Migration Policy - The Times Of Central Asia

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Migration Policy

Kazakhstan Prepares QazETA Entry Authorization for Visa-Free Travelers

Kazakhstan is preparing to change entry rules for citizens of countries that enjoy visa-free travel: before their trip, they may be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The system remains voluntary for now, but legislation already suggests that authorities are preparing for their phased mandatory introduction. The new rules will also affect Russians and citizens of other Eurasian Economic Union countries. An ETA is a form of pre-travel authorization used by a number of countries to screen visa-exempt travelers before arrival. QazETA is the digital platform through which Kazakhstan issues the authorization. It does not replace a visa or extend the permitted period of stay. Kazakhstan launched the platform in pilot mode earlier in 2026, with a new phase of implementation beginning on August 25. Citizens of visa-exempt countries are currently advised to apply through the mobile app no later than 72 hours before traveling. The authorization is valid for 180 days. For now, the absence of an ETA is not grounds for border authorities to deny entry. Kazakhstan’s Law on Migration already contains a separate article governing electronic travel authorization. It provides for a fee for obtaining an ETA, with the proceeds to be divided equally between financing the digital system and supporting tourism development. The government has not yet publicly set the amount of the fee. A detailed timetable reported from an earlier version of Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel advisory indicated that the ETA could become mandatory for air travelers from November 1, then be extended to road crossings with China, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, followed later by the borders with Russia and Kyrgyzstan, and by mid-December to rail and maritime travel. However, the ministry’s current advisory no longer lists those dates. It says Kazakhstan will announce the dates for each stage, as well as the fee, separately. The same reports have also cited an indicative fee of around 3,900 tenge – approximately $9 – for a standard application and twice that amount for an application submitted directly at the border. In practical terms, the new system means that visa-free travel will remain in place, but travel itself will no longer be entirely free of advance formalities. Foreign nationals will still be able to enter without a visa, but they will likely have to register through QazETA and obtain an ETA before crossing the border. For Kazakhstan, the mechanism provides a way to obtain information about incoming travelers in advance and monitor migration flows more closely. Attracting Skilled Professionals At the same time, the government is seeking to make the country more attractive to skilled professionals and investors. In May, authorities presented a new migration model with separate arrangements for entrepreneurs, highly qualified workers, and other categories of foreign nationals. The new rules have attracted particular attention because of Russia. The two countries share a long land border, are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, and maintain visa-free travel. After Russia announced partial mobilization for the war in Ukraine in September 2022, Kazakhstan became one...

Investment

Kazakhstan to Improve Investor Protections and Accelerate Digital Reforms

Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has instructed government agencies to accelerate the removal of administrative barriers for investors and expand the digitalization of investment procedures amid intensifying global competition for capital. Speaking at a meeting on investor rights protection attended by government officials, prosecutors, business representatives, and the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Bektenov said improving the investment climate remains a government priority. “Just last week, a presidential decree was signed on improving migration policy, aimed at creating a better environment for attracting investors, entrepreneurs, and highly qualified specialists,” Bektenov said. According to the government, Kazakhstan’s Investment Headquarters reviewed 44 projects worth approximately $25.5 billion during the first quarter of 2026. Prosecutor General Berik Asylov said the number of criminal cases against businesses has fallen fourfold over the past three years. “We are overseeing more than 3,000 investment projects. We maintain direct communication and continuous monitoring with investors and the business community,” he said. According to the Foreign Ministry, investors submitted 273 appeals during the first quarter of the year, with around half resolved positively. The main concerns related to tax administration, customs procedures, and land issues. Baurzhan Yeraly, chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Investors’ Rights under the General Prosecutor’s Office, said the rights of around 600 investors had already been protected this year, with complaints handled directly rather than transferred between agencies. Officials cited several successful cases, including the connection of a major energy project in the Atyrau region to engineering infrastructure and the inclusion of a paper products manufacturer in the national registry of domestic producers. Bektenov criticized what he described as a formalistic approach by some state bodies in dealing with businesses. “Every request from an investor is a signal behind which stand decisions on capital allocation, the launch of new production facilities, and the creation of jobs,” he said. The prime minister warned that officials and managers in the quasi-state sector responsible for bureaucratic delays would face “the strictest measures.” He also pointed to systemic problems, including weak coordination between agencies, delays in public service delivery, and insufficient oversight at the regional level. Particular attention was given to the role of local administrations, which were instructed to supervise key investment projects directly and accelerate the allocation of land, infrastructure, and permits. The government also plans to speed up development of the National Digital Investment Platform. More than 3,000 projects worth around $200 billion have already been integrated into the system, though more than 400 projects have yet to be uploaded. “In the context of global competition for investment, we must ensure a stable and favorable investment climate,” Bektenov said. Asset Irgaliyev, chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms, said the agency is developing a “regulatory intelligence” platform using artificial intelligence to identify excessive requirements and administrative barriers. Authorities also plan to expand the overseas network of Kazakh Invest. According to company head Sultangali Kinzhakulov, representative offices in the United States, Germany, China, Russia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Qatar will operate as “one-stop...

Migration Policy

Kazakhstan to Focus on Skilled Migrants in New Migration Policy

Kazakhstan is shifting toward a more pragmatic migration policy aligned with the needs of the national economy. The government’s newly approved Migration Policy Concept through 2030 prioritizes attracting in-demand highly skilled professionals and encouraging internal migration to regions experiencing labor shortages. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the number of foreign labor migrants in Kazakhstan reached 16,100 in 2025. Minister of Labor Askarbek Yertayev said that greater emphasis will be placed on assessing the professional qualifications of foreign workers. Priority will be given to specialists with relevant education, work experience, and competencies sought in the domestic labor market. By 2030, the share of skilled workers among labor migrants is expected to increase to 95%. To support these objectives, the ministry has launched a pilot project on the digital platform migration Enbek.kz. The initiative introduces a comprehensive scoring system to evaluate applicants when issuing permanent residence permits and granting kandas status, a designation for ethnic Kazakhs returning to their historical homeland. A draft law has also been prepared that includes revising fees for hiring foreign labor, tightening regulation of private employment agencies, and formally integrating the digital scoring mechanism into migration decision-making processes. The quota for attracting foreign workers in 2026 has been set at 0.25% of the total national workforce, according to official data. The main countries of origin for officially employed foreign nationals remain China, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and India. At the same time, the government is strengthening measures to manage internal migration. In 2025, 14.7% of participants in state-supported interregional resettlement programs relocated to northern regions of the country. Major cities such as Almaty and Astana continue to attract young people from less economically developed regions, exacerbating territorial imbalances.

Migration Policy

Uzbek Migration Agency Clarifies Legal Status Rules for Citizens in Turkey

Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency has issued an official clarification in response to social media posts and Telegram channel reports claiming that Uzbek citizens are no longer being deported from Turkey. The agency stated that such interpretations are misleading and do not reflect existing agreements or procedures. According to the agency, the issue at hand is not the cancellation of deportations, but rather the possibility of legalizing migration status strictly within the boundaries of Turkey’s current legal framework. “Responsibility for illegal stay and violations of migration law in Türkiye remains in force,” the agency said, urging citizens to rely exclusively on official sources and to view a detailed explanatory video published by the agency. The clarification follows what the agency described as inaccurate portrayals of ongoing consultations. Officials stressed that some outlets had distorted the nature of the discussions, leading to confusion among the public. The agency emphasized that the safety and legal protection of citizens abroad can only be guaranteed when migrants comply with the laws of host countries. Addressing the situation of undocumented migrants, the agency stated that Uzbek citizens currently residing or working illegally in Turkey may apply to Turkish migration authorities or to the agency’s representative office in Turkey to legalize their status, without facing deportation, provided they follow the established legal procedures. However, it warned that this does not mean individuals can leave Turkey without consequence if they have violated migration rules. The clarification comes amid heightened attention to the status of Uzbek migrants in Turkey following a high-profile criminal case in Istanbul. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, on January 24 the body of an Uzbek woman, identified as Durdona H., was found in a garbage container in Istanbul. Two Uzbek men were detained while attempting to flee to Georgia in connection with the case. The killing sparked protests in Turkey, where women called for justice for Durdona and other victims. On January 30, Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in Istanbul announced that Durdona’s body and her two children had been repatriated. The consulate stated that all related expenses were covered by the diplomatic mission and the Migration Agency. The Migration Agency concluded its statement by reiterating its call for responsible information sharing, and warning against the spread of unverified claims that could endanger citizens abroad.

Migration Policy

Kazakhstan Drafts New Migration Policy Concept Through 2030

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.

Labor Migration

Kazakhstan Labor Migration Report Shows Most Citizens Working in Russia

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has released updated data on the number of Kazakh citizens working abroad. According to the ministry, 126,000 citizens are currently employed outside the country, which has a population of more than 20 million. The vast majority, over 80%, have found work in neighboring Russia. The figures were shared by First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askarbek Yertayev during a briefing with journalists on the sidelines of a Senate meeting. Of the 126,000 citizens working abroad, 102,000 are employed in Russia, 15,000 in South Korea, and approximately 2,000 in the United Kingdom and European Union member states. Yertayev noted that Kazakhstan has yet to finalize bilateral labor agreements with all countries where its citizens are working. “In particular, an agreement with South Korea is still under discussion, we have been negotiating for two years. Talks were paused due to the domestic political situation there,” Yertayev said, referring to the ongoing standoff between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and the country’s parliament. “Negotiations resumed this fall, and we plan to continue them, as 11,000 of the 15,000 Kazakh citizens in South Korea are working illegally. Measures must be taken, but the Korean side has several conditions, including that Kazakhstan address the issue of its undocumented migrants,” he added. Seoul has requested a “road map” from Kazakhstan to address the problem of illegal labor migration. The document is expected to include mechanisms to prevent undocumented employment. Yertayev expressed confidence that an agreement would be reached before the end of the year. He noted that legal employment in South Korea would allow Kazakh workers to access higher wages and social protections, including healthcare and insurance. “Currently, our citizens in South Korea who are working illegally cannot even send their earnings back home: banks refuse to process the transfers, forcing them to rely on informal channels, which often leads to fraud,” the deputy minister said. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh authorities have also intensified domestic efforts to formalize the labor market by cracking down on employers who pay “gray” wages, off-the-books income that evades taxes and social contributions.