Nearly 10,000 foreign citizens have been deported from Kazakhstan since the beginning of 2025, according to First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Baurzhan Alenov. The announcement was made during a recent government meeting addressing migration trends and enforcement measures.

Alenov noted a consistent rise in the number of foreign arrivals to the country. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 7.5 million people entered Kazakhstan, while 7.2 million departed, a net increase of 600,000 compared to the same period in 2024. Approximately 90% of those arriving are citizens of post-Soviet states.

“It is important to note that 97% of foreign citizens comply with migration laws. However, more than 200,000 individuals have faced administrative penalties,” Alenov stated. “Of these, 46,000 were fined for violating residency rules, and nearly 10,000 have been deported with a five-year ban on re-entry.”

In addition, over 2,000 employers were fined for the illegal employment of foreign workers. Seven criminal cases have been opened against repeat offenders.

Migration Patterns and Permanent Residency

As of mid-2025, approximately 212,000 foreign nationals reside in Kazakhstan on a permanent basis. The largest concentration is in Almaty (42,000), followed by the Almaty region (32,000), and both Astana and the Karaganda region (17,000 each). Over the past three years, the number of permanent foreign residents has risen by 42%.

Kazakhstan also hosts around 430,000 temporary foreign residents. Of these, 360,000 are labor migrants, 17,000 arrived for family reunification, 8,000 for educational purposes, and 44,000 for tourism or private matters.

Government Response and New Initiatives

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of migration laws. He highlighted that over 7,000 violations were detected in May alone during nationwide operations.

“Such incidents must be addressed promptly. We need to actively implement digital tools. The introduction of migrant ID cards, issued at border entry points, must be accelerated to improve monitoring and regulation,” Bektenov said.

He instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to tighten administrative oversight and called on the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection to enhance regulation of private agencies involved in sending Kazakh citizens abroad for work.

“These agencies currently operate without accountability or oversight. By year’s end, legislative amendments must be proposed to require licensing of such activities. Additionally, I instruct the Ministry of Labor to submit a draft Concept of Migration and Demographic Policy by October 1. This document should align with the Concept of Regional Policy being developed through 2030,” Bektenov concluded.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the majority of foreign labor migrants in Kazakhstan in 2025 have come from China, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and India, working primarily in the construction sector.

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency has uncovered a secret underground tunnel used to smuggle petroleum products across the border with Uzbekistan.

The tunnel, discovered in the Turkestan region, extended 450 meters underground. According to the agency, a transnational criminal group operated the tunnel for approximately two months, using it to illegally transport fuel and lubricants. The scheme reportedly involved foreign financing and a carefully organized logistics network to facilitate cross-border smuggling.

The operation to dismantle the network was coordinated by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Turkestan region and the Department of Financial Monitoring, with assistance from Uzbek law enforcement. Authorities have identified all members of the group, including several Uzbek nationals. Five Kazakh citizens have been formally named as suspects. Officials confirmed that the investigation is complete and the case has been referred to court.

This is not the first such case. In December 2024, a similar tunnel was discovered under joint operations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. That tunnel also measured around 450 meters and was used to move an estimated 5 to 7 tons of fuel daily.

In April 2024, Kyrgyz authorities uncovered a separate underground passage in the Jalal-Abad region along the border with Uzbekistan. That tunnel was reportedly used for smuggling both people and goods. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Osh regional police department, officers arrested a woman from Uzbekistan who had illegally entered Kyrgyz territory through the tunnel.

These repeated discoveries highlight the persistence and complexity of smuggling operations across Central Asia’s borders. Authorities in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have intensified joint efforts to locate and dismantle underground smuggling routes used by organized criminal groups.

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency emphasized that cross-border cooperation will continue in order to prevent similar incidents and strengthen regional border security.