Foreigners Moving To Kazakhstan Are Choosing Big Cities Over Most Regions

The number of foreigners moving to Kazakhstan for permanent residence has fallen for the second year in a row, Orda.kz reports, citing Finprom.

From January to April 2026, 7,300 foreigners arrived in Kazakhstan for permanent residence. That is almost 10% less than in the same period last year. In the first four months of 2024, the figure stood at 9,900. In 2025, it fell to 8,100, and this year to 7,300.

January was the most active month of 2026, with 2,600 arrivals. In 2024 and 2025, by contrast, January was one of the weakest months, with fewer than 500 arrivals.

Some regions saw almost no migration inflow. Only 10 foreigners moved to West Kazakhstan Region in four months. Kyzylorda Region recorded 19 arrivals, while Ulytau Region had 20.

The overall decline was recorded in nine out of Kazakhstan’s 20 regions. Almaty Region saw the steepest drop.

The largest decrease was observed in Almaty Region — by 1,300 people, or 52.6%. A significant decline was also recorded in Mangistau and Akmola regions,analysts said.

At the same time, Almaty received 454 more arrivals than a year earlier, Astana 174 more, and Zhetysu Region 166 more.

Foreigners are still moving to Kazakhstan, but the flow is increasingly concentrated in a small number of cities and regions. Most of the country remains outside the main relocation routes.

Original author: Daria Malkova

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