Residence permits closed in Astana, Almaty and Shymkent: where you can still apply in 2026

If you were planning to obtain a residence permit in Astana, Almaty or Shymkent, from 2026 that has become close to impossible. Under a pilot scheme Kazakhstan has restricted residence permits in its largest cities, leaving only seven regions where a foreign national can regularise permanent residence. For many this came as a surprise: you live and work in the capital, and yet you can no longer obtain a permit there.

There are exceptions to the rule, and they are worth understanding before you change your plans. This article covers where you can realistically apply now, who is affected, who can still stay in a major city, and what to do if your situation does not fit the general pattern.

The rules operate as a pilot and have already been revised several times. This article is current as at 4 August 2026; check your own position with a lawyer against the rules in force on the day.

What changed in 2026

The essence of the new approach is that the state has moved from simply registering foreign nationals to distributing them across the country. The reason given is demographic imbalance: migration concentrates in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent and the southern regions, while the northern and central regions lose population. Restricting permits by region is an attempt to direct immigrants to where workers are needed.

In practice this means that residence permits are no longer issued in the largest cities — Astana (including the surrounding districts), Almaty and Shymkent. A number of regions are closed as well. Alongside the geographic restriction, the pilot introduced further requirements, including compulsory testing in the Kazakh language and proof of financial means. So it is not only the geography that has changed, but the threshold itself.

Where you can still obtain a residence permit in 2026

After the changes the list of regions came down to seven. These are mainly northern, eastern and central territories — precisely where the state is trying to direct the flow.

It follows that it is not only the three largest cities that are closed, but also the Almaty, West Kazakhstan, Aktobe, Atyrau, Mangystau, Kyzylorda, Karaganda, Turkistan, Zhambyl and Zhetysu regions. In effect roughly a third of the country remains open — the part that needs people.

Can you still obtain a permit in Astana or Almaty? How the exception works

Here is the detail that changes the picture and that tends to get lost in headlines announcing that permits have been closed. The restriction on cities is not absolute. Although Almaty, Astana and Shymkent are not on the list of open regions, certain categories of foreign national can still obtain a residence permit in those cities.

The difficulty is that whether an exception applies depends on the specifics: the ground on which you are applying, your status, your family circumstances and other factors. That is why the general reporting cannot tell you whether the route is closed to you personally. This is exactly the situation where an individual review with a lawyer answers the question more precisely than any article can: either you fall within an exception or you do not.

Who is most affected

For many of them the position looks like a dead end: life and work in one city, but a permit available only in another region. More often than not the dead end is only apparent — there are exceptions for the largest cities, alternative grounds, and other lawful routes to remaining in the country. The difference between “not possible” and “not possible as a general rule, but possible on your particular ground” is precisely the space where legal advice matters more than conclusions drawn from the news.

What to do if your situation does not fit

If you are caught by the restriction, panicking and hurriedly changing region is not the only option. The right sequence is different.

It is worth remembering separately that the rules operate as a pilot and have already been revised more than once. What was correct in the spring may have changed by the middle of the year. Any decision is therefore best taken on the rules as they stand today, not on older reporting.

Conclusion

Restricting residence permits in Astana, Almaty and Shymkent is a significant change that has affected thousands of foreign nationals who built their plans around the largest cities. Behind the general rule, though, lies a more nuanced picture: seven open regions, exceptions for the major cities, and alternative grounds for regularising status. Taking the headline at face value and abandoning your plans is a mistake that could cost you the chance to stay where you want to be.

Sources and legal basis

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