In 2025, 6,755 ethnic Kazakhs reunited with their historical homeland and were granted kandas (returnee) status, reports Almaty.tv.

Since 1991, a total of 1,154,800 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to Kazakhstan.

So far this year, the newly arrived kandas came from the following countries:

• 45.1% – China
• 41.7% – Uzbekistan
• 5.4% – Turkmenistan
• 2.8% – Mongolia
• 2.4% – Russia
• 2.6% – Other countries

As of July 1, 2025:

• 59.8% of returnees are of working age,
• 31% are younger than working age,
• 9.2% are retirees.

Among the working-age kandas:

• 16% have higher education,
• 27.1% have vocational secondary education,
• 54.6% have general secondary education,
• 2.3% have no formal education.

The ethnic Kazakhs were resettled in various regions across the country.

Regions identified as lacking labor force and targeted for kandas resettlement include: Akmola, Abai, Kostanay, Pavlodar, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan.

The quota for kandas settlement in these regions for 2025 is 2,309 people. As of July 1, 1,092 kandas have resettled in these target regions.

State support measures are provided in these areas:

• Relocation subsidy of 70 MCI (275,200 KZT) per head of household and each family member (one-time),
• Housing and utility allowance ranging from 15 to 30 MCI (59,000 to 118,000 KZT) per month for up to one year.

This year, 494 kandas received various support measures.

Specifically, 188 people have been permanently employed. In addition, institutional measures were introduced to support employers involved in voluntary resettlement to northern regions.

An economic mobility certificate was introduced — a one-time, non-repayable grant covering up to 50% of housing costs or up to 4.56 million KZT per family for purchasing or building a home or covering a mortgage down payment.

 

More details: Almaty.tv