Over 28,000 Ethnic Kazakhs in Astana Granted Qandas Status

At a briefing hosted by the Regional Communications Service, Ilya Skub, head of Astana’s Department of Employment and Social Protection, shared updated figures on residents who received Qandas status after arriving from abroad, Orda.kz reports.

According to Skub, more than 28,000 people in the capital have been granted Qandas status, and over 20,000 of them have already obtained Kazakhstan citizenship.

The remaining applications are still under review.

Since the beginning of this year, 411 people have applied for Qandas status — 188 men and 223 women. The main countries of origin are Uzbekistan, China, Russia, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye. These are people returning to their historical homeland,
 Skub noted.

He explained that receiving Qandas status is a basic step. Those seeking additional benefits and payments must register in one of six designated settlement regions outlined in the government’s support program.

Only in these areas can relocatees access extended social assistance.

In parallel, Astana continues to attract foreign specialists for labor purposes. In 2025, a quota of 975 work permits was approved for the city, and 970 permits have already been issued.

Companies are bringing in highly qualified specialists who are not available on the domestic market in order to implement key projects,
added Skub.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov