The Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan has approved the law "On the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of Mongolia on Cooperation in the Field of Pension Provision." The document is designed to secure the pension rights of citizens from both nations, establishing legal mechanisms for recognising years of service and determining the procedure for benefit allocation.

The agreement regulates cooperation between competent authorities, providing for the exchange of information regarding employment history, periods of military service, education, and other data essential for accurate pension calculations. Each party will grant pensions in accordance with its national legislation, utilising verified periods of service accumulated in the territories of both countries.

The law includes seven annexes detailing information exchange protocols, documentation requirements, and technical parameters for interagency cooperation. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population has been designated as the competent authority for the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The implementation of this agreement will streamline the verification of service records and strengthen social guarantees. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in 2025, 43,352 Mongolian citizens entered Kazakhstan, while 43,001 departed. In 2024, the figures were 44,240 entries and 40,916 departures.

Currently, 6,755 Mongolian citizens reside permanently in Kazakhstan, 6,236 of whom are kandas (ethnic Kazakhs). In 2025, 979 individuals were granted permanent residency, and 752 Mongolian citizens acquired Kazakhstani citizenship, including 744 kandas.

A significant portion of those arriving are elderly individuals for whom verifying service records and allocating pensions is critical. The adoption of this agreement will formalise the accounting mechanism, eliminating the need for citizens to repeatedly submit documents and reducing the risk of errors caused by a lack of unified information exchange.

Since 2019, Kazakhstan has unilaterally recognized the labor records of ethnic Kazakhs arriving for permanent residence, regardless of bilateral agreements. This provision is enshrined in the Social Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (subparagraph 16, paragraph 1, Article 208). The ratification of this agreement will reinforce existing norms and formalize all procedures within the international legal framework, which is vital for protecting citizens' rights.

Under the agreement, information exchange will be conducted exclusively via integrated digital platforms of both states. This approach aims to:

• Eliminate paper-based workflows;

• Expedite the verification of service records;

• Enhance transparency and the quality of interstate cooperation;

• Reduce the administrative burden on citizens.

This strategy aligns with Kazakhstan’s policy of digitalizing the social sector and implementing proactive public services. The ratification of the agreement marks a significant step in strengthening the protection of the social rights of citizens living or working abroad.

Following the review, Senate deputies approved the law, which will now be sent to the Head of State for signature.