Kazakhstanis to be offered millions of tenge to relocate

Tengrinews.kz — Starting January 1, 2027, Kazakhstan will implement new rules for the voluntary relocation of citizens to regions facing labor shortages, provide relocation allowances, rent subsidies, and assistance with home purchases. Tengrinews.kz has reviewed the document to determine the types of support available to Kazakhstanis and the eligibility criteria.
The corresponding Order No. 401, dated October 13, 2026, was signed by the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. The document was registered with the Ministry of Justice on October 14.
Eligibility for the Relocation Program
The program is designed for voluntary relocation from regions with a labor surplus to provinces experiencing worker shortages.
Departure regions include Almaty, Zhambyl, Mangystau, and Turkistan regions, as well as the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent.
Participants can include the unemployed, specialists in high-demand professions, heads of peasant and farm enterprises, and Kandas (ethnic Kazakh returnees).
The primary condition for interregional relocation is securing employment or establishing a business in the new location. Government support is granted only for moves to settlements included on an approved list.
The program also provides for intra-regional relocation—for example, moving from villages with low economic potential to more promising settlements within the same province.
Relocation Allowances
Under the new rules, the one-time relocation subsidy is set at 70 monthly calculation indices (MCI) for each family member, including the applicant.
In 2027, with the MCI projected at 4,693 tenge, this amounts to 328,510 tenge per person.
The total payout will depend on family size as follows:

One person — 328,510 tenge;
Family of two — 657,020 tenge;
Family of three — 985,530 tenge;
Family of four — 1,314,040 tenge;
Family of five — 1,642,550 tenge;
Family of six — 1,971,060 tenge.

However, funds are not disbursed immediately upon arrival. To receive the subsidy, the applicant or an able-bodied family member must work at the new location for at least three consecutive months, with mandatory social security contributions paid during this period.
Housing and Utility Subsidies
Program participants are also eligible for monthly compensation for rent and utility expenses.
The amount of assistance depends on the destination—urban or rural—and the number of family members.
For relocation to urban areas:

One person — 93,860 tenge per month (20 MCI);
Family of two to four — 117,325 tenge (25 MCI);
Family of five or more — 140,790 tenge (30 MCI).

For relocation to rural areas:

One person — 70,395 tenge per month (15 MCI);
Family of two to four — 84,474 tenge (18 MCI);
Family of five or more — 98,553 tenge (21 MCI).

Compensation is paid until the participant acquires their own home, for a maximum of 12 months.
For instance, a family of four moving to a city could receive up to 1,407,900 tenge over 12 months for rent and utilities, provided they meet all program requirements.
To qualify for this compensation, the applicant or an able-bodied family member must work at the new location for at least six consecutive months with mandatory social security contributions. A formal lease agreement is also required.
If a participant is provided with housing from the state housing fund under terms stipulated by law, they will not be eligible for rent and utility compensation.
Over 7.6 Million Tenge for Home Purchases
An additional support measure is the economic mobility certificate, valued at 1,625 MCI.
Based on 2027 figures, this amounts to 7,626,125 tenge.
These funds can be used to purchase a home in the relocation region or as a down payment for a mortgage.
However, the certificate is only issued after confirming continuous employment at the new location for at least 12 months, with mandatory social security contributions.
Certain restrictions also apply:

The property must be located in the permanent place of residence within the designated resettlement region;Real estate cannot be purchased from a spouse, close relatives, or the spouse's close relatives;If the cost of the property is lower than the certificate's value, the payout will be capped at its appraised value;If a property purchased with a certificate is sold before the end of the mandatory five-year ownership period, the funds must be returned to the state budget.

Property documents will be verified before the certificate is issued. If necessary, career center specialists may inspect the property and document it via photo and video.
Total potential assistance per family
Consider an example of a family of four relocating to a city under the voluntary resettlement program.
If all requirements are met, the estimated support would include:

Relocation subsidy — 1,314,040 tenge;
Rent and utility compensation for 12 months — up to 1,407,900 tenge;Housing certificate — up to 7,626,125 tenge.

The total amount could reach up to 10,348,065 tenge.
This is a calculated example, not a guaranteed amount for every family. Payments are disbursed in stages once program conditions are met. Rental compensation ceases upon property acquisition, and the certificate is strictly for housing purposes.
Grounds for denial of state support
The new regulations explicitly outline the grounds for refusing payments.
Specifically, assistance may be denied if the applicant or their family members owned property in government-designated regions within the last five years, or if they occupied municipal housing at the new location for six months or more.
Other grounds for refusal include:

Submission of false documents or information;
Failure of documents to meet established requirements;
Lack of permanent registration at the new place of residence;
Purchase or construction of housing outside the settlement specified in the relocation permit;Repeat purchase of a property that was previously bought using an economic mobility certificate.

When funds must be repaid to the state
The new rules mandate the return of state support if a resettler or a kandas leaves the government-designated resettlement region of their own volition within five years.
In such cases, the labor mobility center will issue a notice requiring the voluntary return of the funds received.
The recipient must respond to the notice within 15 working days and specify a repayment schedule. This period cannot exceed six months.
If the individual refuses to return the funds, the matter may be settled through court proceedings.
Employer incentives and subsidies
The new regulations include specific measures to support employers who hire staff from other regions.
Companies can choose one of two options.
The first is an employment subsidy. If an employer hires a resettler for a permanent role for at least two years, they can receive 400 MCI, or 1,877,200 tenge in 2027.
The employer is also required to cover the employee's moving costs and ensure rent is paid according to the contract terms.
The second is housing cost compensation. If a company hires a resettler for more than five years and purchases housing for them, the state can reimburse 50 percent of the actual costs, capped at 1,160 MCI.
In 2027, the maximum compensation will amount to 5,443,880 tenge.
Upon completion of the terms specified in the agreement, the employer must transfer ownership of the property to the employee.
An employer cannot receive both types of state support for the same employee.
Under this arrangement, the resettler is also ineligible for the additional payments provided to citizens moving independently, including relocation subsidies, rent compensation, and economic mobility certificates.
How to submit an application
Participants in inter-regional relocation programs must obtain a decision on inclusion in the regional quota for the reception of migrants or kandases.
Following relocation, a social contract is concluded with the program participant, defining the terms of state support and the obligations of the parties.
Applications for the relevant payments can be submitted electronically through the migration.enbek.kz portal using an electronic digital signature.
Payments are not disbursed simultaneously, but rather as program conditions are met: the relocation subsidy is provided after three months of employment, rent compensation after six months, and a housing certificate after 12 months.
When the new rules take effect
The order comes into force January 1, 2027. Specific provisions governing the assessment of funding requirements and the transfer of payments through the "Government for Citizens" state corporation will take effect on July 1, 2027.
State support is provided within established regional quotas and is subject to compliance with program requirements.