Kazakhstan

Detains migrants or asylum seekers?

Yes

Has laws regulating migration-related detention?

Yes

Refugees

345

2023

Asylum Applications

637

2023

International Migrants

3,732,073

2020

Population

19,600,000

2023

Overview

Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan can detain migrants for up to 30 days at Migration Service offices to prepare for their removal. The government has intensified crackdowns on irregular labor migrants from neighboring Central Asian states like Tajikistan. There are concerns over Kazakhstan's treatment of detained migrants, including limited access to legal aid and lack of transparency in its detention practices.

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

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 […]

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A Group of Tajik Migrants at the Silk Road Checkpoint, (Azattyq.org,
Last updated: July 2024

DETENTION STATISTICS

Migration Detainee Entries
Not Available
2019

DETAINEE DATA

Total Number of Children Placed in Immigration Detention (Year)
0
2017

DETENTION CAPACITY

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
36,343
2017
49,821
2014
62,997
2010
51,538
2007
58,300
2004
88,421
2001
84,657
1998
85,448
1995
58,519
1992
Percentage of Foreign Prisoners (Year)
4.5
2017
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
202
2017
290
2014
401
2010
336
2007
386
2004
590
2001
548
1998
534
1995
358
1992

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
19,600,000
2023
18,800,000
2020
17,625,000
2015
International Migrants (Year)
3,732,073
2020
3,705,556
2019
3,546,800
2015
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
19.88
2020
20.1
2015
Refugees (Year)
345
2023
352
2021
440
2020
518
2019
574
2018
608
2017
647
2016
708
2015
633
2014
Ratio of Refugees Per 1000 Inhabitants (Year)
0.04
2016
0.04
2014
Asylum Applications (Year)
637
2023
337
2019
266
2016
288
2014
Refugee Recognition Rate (Year)
25.4
2014
Stateless Persons (Year)
8,266
2023
7,690
2018
8,138
2017
8,451
2016
7,038
2015

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

Gross Domestic Product per Capita (in USD)
25.15
2018
12,601
2014
Remittances to the Country (in USD)
855
2018
208
2014
Remittances From the Country (in USD)
1,000
2018
Unemployment Rate
2018
2014
Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) (in Millions USD)
88.4
2014
Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP)
56 (High)
2015

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Does the Country Detain People for Migration, Asylum, or Citizenship Reasons?
Yes
2023
Yes
2018
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?
Yes
2024
Detention-Related Legislation
Code od Republic of Kazakhstan on administrative offences (2014) 2018
2014
Do Migration Detainees Have Constitutional Guarantees?
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
1995 2018
Legal Tradition(s)
Civil law
2017

GROUNDS FOR DETENTION

LENGTH OF DETENTION

Average Length of Immigration Detention
Number of Days: 10

DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

COSTS & OUTSOURCING

COVID-19 DATA

TRANSPARENCY

MONITORING

Types of Authorised Detention Monitoring Institutions
Kazakhstan Commissioner for Human Rights (National Human Rights Institution (or Ombudsperson) (NHRI))
2016

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
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1994
2017
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1998
2017
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
2006
2017
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
2006
2017
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
1998
2017
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1998
2017
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1994
2017
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2015
2017
ICPED, International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
2009
2017
CRSR, Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1999
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
OPCAT, Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
2008
2008
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 13/19
Individual Complaints Procedures
Acceptance Year
CAT, declaration under article 22 of the Convention 2008
2008
ICERD, declaration under article 14 of the Convention 2008
2008
ICCPR, First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 2009
2009
CEDAW, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 1999 2001
2001
Ratio of Complaints Procedures Accepted
Observation Date
4/8
2017
Relevant Recommendations or Observations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Recommendation Year
Observation Date
Committee against Torture 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. 2023
2023
2024

> UN Special Procedures

> UN Universal Periodic Review

Relevant Recommendations or Observations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
No 2010
2017
No 2014
2017
Yes 2019

> Global Compact for Migration (GCM)

GCM Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

> Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)

GCR Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

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.
Did the country release immigration detainees as a result of the pandemic?
No
2020
Did the country use legal "alternatives to detention" as part of pandemic detention releases?
Unknown
2022
Did the country Temporarily Cease or Restrict Issuing Detention Orders?
Yes but have restarted
2020
Did the Country Adopt These Pandemic-Related Measures for People in Immigration Detention?
No (Unknown) Unknown Unknown Unknown
2020
Did the Country Lock-Down Previously "Open" Reception Facilities, Shelters, Refugee Camps, or Other Forms of Accommodation for Migrant Workers or Other Non-Citizens?
Unknown
2022
Were cases of COVID-19 reported in immigration detention facilities or any other places used for immigration detention purposes?
Yes
2020
Did the Country Cease or Restrict Deportations/Removals During any Period After the Onset of the Pandemic?
No
2021
Did the Country Release People from Criminal Prisons During the Pandemic?
Unknown
2022
Did Officials Blame Migrants, Asylum Seekers, or Refugees for the Spread of COVID-19?
Unknown
2022
Did the Country Restrict Access to Asylum Procedures?
Unknown
2022
Did the Country Commence a National Vaccination Campaign?
Yes
2021
Were Populations of Concern Included/Excluded From the National Vaccination Campaign?
Unknown (Included) Unknown Unknown Unknown
2021