Kazakhstan's management of migration: Adapting to new circumstances

Abstract

Since its independence, migration flows in Kazakhstan have fluctuated considerably. Key events over the last four years, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale war in Ukraine, have significantly impacted these flows. While migration and its trends have previously been researched, the most recent trends remain under-studied. This study employs semi-structured elite interviews with key stakeholders, including representatives from relevant international organisations, NGOs, and private consultancy firms. Additionally, document analysis was used to triangulate the data findings. Key findings from the interviews indicate that the primary influx of migrants, including IT specialists and business owners, was predominantly attributed to Russia's war on Ukraine. Despite Kazakhstan implementation of some measures to enhance migration management including key incentives in the migration policy concept for 2023-2027, several issues remain unaddressed. Despite progress, challenges in migrant support, administrative processes, work permit regulations, visa policies, international support systems, employment agency oversight, migration policy, and labour quotas remain, necessitating continued policy refinement and international cooperation. Moreover, the thesis offers recommendations for developing effective migration management, drawing on insights from expert interviews and document analysis. The results of this study contributes to the academic understanding of new migration trends and policy responses in Kazakhstan.