New requirements for those wishing to obtain citizenship have come into force in Kazakhstan. According to a recently signed order of the Minister of Science and Higher Education, one of the mandatory conditions is now knowledge of the state language, as well as the fundamentals of the Constitution and history of the country.
According to the document, in order to successfully pass the citizenship exam, it is necessary to demonstrate the following knowledge:
- State language: at least 36 points at the elementary level.
- Fundamentals of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan: at least 9 points.
- History of Kazakhstan: at least 15 points.
Control over the implementation of these requirements is assigned to the Vice Minister of Science and Higher Education. The order will come into force immediately after its official publication.
It is important to note that in May of this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law that explicitly states that knowledge of the Kazakh language and history is mandatory for obtaining citizenship. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a lack of basic knowledge of the language, as well as a lack of knowledge of history and the Constitution, may be grounds for denial of citizenship.
These changes highlight the importance of linguistic and cultural identity in Kazakhstan and the state’s desire to strengthen national values among citizens.