How much Kazakh citizenship costs in 2026

8 min read · Published 6 October 2026

State fees for the whole path to a Kazakh passport are about $50 per adult. The main conditions are 5 years with permanent residence, money in an account, an exam and renouncing Russian citizenship.

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Key point	2026 figures
Route	naturalisation or a simplified procedure
Residence	5 years with permanent residence, 3 through marriage
State fees per adult	~$50 for the whole path
Money in an account	~$13,000 per person, it stays yours
Exam	Kazakh language, Constitution and history
Processing	up to 6 months, up to 3 on the simplified route
Dual citizenship	not recognised, Russian citizenship must be renounced

Amounts checked: 2026-10-06

A Kazakh passport cannot be bought: there is no citizenship by investment programme, and investment gives only residence. Citizenship comes after 5 years with permanent residence, after 3 years of marriage to a citizen or by a simplified procedure through kinship and descent.

The state charges about $50 for the whole path, but the real price lies elsewhere: money in an account confirmed for five years, a Kazakh language exam and renouncing Russian citizenship. Below is every cost item, the family minimum, timelines, what happens after a refusal and a comparison with neighbours.

We will work out online when you can apply and what fees and documents will cost for your family.

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What the cost is made of

Cost item	Amount	Who pays
Permanent residence permit	$40	each adult
Citizenship fee, 1 MCI	$10	each adult
Money in a Kazakh account	~$13,000, it stays yours	each family member
Exam in Kazakh, the Constitution and history	at the testing centre tariff	each adult
Notarised translation into Kazakh or Russian	per page	each applicant
Apostilled criminal record certificate	at the issuing country's tariff	each adult
Renouncing Russian citizenship	at the Russian consulate tariff	each adult

Fees are counted in monthly calculation indices: in 2026 one index is about $10. Dollars are at the National Bank of Kazakhstan rate on 6 October 2026, rounded up.

The money in the account is not a cost but a reserve: it is confirmed when applying for permanent residence and then every year for 5 years.

Fees are $50, the years and the passport cost more

Kazakhstan charges little for citizenship, but the path takes five years and your Russian passport. Money is lost on permanent residence refusals over points and the test, on breaks in the period and on renouncing Russian citizenship at the wrong time. Murblz counts points before filing, arranges the permit and residence card, prepares you for the Kazakh language exam and arranges renunciation without a gap.

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How much it costs for a family of 2, 3 and 4

Family	Minimum
Two adults	from $100 in fees; ~$26,000 is kept in accounts and stays yours
Two adults and a child	from $100 in fees plus the child's fees; ~$39,000 in accounts
Two adults and two children	from $100 in fees plus the children's fees; ~$52,000 in accounts

The account requirement is counted for each family member, so the sum is planned in advance. Each adult sits the exam and files their own application, while applications for children under 18 are filed by legal representatives with notarised consent. Children and people without legal capacity do not sit the exam.

What the cost does not include

housing and living in Kazakhstan for five years;
flights and trips for filing;
Kazakh language courses;
the medical certificate for permanent residence;
taxes and contributions for the years in the country.

Timeline by step

Step	Time
Permanent residence permit: points, test, money in an account	45 days
Residence card	after the permit
Living in the country with the permit	5 years, 3 through marriage
Exam in language, Constitution and history	before filing
Application to the President and a request to renounce previous citizenship	1 day
Review	up to 6 months, up to 3 on the simplified route
Renouncing Russian citizenship and a Kazakh passport	months, through the consulate

The whole path under the general rule takes 5.5-6 years. On the simplified route, for example for ethnic Kazakh returnees and people with a close citizen relative, no residence period is needed and the path takes months.

Is money refunded if you are refused

There is no investment, and fees are not returned after a refusal. The money in the account remains yours. After a refusal a new application is considered no earlier than a year later.

Refusals most often follow without an exam certificate, with breaks in the permanent residence period and without a document renouncing the previous citizenship. Kazakh citizenship is lost if a person acquires another or uses another country's documents.

Comparison with neighbouring programmes

Country	Route	Minimum for one	Time	Dual citizenship
Kyrgyzstan	Simplified naturalisation for former USSR citizens	from $115	About 1.5 years: a year with residence and up to 6 months for the decree	allowed
Armenia	Citizenship by Armenian origin	from $140	4-6 months, no residence required	allowed
Serbia	Naturalisation after permanent residence	from $750	From 6 years: residence, permanent residence and 3 registered years	renounced on naturalisation

Kyrgyzstan gives former USSR citizens a passport after a year of residence and without renouncing Russian citizenship. Armenia by descent needs no residence period and allows dual citizenship. Serbia takes from 6 years and also requires renunciation. Kazakhstan is cheap in fees but requires five years, an exam and giving up the Russian passport.

Who qualifies for the simplified procedure

No residence period is needed for close relatives of Kazakh citizens from former Soviet republics who arrive for permanent residence: children, spouses, parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents. Ethnic Kazakh returnees, rehabilitated victims of repression and their descendants, ethnic Kazakh students of Kazakh universities and widows of citizens are admitted by the simplified procedure with a review of up to 3 months.

Minors, people without legal capacity, people with special services to Kazakhstan, specialists in professions on the presidential list and ethnic Kazakhs do not sit the exam.

The alternative: residence without giving up your passport

You can live and work in Kazakhstan with residence while keeping Russian citizenship: the card is issued for 10 years. Since February 2026 applicants for permanent residence are assessed by points, with a threshold of 400. Investors have a separate visa for investments from $300,000.

For many Russians this is the sensible choice: citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union may work in Kazakhstan without a passport, and Russian citizenship need not be given up.

Who Kazakh citizenship suits

Those with close citizen relatives in Kazakhstan, ethnic Kazakh returnees and those who tie their whole future life to Kazakhstan and are ready to give up the Russian passport.

It does not suit those who want to keep both citizenships: Kazakhstan does not recognise dual citizenship. Then compare Kyrgyzstan or Armenia, where the Russian passport is kept.

This topic in other countries

Citizenship cost in other countries:

More about the country:

All programmes and a family calculator - how much citizenship costs in different countries.

FAQ

How much does Kazakh citizenship cost in 2026?

About $50 in fees per adult: about $40 for the permanent residence permit and about $10 for citizenship. Separately, about $13,000 per person in an account, which stays yours.

Can you buy Kazakh citizenship?

No. Investment gives only residence, while citizenship comes after 5 years of residence, through marriage or by the simplified procedure.

How much does Kazakh citizenship cost for a family?

From $100 in fees for a couple, plus children's fees. About $13,000 per family member is kept in accounts.

Do you have to give up Russian citizenship?

Yes, Kazakhstan does not recognise dual citizenship: admission requires renouncing the previous citizenship.

What exam is needed for Kazakh citizenship?

Since 31 May 2024, elementary Kazakh, the basics of the Constitution and history. Children and ethnic Kazakhs do not sit it.

How many years must you live in Kazakhstan before citizenship?

5 years with permanent residence, 3 years through marriage to a citizen, and no period on the simplified route.

How long does the review take?

Up to 6 months, up to 3 months on the simplified route.

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