Published: 25.08.2026
According to Meduza, Kazakhstan has restricted the issuance of residence permits in certain regions; Akmola, Kostanay, Pavlodar, Abay and Ulytau regions are cited as remaining on the list, while Karaganda is not. The source also reports detentions of Russians, possible extraditions at Russia’s request and investigations involving forged temporary residence permits.
For foreigners, this means that the choice of region may directly affect access to a residence permit, while legalization in already crowded areas is becoming less predictable. According to the source, the risks concern not only document processing but also the security of legal status for Russians, with detentions, extraditions and criminal cases involving forged temporary residence permits reported. Russian citizens and anyone planning to obtain a residence or temporary residence permit should pay particular attention, especially if considering Karaganda. Before moving, it is worth checking whether applications are accepted in the chosen region and avoiding questionable intermediaries.