Kazakhstan recognized as leading CA destination for relocation in 2026

Kazakhstan has secured the 77th position in the global rankings for residency and relocation, marking the highest performance within the Central Asian region, El.kz reports.

With a consolidated score of 62.9 points, the authors of the Global Relocation Index classify the Republic of Kazakhstan within the median range of the global ranking. However, within the regional context of Central Asia, the country has emerged as the clear leader.

Superior performance relative to regional peers

Among Central Asian states, Uzbekistan recorded the next highest ranking, placing 110th. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan followed, with the latter receiving the lowest regional score.

Notably, Kazakhstan outperformed several major developed economies. For instance, France occupied the 79th position, while the United States and Russia ranked significantly lower.

Affordability cited as primary competitive advantage

Kazakhstan’s strongest performance was observed within the financial pillar. The nation’s cost-of-living affordability was appraised at 98.4 out of 100, a metric highlighted by the researchers as a primary driver of the country's attractiveness.

The housing market and the functionality of the financial system also received high marks. Kazakhstan’s score for housing affordability reached 86.3 points, significantly bolstering its overall standing in the index.

Furthermore, the index evaluated attractiveness for specific demographics. Kazakhstan demonstrated robust results in the "Digital Nomad" and "Tax Competitiveness" categories, where it ranked 60th globally.

Identified constraints to further growth

One of the most significant challenges identified was "Climatic Comfort." In this category, Kazakhstan scored 25.3 points, with researchers citing prolonged cold winters and extreme seasonal temperature fluctuations as limiting factors.

The linguistic environment for foreign nationals also presented a hurdle. The accessibility of the English language was rated at 36.2 points, potentially complicating the integration process for expatriates without proficiency in Kazakh or Russian.

The startup ecosystem received a similar assessment, scoring 36.3 points. This metric was identified as one of the key factors negatively impacting the country's aggregate score.

Assessment of quality of life and security

In the "Quality of Life and Health" pillar, Kazakhstan received 59.5 points. This category accounted for healthcare accessibility, air quality, climate, green spaces, and digital infrastructure.

The "Safety and Stability" indicator reached a comparable level of 59.8 points. This assessment included public safety, the rule of law, political stability, conflict risk, and the protection of foreign property rights.

Kazakhstan demonstrated a more modest performance in the "Integration and Long-term Prospects" pillar, scoring 50.6 points. This metric was influenced by visa regulations, pathways to long-term residency, education, business opportunities, the linguistic environment, and the maturity of the startup sector.

Global leaders and methodology

Estonia led the Global Relocation Index with a score of 72.8, followed by Singapore and Malaysia. The top five also included Portugal and Taiwan.

The index’s structure emphasizes a balanced combination of daily living expenses, security, institutional quality, healthcare, and post-relocation integration opportunities. Rumavi, the organization behind the index, notes that the top tier comprises a diverse mix of European states, Southeast Asian nations, and territories with varying income levels.

Afghanistan ranked last with a score of 39.5. The lower tier of the index is predominantly composed of states characterized by armed conflict, political volatility, security concerns, and weak institutional environments.

Data scope and reliability

The study encompasses 192 countries. Rumavi emphasizes that the index is designed specifically as a tool for evaluating potential relocation and international residency; therefore, traditional indicators of national wealth do not, in isolation, determine a country's rank.

The methodology is based on 24 indicators categorized into four pillars: Finance and Taxation, Quality of Life and Health, Safety and Stability, and Integration and Opportunity. Data sources include the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Justice Project.

The authors acknowledge certain methodological limitations: while approximately 127 states benefit from high or full institutional data coverage, evaluations for other nations should be treated as indicative. For Kazakhstan, the index specifies "Full Data Coverage."

Kazakhstan's performance reflects a distinct profile: the country capitalizes on a competitive cost of living, housing affordability, and favorable financial conditions, while its standing remains constrained by climatic factors, linguistic barriers for foreigners, and the current state of its innovation ecosystem. In a regional context, this strategic combination has proven sufficient for Kazakhstan to maintain its leadership in Central Asia.