Emigration from Kazakhstan Falls to a Record Low

In the first months of 2025, only 1,700 people emigrated from Kazakhstan — the lowest level in a quarter century and 2.8 times less than during the same period in 2024 (4,800 people). Since early 2023, the net migration balance has remained positive, reports Ranking.kz, citing data from the Bureau of National Statistics.

Analysts highlight that the number of immigrants has also decreased: from January to April, 8,100 people arrived in Kazakhstan for permanent residence, compared to 9,900 a year earlier. Nevertheless, since February 2023, the country has consistently recorded a positive migration balance, with more people arriving than leaving.

The overall trend over the past 25 years also shows a steady decline in emigration. In 2000, 155,700 people left the country, while in 2024, this figure dropped to only 12,700. There were increases only in certain periods, such as 2006–2008 and 2013–2019. The primary sources of emigration in 2024 were Kostanay, Pavlodar, Abay, North Kazakhstan, and East Kazakhstan regions, accounting for 47.9% of departures.

Experts from the UN Population Fund in Kazakhstan previously noted that declining emigration is linked to economic growth, rising demand for labor, the exhaustion of ethnic repatriation potential, and robust population growth in Central Asian countries, from which Kazakhstan receives many immigrants.

Russia remains the primary destination for emigrants — in 2024, 69% of emigrants from Kazakhstan moved there. However, this flow has sharply decreased: in Q1 2025, only 644 Kazakhs relocated to Russia — a 75.5% drop compared to early 2024. Germany ranks second, with about 2,000 Kazakhs settling there in 2023, but in the first months of 2025, departures dropped by 67.9%. The declining trend also affects other popular emigration destinations. The only exception is Kyrgyzstan, which has seen around 300 migrants annually from southern regions of Kazakhstan, with this flow gradually growing.

Interest in emigration among Kazakh citizens has also declined. According to a Demoscope survey conducted at the end of 2024 among 1,100 respondents from all regions and major cities, 78.5% do not plan to move abroad in the next 2–3 years. Only 6.9% intend to emigrate, 5.6% might consider it in the future, while 8.4% remain undecided. The main reasons include the search for higher incomes (24.5%), better prospects for children (23.9%), more prestigious job opportunities (14%), and access to quality education (11.7%). Very few cited family reunification (2.6%) or returning to their ethnic homeland (0.6%).

In recent years, the government has focused on attracting foreign specialists in technology and business, creating convenient pathways for relocation. In 2025, several new visa categories were introduced for digital nomads and professionals in key industries. The Digital Nomad Residency (B9‑1) streamlines the path to permanent residence for IT specialists. Additionally, the Neo Nomad visa (B12‑1) is available for remote workers employed by foreign companies, while the B9 visa serves scientists, educators, healthcare professionals, and creative industry workers. For attracting large investors, the country launched the Golden Visa — a 10-year residency permit for foreigners investing at least $300,000 in Kazakhstan’s economy.

However, Kazakhstan has simultaneously tightened controls over migration and financial security. For example, in March 2025, about 2,000 bank accounts were blocked in the North Kazakhstan region, the majority belonging to Russian relocants. Officially, this was part of a pre-trial investigation into suspicious transactions initiated by law enforcement authorities in Petropavlovsk. The largest share of account freezes occurred among users of Kaspi Bank, one of the most popular banks among foreigners. This practice reflects the state’s broader policy to combat illegal financial operations and money laundering: in 2024 alone, over 6,200 cases of “drop-card” usage were registered, with about 90% involving non-residents.

Similar tightening applies to foreigner registration processes. In early 2025, Kazakhstan banned issuing individual identification numbers (IINs) abroad due to widespread violations. Over the past three years, authorities discovered numerous cases of IINs being obtained illegally. However, in April, a pilot project lifted this ban for specific groups: potential investors, spouses of Kazakh citizens, children under 16, people with disabilities, company executives registered in Kazakhstan, participants in the circulation of marked products, and manufacturers of plant protection products.

Thus, Kazakhstan’s migration landscape remains complex. Declining emigration and growing immigration go hand in hand with new mechanisms to attract foreign professionals. At the same time, the country is tightening scrutiny over money flows and document processing for foreigners. This combination shapes Kazakhstan’s current migration policy — balancing economic interests with stricter regulatory oversight.