Central Asia’s most prosperous state, Kazakhstan attracts a large number of migrant workers from surrounding countries, mainly Uzbekistan, Russia, and Tajikistan. While authorities note the need for skilled migrants to join the country’s workforce as part of the country’s Migration Policy Concept 2023-2027, Central Asian migrants–commonly employed as low-wage labourers–have often been the focus of widespread migrant raids for arrest, detention, and deportation. In recent submissions to the UN Human Rights Committee, the GDP and partner ILI brought critical attention to the country’s treatment of foreigners, prompting the committee to issue important recommendations. […]
Kazakhstan: Covid-19 and Detention
According to information submitted to the GDP by the International Legal Initiative (ILI), Kazakhstan has introduced a moratorium on new detention orders related to violations of migration legislation, and has temporarily ceased deportation proceedings. However, persons who commit other offences may still be placed in immigration detention, and no persons have been released. Meetings with […]
Last updated: July 2024
DETENTION CAPACITY
ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION
ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA
PRISON DATA
POPULATION DATA
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS
LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?
Do Migration Detainees Have Constitutional Guarantees?
Yes/No
Constitution and articles
Adopted in
Last amended
Yes
Constitution of Kazakhstan, Article 12(4): "4.Foreigners and stateless persons in the Republic shall enjoy rights and freedoms as well as bear responsibilities established for the citizens unless otherwise stipulated by the Constitution, laws and international treaties."
Aricle 21 : "1. Everyone who has a legal right to stay on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall have the right to freely move about its territory and freely choose a place of residence except in cases stipulated by law.
2. Everyone shall have the right to leave the territory of the Republic. Citizens of the Republic shall have the right to freely return to the Republic."
1995
2017
GROUNDS FOR DETENTION
DETENTION INSTITUTIONS
PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS
COSTS & OUTSOURCING
COVID-19 DATA
TRANSPARENCY
MONITORING
NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING BODIES
NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS (OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE)
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOS)
GOVERNMENTAL MONITORING BODIES
INTERNATIONAL DETENTION MONITORING
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES & TREATY BODIES
International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1998
2017
ICPED, International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
2009
2017
CTOCTP, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
2008
2017
CTOCSP, Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
2008
2017
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 13/19
Individual Complaints Procedures
Acceptance Year
ICCPR, First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 19662009
2009
Relevant Recommendations or Observations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Treaty Body
Human Rights Committee
Recommendation Year
2025
Recommendation Excerpt
39. The Committee regrets reports indicating that migrants have
been detained without legal representation, access to interpretation services or the ability to
review or appeal detention and deportation decisions. Furthermore, the Committee is
concerned that, while the principle of non-refoulement is recognized by the State Party,
protection gaps persist (arts. 7, 9, 12, 13 and 24)......40...40. The State Party should enhance the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers,
without discrimination. It should consider amending its Law on Refugees to ensure that
asylum procedures are fully aligned with international standards and that no person is
expelled, extradited or otherwise returned to a country where they would face a risk of
persecution, in line with the principle of non-refoulement..........
been detained without legal representation, access to interpretation services or the ability to
review or appeal detention and deportation decisions. Furthermore, the Committee is
concerned that, while the principle of non-refoulement is recognized by the State Party,
protection gaps persist (arts. 7, 9, 12, 13 and 24)......40...40. The State Party should enhance the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers,
without discrimination. It should consider amending its Law on Refugees to ensure that
asylum procedures are fully aligned with international standards and that no person is
expelled, extradited or otherwise returned to a country where they would face a risk of
persecution, in line with the principle of non-refoulement..........
Sources
Human Rights Committee (CCPR), "Concluding observations on the third periodic report of
Kazakhstan," 03 September 2025, https://docs.un.org/en/CCPR/C/KAZ/CO/3
Treaty Body
Committee against Torture
Recommendation Year
2023
Recommendation Excerpt
Asylum system and non-refoulement
35.While noting the efforts made by the State party to provide protection to persons seeking asylum and to stateless persons, the Committee is concerned that the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offences regulating expulsion and deportation for illegal crossing of the State border or violation of migration legislation do not contain provisions on the prevention of refoulement. As a result, persons seeking asylum are not exempted from administrative and criminal liability in case of illegal entry, the use of false documents or illegal stay in the territory of the State party, even though their proceedings on determining international protection might be still pending. While noting that the national legislation provides for the possibility to apply for asylum at the border, the Committee is concerned that the procedure in place lacks detailed instructions on the referral of asylum-seekers from border authorities, including at international airports and transit zones, to local executive bodies. Lastly, it notes that the State party has not yet acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (arts. 2, 3 and 16).
36. The State party should ensure that no one may be expelled, returned or extradited to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he or she would run a personal and foreseeable risk of being subjected to torture. In particular, the State party should take legislative steps to amend the relevant legal provisions regulating expulsion and deportation for illegal crossing or violation of migration laws, in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement. In this connection, it should not expel asylum-seekers or refugees from its territory until there is a final decision, including on appeal. The State party should further establish an accessible asylum and referral procedure at all border points. The Committee encourages the State party to accede to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
35.While noting the efforts made by the State party to provide protection to persons seeking asylum and to stateless persons, the Committee is concerned that the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offences regulating expulsion and deportation for illegal crossing of the State border or violation of migration legislation do not contain provisions on the prevention of refoulement. As a result, persons seeking asylum are not exempted from administrative and criminal liability in case of illegal entry, the use of false documents or illegal stay in the territory of the State party, even though their proceedings on determining international protection might be still pending. While noting that the national legislation provides for the possibility to apply for asylum at the border, the Committee is concerned that the procedure in place lacks detailed instructions on the referral of asylum-seekers from border authorities, including at international airports and transit zones, to local executive bodies. Lastly, it notes that the State party has not yet acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (arts. 2, 3 and 16).
36. The State party should ensure that no one may be expelled, returned or extradited to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he or she would run a personal and foreseeable risk of being subjected to torture. In particular, the State party should take legislative steps to amend the relevant legal provisions regulating expulsion and deportation for illegal crossing or violation of migration laws, in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement. In this connection, it should not expel asylum-seekers or refugees from its territory until there is a final decision, including on appeal. The State party should further establish an accessible asylum and referral procedure at all border points. The Committee encourages the State party to accede to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Sources
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, "Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Kazakhstan", 08 June 2023, United Nation, (Paragraph 35 and 36), https://uhri.ohchr.org/Document/File/c36c7d5a-5e86-4391-8d18-44e9b99ea5ad/588D8410-E3AE-455C-9C65-359530229B94
Treaty Body
Committee on Enforced Disappearance
Recommendation Year
2016
Recommendation Excerpt
17.The Committee is concerned; (b) asylum seekers were forcibly returned to their countries of origin before final decisions on their asylum claims were reached. The Committee recommended the state party to (b) Before it proceeds to an expulsion, return or extradition, all relevant procedures have been exhausted and a thorough individual examination has been carried out to determine whether there are substantial grounds for believing that the person concerned would be in danger of being subjected to enforced disappearance and that, if there are such grounds, the person concerned is not expelled, extradited or returned.
Sources
Committee on Enforced Disappearances, "Concluding observations on the report submitted by Kazakhstan under article 29 (1) of the Convention", 10 March 2016, https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/document/a7fdd31f-5b64-4e13-9e7e-bfc96a5ea09d
Global Detention Project and Partner Submissions to Treaty Bodies
Treaty Body
Human Rights Committee (CCPR)
Session Date
23 June 2025
Date of Submission
2025
Submission Partners
International Legal Initiative (ILI)
Session Information
144th Session
Submission Type
State Report
Recommendation Impact
Pending
Sources
Global Detention Project and International Legal Initiative, "Submission to CCPR - Kazakhstan," May 2025, https://www.globaldetentionproject.org/kazakhstan-submission-to-the-un-human-rights-committee
> UN Special Procedures
> UN Universal Periodic Review
Relevant Recommendations or Observations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Recommendation Issued
Yes
Year Issued
2025
UPR Cycle
4th
Recommendation Excerpt
Migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers
71. UNHCR recommended that Kazakhstan establish an accessible asylum and
referral procedure at all border points, international airports, transit zones and detention
centres and ensure that all persons whose applications for asylum had been rejected had the
right to lodge an effective appeal with suspensive effect on expulsion/extradition.
74. UNHCR recommended that Kazakhstan guarantee the right of every person to seek asylum in the country, ensure that no person was expelled, extradited, removed, pushed back or in any other way returned to a country where they would be in danger of being persecuted, and adhere to and ensure the appropriate implementation of the principle of non-refoulement.
71. UNHCR recommended that Kazakhstan establish an accessible asylum and
referral procedure at all border points, international airports, transit zones and detention
centres and ensure that all persons whose applications for asylum had been rejected had the
right to lodge an effective appeal with suspensive effect on expulsion/extradition.
74. UNHCR recommended that Kazakhstan guarantee the right of every person to seek asylum in the country, ensure that no person was expelled, extradited, removed, pushed back or in any other way returned to a country where they would be in danger of being persecuted, and adhere to and ensure the appropriate implementation of the principle of non-refoulement.
Sources
Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, "Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Kazakhstan", 31 January 2025, United General Assembly, Session 48th, Cycle 40th, https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/WG.6/48/KAZ/2
Recommendation Issued
No
Year Issued
2010
Sources
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review* Kazakhstan, A/HRC/14/10, 23 March 2010, https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/kazakhstan/session_7_-_february_2010/ahrc1410kazakhstan.pdf
Recommendation Issued
No
Year Issued
2014
Sources
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review* Kazakhstan, A/HRC/28/10, 10 December 2014, https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/kazakhstan/session_20_-_october_2014/a_hrc_28_10_e.pdf
Recommendation Issued
Yes
Year Issued
2019
Sources
Human Rights Council, "Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Kazakhstan," A/HRC/43/10, 20 December 2019, https://uhri.ohchr.org/Document/File/6cc09256-6f77-4cb5-a652-60c33db03ad2/58B90B1A-667E-4925-B99B-F8B046009520
REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS
HEALTH CARE PROVISION
HEALTH IMPACTS
COVID-19
Country Updates
According to information submitted to the GDP by the International Legal Initiative (ILI), Kazakhstan has introduced a moratorium on new detention orders related to violations of migration legislation, and has temporarily ceased deportation proceedings. However, persons who commit other offences may still be placed in immigration detention, and no persons have been released. Meetings with lawyers, as well as relatives, have also been suspended. This system is due to remain in place until 10 July. While some detainees have been tested for Covid-19 (nine were confirmed to have the virus in Almaty), the ILI reports that not all detainees have had access to testing.
In recent years, increasing numbers of migrants have entered Kazakhstan. Most come from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, and many enter the country in search of employment in the construction and agriculture sectors. Although the country is today believed to host some 3.5 million migrants, more than half of these are believed to be undocumented due to difficulties navigating the registration system after their temporary registration period elapses. Lacking official IDs and registration papers, undocumented migrants are vulnerable to arrest, detention, and deportation.
According to the Central Asian Bueau for Analytical Reporting, although the government introduced unemployment benefits (100.42 USD per month) to help mitigate the economic effects of the lockdown, undocumented migrants cannot not access such payments. Without official IDs or residence permits, they may also not access key health services – and many have expressed fears that they will be arrested should they present themselves for testing or treatment. (Similar concerns about the lack of a “firewall” between health care and immigration authorities have been expressed by migrants and refugees in countries such as Germany (10 June update), Lebanon (2 June update) and South Africa (26 May update) during the pandemic.)
According to several reports, a group of more than 230 Tajik migrants—including pregnant women and children—were trapped for two months at the country’s border with Uzbekistan, in a car park in the Turkestan region. The group were attempting to return to Tajikistan but were blocked by closed borders until 2 June, when authorities facilitated their return home.
Government Agencies
Migration Police Registration of Foreign Citizens - https://kazakhstan.kazakhservicecentre.com/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - https://www.gov.kz
International Organisations
UNHCR - https://www.unhcr.org/where-we-work/countries/kazakhstan
IOM - https://kazakhstan.iom.int/
ILO - https://www.ilo.org/regions-and-countries/europe-and-central-asia/kazakhstan
NGO & Research Institutions
Human Rights Watch - https://www.hrw.org/europe/central-asia/kazakhstan
Caritas - https://caritas.asia/index.php/where-we-are/central-asia-sub-region/caritas-kazakhstan
