Kazakhstan Citizenship: Authorities Propose New Exam Requirements

Photo: www.inform.kz

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education has proposed changes to the citizenship exam structure. According to NUR.KZ, the new draft lowers the minimum passing score for the Kazakh language while raising the threshold for constitutional knowledge.

The draft, published on the “Open NPA” portal, proposes to lower the Kazakh language score from 36 to 15 and raise the constitution knowledge requirement from 9 to 20. History remains unchanged at 15 points. Officials believe the revision will create a more balanced exam with an even distribution of questions and a 10% reduction in the total threshold.



The government also plans simplified citizenship for Russians, Belarusians, Kyrgyz nationals, and foreign women married to Kazakh citizens, under international agreements.

Foreigners not eligible for the simplified procedure must submit a formal application to local migration authorities. The petition must be addressed to the President and state the reason for applying.

In May, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree mandating a citizenship test covering language, history, and the Constitution. Applicants with serious criminal records or links to extremist/terrorist groups are barred from applying.



Kazakhstan prohibits dual citizenship. Between 2016 and 2021, over 3,500 violators lost their Kazakh citizenship. Many were fined; 473 were deported. In 2022, more than 840 faced administrative penalties. From January to August 2023, over 250 individuals were stripped of their citizenship.

According to the Interior Ministry, the number of people losing citizenship exceeded 17,000 in 2021, reached 18,568 in 2022, and was 16,028 in 2023. Most gave up citizenship due to emigration, especially to Russia (over 14,000). Numbers for Turkey (371), Germany (277), Canada (153), and the UK (133) were much lower.

The outflow dropped to a record low in early 2025—just 1,700 people emigrated from January to April, almost half the number from the same period in 2024. Departures to Russia dropped by 75.5% to 644 people. Emigration to Germany, Canada, and the UK also declined. Only migration to Kyrgyzstan rose, with around 300 people moving annually from southern Kazakhstan.

A Demoscope survey in late 2024 showed 78.5% of Kazakhs do not plan to emigrate in the next 2–3 years. Only 6.9% expressed readiness to leave, and 5.6% were open to the idea. Top reasons included higher income, better prospects for children, prestigious jobs, and education. Family and ethnic motivations were cited least.

Kazakhstan is gradually overhauling its migration system, following global trends. The focus is now on transparency, legal clarity, and tighter control. The global priority is skilled professionals, especially in IT, business, and investment. Visa and legal regimes are being tailored for them. Simultaneously, the government is tightening oversight on finance, documentation, and residency compliance—creating a more structured and manageable migration policy.