13, 2026, marking a formal step toward strengthening the role of the state language in official processes. Applicants must also complete a detailed questionnaire, where responses are evaluated through a structured scoring system, undergo an interview with the security services, and provide either written consent from their country of citizenship to leave for a residency permit abroad or a departure document. Additional requirements include submitting a lease agreement and demonstrating financial solvency requirements (қаржылық төлем қабілеттілігі талаптары) [qarjılıq tölem qabilet tiligi talaptary], with a bank account holding at least 5.7 million tenge. Medical certificates and a criminal record clearance are also mandatory, reflecting a broader effort to ensure compliance with migration procedures (көші-қон рәсімдеріне сәйкестік) [köşi-qon räsimderine säykes tik].

These measures align with Kazakhstan’s broader migration policy, which seeks to balance openness to foreign specialists with the promotion of national identity and administrative control. In many countries, language requirements for residency or citizenship range from beginner to intermediate levels, and a shift to B2 would place Kazakhstan closer to more demanding international standards for integration into society (қоғамға бейімделу) [qoğamğa beýimdelu].

The new requirements do not apply to residency permit renewals, to investors or representatives of in-demand professions on a special list, or to participants in the Digital Nomad Residence program for foreign IT specialists living in Kazakhstan and working remotely for companies abroad. These exemptions highlight the country’s effort to attract talent while maintaining flexibility in specific cases, particularly for those contributing to economic growth or innovation through remote employment structures (қашықтан жұмыс істеу құрылымдары) [qaşyqtan jumys isteu qurylımdary]. Kazakhstan issues residency permits to foreigners for 10 years, making it an appealing option for long-term relocation despite evolving administrative requirements.

Key Kazakh Vocabulary

қазақ тілін B2 деңгейінде меңгеру [qazaq tilin B2 deñgeiinde meñgeru] Kazakh proficiency at the B2 level
тұруға рұқсат талаптары [turūğa ruxsat talaptary] residency permit requirements
тіл сертификаты стандарты [til sertifikaty standarty] language certification standard
өтінішті бағалау критерийлері [ötinişti bağalau kriteriyleri] application assessment criteria
иммиграциялық ережелер [immigraciyalıq erejeler] immigration regulations
A1 деңгейіндегі тіл білу [A1 deñgeiindegi til bilu] A1 language proficiency
KAZTEST сертификаттау жүйесі [KAZTEST sertifikattau jüyesi] KAZTEST certification system
қаржылық төлем қабілеттілігі талаптары [qarjılıq tölem qabilet tiligi talaptary] financial solvency requirements
көші-қон рәсімдеріне сәйкестік [köşi-qon räsimderine säykes tik] compliance with migration procedures
қоғамға бейімделу [qoğamğa beýimdelu] integration into society
қашықтан жұмыс істеу құрылымдары [qaşyqtan jumys isteu qurylımdary] remote employment structures