Kazakhstan to Offer Payments for Relocating from Major Cities to Regions Starting in 2027

Employment or business development in the new location will be the key condition for participation

Starting January 1, 2027, new rules for the voluntary relocation of citizens to labor-shortage regions will come into force in Kazakhstan.

Under the program, the government will provide relocation payments, rental housing compensation, and assistance with home purchases.

The initiative is designed to encourage voluntary migration from regions with a surplus labor force to areas experiencing worker shortages.

Regions classified as labor-surplus areas include Almaty, Zhambyl, Mangystau, and Turkistan regions, as well as the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent.

The program will be open to unemployed individuals, specialists in high-demand professions, and heads of peasant and farming enterprises.

The main requirement for interregional relocation is employment or the development of a business in the new location. State support will only be available to those moving to settlements included in the approved list.

Under the new rules, the one-time relocation subsidy will amount to 70 Monthly Calculation Indices (MCIs) for each family member, including the applicant.

However, the payment will not be made immediately after relocation. To qualify for the subsidy, the applicant or an able-bodied family member must work in the new location for at least three consecutive months. Mandatory social contributions must also be made on behalf of the employee.

Program participants will also be eligible for monthly compensation covering rental housing and utility expenses.

The amount of assistance will depend on whether the family relocates to an urban or rural area, as well as on the number of family members.

The compensation is planned to be paid until the family acquires its own housing, but for no longer than 12 months. To receive this support, the applicant or an able-bodied family member must work in the new location for at least six consecutive months with mandatory social contributions being made.

Another support measure is the Economic Mobility Certificate. The funds can be used to purchase housing in the relocation region or as a down payment on a mortgage.

However, the certificate will only be available after the applicant confirms at least 12 consecutive months of employment in the new location, with mandatory social contributions having been paid during that period.

The new rules also require beneficiaries to return the state support received if they voluntarily leave the government-designated relocation region within five years.

Photo: social media.

SHARE YOUR OPINION AND DISCUSS THE ARTICLE ON OUR TELEGRAM CHANNEL!