Russians who have relocated to Kazakhstan say the country has raised its language requirement for residency permits, with some reporting that applicants must now demonstrate Kazakh proficiency at the B2 level.

Viktoria Laukhina, who moved to Kazakhstan from Russia, reported the change on TikTok. Vadim Yermolaev, a Russian national who went through every stage of the new residency permit process and was rejected, also described the new system. Reports about a requirement for a certificate confirming B2 (upper-intermediate) proficiency are circulating in relevant social media groups, the Kazakh news outlet Liter.kz reported.

As of April 13, Kazakhstan’s authorities had published no official information about any change to residency permit requirements.

A video guide on the official Kazakhstan Migration website states only that applicants must confirm A1 (beginner) language proficiency with a KAZTEST certificate. The website of the National Testing Center, which administers KAZTEST with certificates ranging from A1 to C1 (advanced), also makes no mention of any new residency permit requirement.

Kazakhstan has required proof of Kazakh language proficiency at the A1 level for residency permit applications since February 13, 2026. Applicants must also complete a detailed questionnaire — answers are scored according to a special system and a minimum number of points is required — undergo an interview with the security services, and provide either written consent from their country of citizenship to leave for a residency permit abroad or a departure document. Applicants must also submit a lease agreement and proof of financial solvency: a bank account must hold at least 5.7 million tenge (about 900,000 rubles), according to the independent Russian news outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe. Medical certificates and a criminal record clearance are also required.

The new requirements do not apply to residency permit renewals, to investors or representatives of in-demand professions on a special list, or to participants in the Digital Nomad Residence program for foreign IT specialists living in Kazakhstan and working remotely for companies abroad. Kazakhstan issues residency permits to foreigners for 10 years.