How a foreigner can get Kazakhstan citizenship: 5 years of permanent residence, the simplified route, the language test and giving up your old passport

A foreigner can become a citizen of Kazakhstan after at least five years of lawful permanent residence in the country (in other words, already holding a residence permit) or at least three years of marriage to a Kazakhstan citizen, provided they pass a test in the Kazakh language, the basics of the Constitution and the history of Kazakhstan, and do not keep another citizenship. Kandas and several other categories can use a simplified route with no residence requirement. Every application is decided by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Below is the procedure under the Law "On Citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan" as amended in 2025, together with the guidance published on gov.kz for 2026.

The path to citizenship: three stages

Citizenship is almost never the first status a foreigner holds. The usual sequence is:

1. Temporary stay — on a visa or a temporary residence permit (RVP) based on work, business, study or family.
2. Permanent residence — a permanent residence permit and residence card.
3. Admission to citizenship — once you have the required period of permanent residence or qualify for the simplified route.

The law links the five-year period specifically to lawful permanent residence. Years spent on a work visa or an RVP generally do not count towards it — check the calculation with the migration service before you apply.

Grounds under the general procedure (Article 16)

The following may be admitted to citizenship:

• people who have lived permanently and lawfully in Kazakhstan for at least five years;
• people married to a Kazakhstan citizen for at least three years;
• citizens of former Soviet republics who have come to live permanently, if a close relative (child, spouse, parent, brother or sister, grandparent) is a Kazakhstan citizen — the length of residence does not matter in this case.

The five-year or three-year requirement does not apply to minors, legally incapacitated persons, people with special merit to Kazakhstan, holders of professions on the list approved by the President, and their family members.

The simplified (registration) procedure (Article 16-1)

The simplified route is available to:

Simplified applications are reviewed within three months of submission. The simplified route is not automatic: the refusal grounds in Article 17 still apply.

Dual citizenship and renouncing your current citizenship

The Constitution and the Law on Citizenship share one rule: Kazakhstan does not recognise another state's citizenship held by its citizens. In practice this matters at three points.

Before admission. Holding another citizenship is a stand-alone ground for refusal (Article 17(1)(7)). The application therefore includes a document confirming that you have no other citizenship or that it has ended, or documents on renouncing it.

Exceptions. People covered by ratified international treaties, the simplified-route categories and those exempt from the residence period may instead submit to the internal affairs bodies a notarised written statement renouncing their foreign citizenship, addressed to an official of their state of citizenship. How and when the old citizenship actually ends depends on that country's law — in some states, renunciation takes months.

After admission. Kazakhstan citizenship is lost if the person acquires another citizenship or uses another state's documents after becoming a Kazakhstan citizen. Anyone who acquires another citizenship must report it to the internal affairs bodies or a Kazakhstan mission abroad within 30 calendar days and hand in their Kazakhstan documents.

The test in Kazakh, the Constitution and history

Since 2025, lacking elementary knowledge of the state language, the basics of the Constitution and the history of Kazakhstan, to the extent set by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, is a ground for refusal (Article 17(1)(14)). According to gov.kz, the 2026 format is:

Minors, legally incapacitated persons, ethnic Kazakhs, people with special merit or professions on the President's list, and those acquiring citizenship under ratified treaties are exempt. Registering for the test is not the same as applying for citizenship.

Documents

The application, addressed to the President, is filed with the migration service of the internal affairs bodies at your place of permanent residence. The core list on gov.kz:

1. application form in the prescribed format;
2. autobiography;
3. four photographs, 3.5 × 4.5 cm;
4. written undertaking to comply with the Law "On Citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan";
5. identity document (foreign passport or stateless person's ID);
6. document confirming that you have no other citizenship or that it has ended, or documents on renouncing it;
7. proof of payment of the state duty or of exemption;
8. test certificate (unless exempt).

Depending on the ground, you add a notarised copy of the marriage certificate with a Kazakhstan citizen, proof of kinship or a letter from the relevant government body. Foreign documents are filed with a notarised translation and, as a rule, an apostille or legalisation.

Processing times

Add preparation time on top: the test window (twice a year), the document confirming your exit from your current citizenship, translations and apostilles.

Grounds for refusal

Besides another citizenship and a failed test, Article 17 lists, among others:

• an unexpunged conviction for an intentional crime, including one abroad;
• repeated breaches of migration law in the five years before applying;
• economic offences in the five years before applying;
• false information, or failure to provide documents without good reason;
• acts against sovereignty, or involvement with extremist or terrorist organisations;
• loss of Kazakhstan citizenship in the previous five years on certain grounds of Article 21.

Common mistakes

• Counting years on an RVP. The five-year period is tied to permanent residence — start counting from your permanent residence permit.
• Leaving the test too late. Test applications open only in set windows; missing one pushes your application back by six months.
• Not planning the exit from your current citizenship. Find out in advance how long it takes in your country and what document it issues.
• Violations while you wait. Repeated migration fines in the five years before applying are a ground for refusal, so report address changes on time.

Visa Navigator helps foreigners move towards citizenship step by step: obtaining an RVP and permanent residence, checking whether your period counts and which ground applies, and preparing and translating documents for the migration service. The decision on citizenship is made by the President of Kazakhstan; our responsibility is a correct application package and timing. See the permanent residence (residence permit) service page.

This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules and practice change — verify the current requirements as of the date you apply.