2.8 Thousand Ethnic Kazakhs Granted Kandas Status in 2024

The majority of recent Kandas arrivals (49.6%) are from China, followed by 31.9% from Uzbekistan, 6.8% from Turkmenistan, 6.5% from Mongolia, 3.9% from Russia, and 1.3% from other countries.

By March 1, 2024, the working-age population among these migrants constituted 58.7%, with minors at 31.9% and pensioners at 9.4%. Education-wise, 16.9% of working-age Kandas hold higher education, 21.3% have specialized secondary education, 55.3% have general secondary education, and 6.5% have no formal education.

Ethnic Kazakhs resettled in various regions across Kazakhstan, with specific focus on labor-scarce areas such as the Abay region, Akmola, Kostanay, Pavlodar, East, and North Kazakhstan regions.

For 2024, the quota for resettlement in these regions stands at 2,433 individuals. By March 1, 2024, 607 Kandas had been resettled in these designated areas.

Government support measures for Kandas settling in these regions include relocation subsidies, monthly assistance for housing rental and utility payments, and employment support. Since the beginning of the year, 144 candidates have received various support measures, including permanent employment for 143 individuals.

Furthermore, institutional measures have been introduced to support employers involved in resettling citizens to northern regions. An economic mobility certificate has been initiated to facilitate housing purchase, construction, or mortgage support, covering up to 50% of housing costs or up to 4.28 million tenge per family.

Notably, a pilot mechanism for assigning Kandas status has been implemented since 2023, enabling applications to be processed through Kazakhstan’s embassies. To date, 6,203 applications from ethnic Kazakhs have been accepted under this new format, streamlining the process of visiting Kazakhstan, seeking employment, housing opportunities, and acquiring Kandas status without physically entering the country.