Kazakhstan is a fairly young republic and a large number of Russians live on its territory. The division that occurred after the collapse of the USSR now obliges permanent residents of this republic to obtain Kazakh citizenship. The territory is predominantly occupied by Kazakhs, but there is a decent portion of immigrants and representatives of other nations who wish to legitimize their permanent resident status. Becoming a Kazakh citizen will only be possible after going through all the stages. You need not only documents to obtain citizenship, but also compliance with all requirements for their registration.
The issue of dual citizenship
Back in 2010, the Parliament of Kazakhstan wanted to grant the right to have two citizenships to those residents of the country who are geographically located next to the Russian Federation, but this issue remained open. When applying for Kazakh citizenship in 2021, you will have to write a renunciation of residency in other states. Only the following categories of citizens can obtain dual resident status:
- People with serious illnesses who move from country to country for health reasons.
- Citizens with special services to the republic.
- Persons who have restored their citizenship, that is, repatriates.
Children of persons from the listed categories can also apply for dual citizenship. The law of Kazakhstan on the illegal assignment of second residency is very strict. If such cases are identified, the person may lose his Civil Code forever and will be expelled from the country.
How to obtain Russian citizenship for a citizen of Uzbekistan
Citizens who have any specific services to Russia may be granted the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation without fulfilling the previously listed conditions. Persons from countries that were once part of the Soviet Union, as well as contract employees in the Russian army, can apply for Russian citizenship under special conditions, i.e. without a mandatory residence permit for everyone and 5 years of residence in the country.
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The five-year period of permanent resident status can be reduced to one year for scientists, cultural and sports figures who have achieved significant achievements in their field of activity, highly qualified specialists in rare professions, officially recognized refugees and persons who are granted political asylum in Russia.
Who can apply?
At the end of 1991, the Kazakh Government adopted a law on citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which covers all options for obtaining resident status legally:
- By right of birth, citizenship is automatically assigned if the parents do not want to make their child a citizen of another state.
- Naturalization.
- If a person marries a representative of Kazakhstan.
- By right of permanent residence. This category applies to those who have been permanently residing in the republic since the end of 1991.
- If a foreigner lives in the territory of the republic for more than five years.
- For citizens of the former republics, loyal conditions are provided, provided they have a document confirming family ties on this land.
- If the immigrant has a residence permit or received residence for special merits.
- Children born outside of Kazakhstan are automatically given the status of a subject of this state if at least one of the parents is a citizen.
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Take the free test and find out your chances. Until the age of eighteen, issues of citizenship are decided for children by their parents or legal representatives, but when they reach the age of majority, they have the right to appeal their decision. Registration of citizenship is a long process, but there are those categories of persons who are entitled to relief. They can go through this procedure using a simplified procedure. These include:
- repatriates;
- compatriots;
- victims of political repression and their relatives;
- ethnic Kazakhs and foreigners who received education on Kazakh soil and decided to stay there for permanent residence.
On a note! Regarding the last points, applications are considered in an accelerated manner. If the process according to the standard scheme is carried out in a year, then people from a special category receive resident status in three months.
How to obtain Kazakhstan citizenship for a citizen of Uzbekistan
Obtaining citizenship for citizens of Uzbekistan is fully regulated by domestic legislation. The fundamental legal act in this area is the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation,” which reflects all general and special provisions regarding the procedure for obtaining the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation. Particular attention should be paid to special standards of receipt, which are enshrined in by-laws: decrees of the President of Russia, government resolutions, acts of administrative structures of the constituent entities of the federation, and so on.
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The applicant is notified of the decision made both by telephone and in person. If the issue is resolved positively, the applicant receives a passport of a citizen of Kazakhstan.
Ways to obtain citizenship
The options for obtaining citizenship in Kazakhstan were briefly discussed, but it is worth telling in more detail about each procedure. For all reasons, an individual registration process is provided. This republic makes a number of requirements for those who want to obtain Kazakhstani citizenship. Without meeting all of them, the application will be denied. Let's consider each way to become an official citizen of this republic.
Residence in Kazakhstan until 1992
People who have lived there for many years have residency behind the scenes, but in order for citizenship to become official for these citizens, registration is required. After submitting documents and passing all stages, they will receive a certificate. There is a significant nuance in this issue: if a person renounced his citizenship before 1995, then he will not be able to become a resident of this country again.
Acquiring citizenship
The procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship is not much different from the procedure on Kazakh soil. If a foreigner wishes to acquire this status, then he must follow the standard procedure. It is worth considering a few points:
- A person must reside in the territory of the republic for at least five years.
- The move can be carried out using a study or work visa or after obtaining a residence permit.
- If you marry a representative of this country, applications can only be submitted after three years.
- Reunion with family is included in the concept of naturalization among Kazakhs. A person must prove with documents that he is related to these people “by blood.”
On a note! The last two options practically guarantee citizenship. Refusals in this case are extremely rare, but occur due to the negative reputation of the citizen.
Kazakh citizenship for children
Child citizenship in Kazakhstan is assigned by birth or through naturalization. If at least one of the parents is a resident of this republic, then documents can be submitted immediately in a general application. Children over 14 years of age can choose their own citizenship, even if they are still in the care of their legal representatives.
Citizenship by naturalization
Being a native Russian speaker will not prevent you from obtaining residency in Kazakhstan. The authorities of this country do not require testing and basic knowledge of the Kazakh language. To undergo naturalization, it is enough to live on Kazakh soil, obtain a residence permit in advance, or get there on a study or work visa. Documents are submitted only if the period of residence is more than five years.
For work
Many foreigners become permanent residents of this republic due to work issues. To move to Kazakhstan for professional reasons, you need not only a work visa, but also an invitation letter from your employer. For Russians, the system is simpler. When crossing the border, they just need to fill out an immigrant card and put notes about their employer. In this case, the duration of his stay in this country is equal to the term of the employment contract. An employment agreement with a company is precisely a pass across the border.
For studies
While there are relaxations for working activities, they have not yet been introduced for students. Even Russian students will have to apply for a student visa. This process does not take much time, but documents must be submitted 2-3 weeks before the start of the school year. Let's analyze the list of necessary documentation:
- Passport of the country from which the student is coming and its copy.
- Foreign ID card.
- Application form in Russian.
- Photo 35x45 mm.
- Invitation card from an educational institution.
- Bank account statement confirming solvency or sponsorship letter.
- Permission from parents, which confirms that they agree to the child’s education in another country. Provided if the student is a minor.
Registration takes place at the Kazakh Consulate. A service fee of 60 euros for a single-entry visa document and 200 euros for a multiple-entry visa is also required. The receipt must be attached to all documents. The average processing time for an application is no more than a week.
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Resident card
Such a certificate allows you to live, work, enter into a marriage contract, organize your own business and study on the territory of Kazakhstan without any time limits. This procedure is considered an important point, which will bring a foreigner one step closer to obtaining resident status. The most important condition for obtaining a residence permit is a stable financial situation. Let's look at the list of required documents:
- Application form.
- Filling out a special form for a residence permit.
- Availability of a valid Russian passport.
- Personal biography.
- Document for housing purchased in Kazakhstan. Also an extract stating that the property was purchased with legal funds.
- A certificate stating that the person has never been convicted.
- Marriage certificate, birth certificate of children and military ID (if available).
- Certificate of absence of serious illnesses and mental disorders. A medical document confirms that the person is not dangerous to others.
- Bank account statement confirming solvency.
Important! All documentation must be copied and notarized.
Is dual citizenship with Russia allowed in Kazakhstan?
The Russian Federation does not prohibit its residents from belonging to another state. This does not deprive him of the rights given to him as a citizen of Russia. In other words, by accepting citizenship of a second country, he does not cease to be a Russian. Russia's dual status with Turkmenistan and Tajikistan has been settled.
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Warm friendly relations have been established between the two countries, and a visa-free regime operates. Russians can visit a friendly republic without a foreign passport, just as Kazakhstanis can come to Russia. Diplomatic agreements allow you to obtain a residence permit or permanent residence, as well as finally settle in a new place according to a simplified scheme.
Where to start and where to go?
Obtaining citizenship in Kazakhstan should begin with collecting all the documentation. The decision is made by a special commission. To do this, a person must submit documents to the Consulate or the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs attached to the Migration Service. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs take part in the study of data on a potential resident. It is these organizations that make the final decision. In order to obtain citizenship for a citizen in Kazakhstan who has been living with permanent residence for several years, a simplified form is used and the application is processed many times faster.
Is dual citizenship possible in Russia and Kazakhstan?
After submitting the petition, the candidate’s case is transferred to the Department of Internal Affairs of the capital of Kazakhstan, where all submitted documents are checked, a conclusion is made on them, which, together with the entire package, is transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and then to the presidential administration. Each of the bodies involved in the consideration of the case is given a period of one month to render a verdict. It follows that the total time spent by the petition in various instances is equal to six months.
The legislation of Kazakhstan does not provide for the possibility of having dual citizenship with any other country in the world. However, residents of zones bordering the Russian Federation find the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of both powers. The question of how to eradicate dual citizenship in Russia and Kazakhstan is becoming increasingly pressing for migration services.
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List of documents
Employees of the department that will accept the application will not only provide the necessary forms, but will also help fill them out if there is any difficulty. Let's look at the list of papers:
- Questionnaire.
- Biography.
- Four photos 35 x 45 mm.
- A certificate stating that there is no criminal record and a bank account statement confirming solvency. If a person does not have his own funds, then he can prepare a sponsorship letter from the person who provides him.
- Originals and copies of all passports available.
- A certificate stating that the person does not have resident status in another country or a statement that he is ready to renounce it.
- A statement promising to comply with the Legislation and Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- Paid receipt of state duty.
- Marriage certificate, birth certificate of children (if available).
- Petition.
The average processing time for an application is six months or more. The state fee is about 60 euros. Documents are sent to the Consulate only if the person is outside the Civil Code. Forms can be filled out either in Kazakh or Russian, as desired. If a person does not know these languages, then he will need help filling it out. Any paper must be notarized before filing.
Important! When applying for citizenship, it is not necessary to have a residence permit, but it will be a serious advantage. No one prohibits applicants from additionally submitting a request for dual residence, but in 90% of cases, this request will be denied.
Result of consideration of the application
The inspection authorities examine the application especially carefully. It will be reviewed by several structures at once. If the authorities make a positive decision, the future citizen of Kazakhstan will be notified about this by telephone or in writing. This person will be called for a final interview and after he recites the Oath of Allegiance and promises to comply with the Law and Constitution of the country, a certificate will be drawn up. A document confirming that he now has the status of a resident of this state will not be issued immediately. Approximate period: from 7 to 10 days.
On what grounds are they denied citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan?
There are often cases when a person receives a categorical refusal. Due to the fact that the registration procedure requires a lot of time and costs, it is worth considering a list of reasons why you should not even apply for citizenship:
- Criminal. He is on the federal wanted list.
- There is a suspicion that he is a member of a terrorist organization.
- He is a member of an organization that conducts propaganda against the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- Engaged in prohibited activities.
- Incites national hatred within the country.
- He has citizenship of another state and hid this fact.
- Has outstanding convictions.
- Provided knowingly false information in applications.
- Violated the law while being brought to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- Harmful to public safety.
The Kazakh authorities are quite loyal to migrants and those persons who wish to obtain resident status on their land, but require that they comply with the conditions for obtaining citizenship and provide comprehensive information about themselves. Before submitting the documentation, make sure that the package is complete and the inspection authorities will have no reason for refusal.