Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has developed a draft Concept of Migration Policy through 2030, aimed at fostering a more balanced approach to migration management while mitigating associated risks. The proposal is currently under government review.
A central element of the draft is the enhancement of migration monitoring via the digital platform migration.enbek.kz. This platform will integrate data from multiple ministries to create a unified system for tracking internal, inbound, and outbound migration. The goal is to strengthen forecasting, analysis, and decision-making through improved access to real-time migration data.
The policy also places significant emphasis on internal labor migration. Particular attention is given to internal relocants and, ethnic Kazakhs returning from abroad. The draft proposes annual regional quotas to incentivize resettlement in northern, eastern, and central regions of the country. These measures will be complemented by initiatives to boost rural incomes, support small businesses, and promote agricultural cooperatives. Officials believe this strategy will help redistribute labor resources and bolster regional demographic stability.
On the external migration front, the concept outlines measures to protect the rights of Kazakhstani citizens working abroad, attract skilled foreign professionals and international students, and enhance support for returning Kazakhs. Proposed tools include bilateral labor agreements, expanded digital monitoring, and the development of specialized universities to aid in the educational and cultural integration of returnees.
Internal migration remains one of the country’s most pressing challenges, as major urban centers such as Almaty and Astana continue to attract young people from less developed regions, exacerbating regional disparities. The new policy aims to address these imbalances by providing targeted support for underpopulated areas.
