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Kazakhstan dual citizenship with Russia: can you hold both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

Kazakhstan is one of the few countries that expressly does not recognise dual citizenship. What a Russian who wants a Kazakh passport should do, and what happens to a Kazakh citizen who gets a Russian one.

In short

No: Kazakhstan does not recognise dual citizenship - admission requires giving up Russian citizenship, and a Kazakh citizen who obtains a Russian passport loses Kazakh citizenship.

Previous passport on naturalisationNot recognised, renunciation needed
Country ruleDual citizenship is not recognised: you must renounce your previous citizenship
Legal basisArticle 3 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Russia allows a second passport, so the restriction here is entirely Kazakh.

What Kazakhstan requires on naturalisation

Article 3 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not recognise another country's citizenship held by a Kazakh citizen. To get a Kazakh passport you need 5 years in the country with permanent residence, 3 years if married to a citizen, and no period if a close relative is a citizen. Since 31 May 2024 every applicant takes an exam in elementary Kazakh, the basics of the Constitution and history.

Giving up your previous citizenship is mandatory. For Russian citizens release is arranged under Russian rules through a consulate and takes months. Certain categories, such as ethnic Kazakh returnees and people with a close relative who is a citizen, file a notarised statement renouncing their previous citizenship addressed to an official of their country. Applications are decided within 6 months.

The reverse case: a Kazakh citizen who acquires another country's citizenship or uses its documents loses Kazakh citizenship.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Decide whether you actually need the passport. You can live and work in Kazakhstan with a residence permit while keeping Russian citizenship.
  2. If you need a Kazakh passport, prepare for the exam in Kazakh, the Constitution and history.
  3. Plan release from Russian citizenship together with your application in Kazakhstan: the consulate procedure takes months.
  4. A Kazakh citizen getting a Russian passport must formally leave Kazakh citizenship: hiding a second passport is risky.

Kazakh law does not allow keeping both passports, so the task is to choose one citizenship without being left with an unresolved status.

What happens to children

If one parent is a Kazakh citizen and the other Russian, the child's citizenship depends on the place of birth and the parents' agreement. Because Kazakhstan does not recognise a second citizenship, arranging both passports for a child without checking the procedure is risky: the choice is made in advance, before the birth is registered. Applications for children under 18 are filed by legal representatives with notarised consent.

Taxes and military service

You become a Kazakh tax resident after 183 days in the country in 12 months, and income tax starts at 10%. The double tax treaty between Russia and Kazakhstan is in force, so tax is not paid twice.

Kazakhstan conscripts men aged 18 to 27. A person who has left Russian citizenship no longer has military obligations in Russia, but until release is complete the duties of a Russian citizen remain.

Common mistakes

  • Hiding a second passport. Kazakh citizenship is lost if a person acquires another or uses another country's documents.
  • Delaying release from Russian citizenship. Without it the Kazakh application will not be considered.
  • Not preparing for the exam. Since 31 May 2024 it is mandatory for all applicants.
  • Choosing a passport where a residence permit would do. A residence permit lets you live and work in Kazakhstan without giving up Russian citizenship.
  • Reapplying too early. After a refusal a new application is considered no earlier than a year later.

How to get Kazakh citizenship

Kazakh citizenship is obtained after 5 years of permanent residence, 3 years of marriage or by kinship, with an exam and renunciation of your previous passport. For Russians who want to keep Russian citizenship, a Kazakh residence permit is the sensible alternative.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Kazakh citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

Choose one citizenship without losses

The law does not prevent applying for Kazakh citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: a delayed release from Russian citizenship, an unprepared exam, a hidden second passport and choosing citizenship where a residence permit would have done. Murblz support removes these risks: we check which status you need, prepare documents for both countries and plan the release from citizenship without a gap. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process.

The support fee depends on the ground and family size; a manager will calculate it in the chat.

Talk to a manager now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Kazakh and Russian citizenship at the same time?
No: Kazakhstan does not recognise dual citizenship - admission requires giving up Russian citizenship, and a Kazakh citizen who obtains a Russian passport loses Kazakh citizenship.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Kazakh citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
What happens if a Kazakh citizen gets a Russian passport?
They lose Kazakh citizenship: the law ends it on acquiring another country's citizenship or using its documents.
Can you live in Kazakhstan without giving up Russian citizenship?
Yes, with a residence permit you can live and work in Kazakhstan while keeping a Russian passport.
Is there an exam for Kazakh citizenship?
Yes, since 31 May 2024 applicants take an exam in elementary Kazakh, the basics of the Constitution and history.
How many years must you live in Kazakhstan before citizenship?
5 years with permanent residence, or 3 years if married to a citizen.
How does an ethnic Kazakh returnee renounce Russian citizenship?
Returnees file a notarised statement renouncing their previous citizenship addressed to an official of their country.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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