Kazakhstanis are paid millions to move to other regions. When the money must be returned

Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstanis are being offered financial incentives and housing assistance to relocate to other regions of the country. However, not all participants choose to stay in their new locations. Tengrinews.kz looked into how many people have utilized the program, why some have returned home, and what payments migrants can expect.
Why the state pays for relocation
Kazakhstan operates a voluntary resettlement program. It helps citizens move from regions with a labor "surplus" to areas facing worker shortages.
"Measures to facilitate voluntary resettlement are aimed at providing regions experiencing labor shortages with workers in high-demand specialties," the Migration Committee of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection reported.
The program has been running for several years. Between 2009 and 2011, the state organized resettlement under the "Nurly Kosh" project. Later, support for internal migrants was integrated into employment assistance measures.
Currently, the program is open to the unemployed, job seekers, and Kandas (ethnic Kazakh returnees). Starting in 2027, this list will be expanded to include specialists in high-demand professions and heads of peasant and farm enterprises.
Departure and destination regions
Not every move within Kazakhstan qualifies for state support.
Departure regions include the Almaty, Zhambyl, Mangystau, Turkestan, and Kyzylorda regions, the Zhetysu region, as well as the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent.
The primary receiving regions are those where employers face labor shortages. Most often, Kazakhstanis relocate to the North Kazakhstan (42.7 percent) and Pavlodar (31.9 percent) regions. Other receiving areas include the East Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Karaganda, Abai, and Ulytau regions.
According to Migration Committee data, the highest numbers of participants depart from the Turkestan (24 percent) and Almaty (16.5 percent) regions.
Over 10,000 Kazakhstanis returned home
The Migration Committee reported that from 2017 to October 1, 2026, a total of 74,921 people relocated under the voluntary resettlement program.
The top destination regions were: Pavlodar region (26.2 thousand people), North Kazakhstan (23.2 thousand), East Kazakhstan (10 thousand), and Kostanay (9.6 thousand).
However, not everyone stayed in their new homes.

"Since 2017, out of the 74,921 people who relocated to receiving regions, 10,375 people, or 13.8 percent, returned to their original regions," the committee stated.

The agency specified that some participants returned only after completing the mandatory five-year residency period. However, the ministry did not disclose the reasons for returning or the number of those who left prematurely.
Program conditions
In 2026, the state is offering three types of support to program participants:

a lump-sum relocation payment,compensation for rent and utility costs,and a certificate for the purchase of real estate.

A key condition: participants must fulfill their obligations under a social contract for five years.
If a migrant leaves the region of their own accord before this period ends, they must repay all state support received in full.
Participants who leave after five years of residence do not violate this requirement.
Relocation benefits: How much is paid1. Lump-sum payment: amounts to70 MRP per family member (which amounts to 302,750 tenge per person in 2026).
For example, a family of four can receive 1,211,000 tenge for their move.2. Additionally, the state compensates for housing rent and utilities. The amount of monthly assistance depends on family size and the destination.
For those moving to a city:

20 MRP (86,500 tenge in 2026) – for one person;25 MRP (108,125 tenge) – for a family of two to four people;30 MRP (129,750 tenge) – for a family of five or more.

For those moving to a village:

15 MRP (64,875 tenge) – for one person;18 MRP (77,850 tenge) – for a family of two to four people;21 MRP (90,825 tenge) – for a family of five or more.

Note: This support remains in effect until housing is purchased, but for no longer than 12 months.3. Another support measure is the economic mobility certificate for purchasing housing in the resettlement region. The certificate amount is 1,625 MCI, or 7,028,125 tenge in 2026.
The Migration Committee explained that branches of the Labor Mobility Centers also assist with job searches.
"State support for voluntary migrants includes assistance in employment and the development of entrepreneurial initiatives at the new place of residence," the agency reported.
However, government support is provided only if certain conditions are met.

To receive the lump-sum relocation payment, the applicant or an able-bodied member of their family must have worked at the new location for at least three consecutive months;To receive compensation for rent and utilities, the requirement is at least six months;To receive the real estate purchase certificate, it is necessary to confirm 12 months of employment.

How to apply
Those wishing to participate in the program can contact their local career center or visit the migration.enbek.kz portal.
To be included in the quota, unemployed persons and job seekers must have had permanent registration in their region of departure for at least one year.
Applications are accepted through "Government for Citizens" (PSC) or the migration.enbek.kz portal. The review process takes into account the host region's labor needs and the availability of quota spots.