Over three thousand Candaces repatriated to Kazakhstan during the year 2025.
Going Home to Kazakhstan: The Qandas Program
In 2025, a staggering 3,203 ethnic Kazakhs returned to their ancestral land, earning the coveted title of "qandas". More than half (48.1%) of these new arrivals hail from China, followed by Uzbekistan (39.5%), Turkmenistan (5.8%), Mongolia (2.5%), and Russia (1.9%), according to the reports by Liter.kz, citing the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population press service.
Since 1991, over 1.15 million qandas have come home. As of April 1, 2025, the number of working age qandas stands at 60.7%, minors at 31.1%, and pensioners at 8.2%. Among the qandas in the workforce, 17.9% hold higher education, 27.8% have vocational training, 52.9% have completed general secondary education, and 1.4% have no formal education.
These new citizens are settling throughout the country but are primarily drawn to labor-deficient regions like Akmolinsk, Abai, Kostanai, Pavlodar, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, and North Kazakhstan.
Upon arrival, qandas receive a helping hand from the state in the form of a resettlement subsidy of 70 MCI (approx. 275,200 tenge) per family member, and monthly housing and utility payments ranging from 15 to 30 MCI (approx. 59,000 to 118,000 tenge) for a year.
To bolster employers involved in the resettlement program, an economic mobility certificate has been introduced. This incentive allows for the purchase, construction, or initial payment of mortgage housing loans, amounting to up to 50% of the housing cost or 4.56 million tenge per family, on a one-time, non-refundable basis.
Qandas: A Historical Perspective
The Qandas status enables the repatriation of ethnic Kazakhs (oralman) to their homeland. While recent 2025 policy updates are scarce, data shows that over 3,200 ethnic Kazakhs returned to Kazakhstan in early 2025 under this program.
Key benefits for qandas typically include:- A simplified pathway to citizenship- Housing assistance, such as relocation subsidies or temporary housing (exact 2025 provisions are unclear)- Access to language courses, job placement programs, and educational quotas- Subsidized medical services
In recent years, the government has prioritized integration support, including cultural adaptation programs. However, the specific 2025 policy changes remain unclear from available data, although discussions about protecting "national interests" and "unity" (as led by President Toqayev[1]) indicate continued emphasis on diaspora repatriation.
For precise 2025 eligibility criteria or benefits, it's recommended to consult with Kazakh immigration authorities directly.
Note: The search results do not specify recent updates to Qandas policies beyond the repatriation figures. Historical frameworks likely remain in effect unless otherwise amended.
- Over 3,200 ethnic Kazakhs, known as 'qandas', returned to their ancestral land in Kazakhstan in early 2025, as stated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population press service.
- The 'qandas' program facilitates the repatriation of ethnic Kazakhs, offering key benefits such as a simplified pathway to citizenship, housing assistance, access to language courses, job placement programs, and educational quotas, among others.
- Upon arrival, 'qandas' receive financial aid in the form of a resettlement subsidy and monthly housing and utility payments, with economic mobility certificates introduced to encourage employers involved in the resettlement program.
- Although the specific 2025 policy changes for the 'qandas' program remain unclear from available data, discussions about protecting "national interests" and "unity" suggest continued emphasis on diaspora repatriation, as led by President Toqayev.
