Kazakhstan introduces language and history knowledge requirements for citizenship

Kazakhstan has implemented new requirements for individuals seeking to obtain or restore citizenship, mandating a basic knowledge of the Kazakh language, the country’s Constitution, and its history. The decree, signed by Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, sets minimum standards that applicants must meet in order to qualify for citizenship.

Photo: gov4c.kz

Under the new regulations, candidates must score at least 36 points on a basic Kazakh language proficiency test, 9 points on a test covering the foundations of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and 15 points on a Kazakhstan history exam.

The decree, titled "On Approving the Knowledge Requirements of the State Language, Fundamentals of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the History of Kazakhstan for Acquisition or Restoration of Citizenship," was signed on October 8 and came into effect on October 12.

These measures aim to ensure that new citizens possess a foundational understanding of Kazakhstan’s language, legal system, and history as part of the naturalization process.