In 2023, 16,026 individuals have returned to their historical homeland in Kazakhstan, all of whom have been granted 'Kandas' status (ethnic Kazakh), according to the Central Communications Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan reports that a total of 1,123,200 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to the country over the years of independence.
The majority of those who have resettled in Kazakhstan as 'Kandas' come from the following countries:
- Uzbekistan: 53.6%
- China: 19.6%
- Mongolia: 10.9%
- Russia: 7.8%
- Turkmenistan: 5.9%
- Other countries: 2.2%
Authorities have noted that among this year's migrants, 61.4% are 'Kandas' of working age, 30% are under 16 years old, and 8.5% are retirees. Among those of working age, only 15.6% have higher education, 34.4% have vocational education, and 41.2% have a general secondary education. Ethnic Kazakhs who have returned to their homeland have been resettled in various regions of Kazakhstan.
For the resettlement of 'Kandas,' specific labor-deficient regions have been designated, including Akmola, Abai, Kostanay, Pavlodar, East Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan regions. The quota for admitting 'Kandas' in these resettlement regions for the current year is 1,925 people. As of the beginning of this month, 1,773 'Kandas' have already been resettled in these regions, as reported by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan.
It's worth noting that 'Kandas' living in the aforementioned regions of the country receive government support in the form of subsidies:
- A one-time payment of KZT 241,500 ($506) per head and each family member for relocation.
- Monthly subsidies ranging from KZT 51,700 to KZT 103,500 (from $108 to $217) for renting housing and paying utilities, provided for one year.
According to the Ministry of Labor, 918 'Kandas' have received government support since the beginning of this year.
"Out of these, 493 people secured permanent employment. One-time subsidies were granted to 918 individuals, while 383 'Kandas' had their housing expenses subsidized," as reported by the relevant department.
Furthermore, this year introduced a pilot mechanism for granting 'Kandas' status through the 'one-stop shop' principle, facilitated through the embassies of Kazakhstan. This approach allows individuals to resolve matters related to visiting the country, finding work, securing housing, and obtaining 'Kandas' status in advance, without the need to physically enter the Republic. To date, 2,037 ethnic Kazakhs (comprising 681 families) have already availed themselves of this service through Kazakhstan's foreign missions.
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