Renunciation of citizenship is the right of a citizen, provided for by the law, to terminate the relationship of citizenship with the state in accordance with the established procedure. Renunciation of citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan is carried out based on a voluntary decision. The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan" regulates issues related to renunciation of citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

A citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan permanently residing on the territory of the Republic submits a petition (application) for renunciation of citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan addressed to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and submits it to the internal affairs body of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the place of permanent residence.

The following is submitted along with a petition (application):

1. Application form.
2. Autobiography.
3. Three photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm).
4. Copies of identity documents, child's birth certificate and marriage certificate.
5. A statement of employment/study, as well as a statement from the territorial body of enforcement proceedings on the presence/absence of outstanding obligations to the state or property obligations related to the interests of citizens, government agencies and organizations, regardless of ownership forms.
6. A statement from the territorial Defense Affairs Department on the exemption of a person of military age from active military service or on the impossibility of exemption.
7. A document certifying payment of the state fee or exemption from payment.

When submitting documents on renunciation of citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the migration service departments, the applicant is informed about the legal consequences of losing citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan (as stated in the relevant entry in the statement issued by the employee of the internal affairs department) and is obliged to submit Kazakhstani documents to the migration service department.

The internal affairs bodies request information on the applicant from the legal statistics and information bodies under the General Prosecutor's Office and its territorial divisions on the applicant's criminal liability as an accused or on the serving of a sentence by a court decision.

The following information is indicated by the internal affairs body in the statement on renunciation of citizenship:

• on the presence or absence of the applicant's outstanding obligations to the state or property obligations relating to the material interests of citizens, the state and other organizations;
• on being brought in as an accused;
• confirming that renunciation of citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not contradict the interests of state security.

Thus, if a citizen is accused of a criminal offence or is serving a sentence imposed by a court decision, has outstanding obligations to the Republic of Kazakhstan, or if the renunciation of citizenship contradicts the interests of the national security of the Republic, he/she shall be denied renunciation of citizenship in accordance with Article 20 of the Law "On Citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan".

After collecting and verifying all the documents submitted to the migration service department, all the materials are sent to the Citizenship Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for making a motivated decision.

Upon renunciation of citizenship, a person has the right to withdraw his/her pension savings. To do this, a person needs to contact the branch of the Pension Fund with which a pension agreement was concluded and submit the required documents. Follow the link to find out more about withdrawing and transferring your pension savings.

Citizens may also apply for renunciation of citizenship while living outside the Republic of Kazakhstan. Living outside Kazakhstan does not in itself result in the loss of Kazakh citizenship, but failure to comply with the established conditions of residence abroad may result in the automatic loss of Kazakhstan citizenship.

Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan permanently residing abroad (i.e. those who have withdrawn from registration with internal affairs bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who have obtained permission to travel abroad for permanent residence) shall apply for renunciation of citizenship to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan through foreign missions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The following should be attached to an application:

• application form in a prescribed format;
• autobiography drawn up in one`s own hand;
• a photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm);
• copy of an applicant`s ID document;
• permission to leave the country for permanent residence issued by the internal affairs bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• copies of a child`s birth certificate and a marriage certificate (if available);
• a document confirming the possibility of obtaining foreign citizenship;
• document confirming payment of the consular fee;
• a notarized consent to renounce the citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the statement on absence of material and other claims from the applicant's spouse or dependents residing in the Republic of Kazakhstan, or copies of their death certificates, a court decision recognizing the citizen as deceased or missing.

When submitting documents, the applicants are informed about the legal consequences of their deprivation of citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as about the provision of Article 3 of the Law, according to which a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall not be recognized as a citizen of a foreign state, which is noted in the application form.

Applications concerning the citizenship of persons under the age of 18 and persons recognized as legally incapacitated are considered at the request of their legal representatives, certified by a notary public or, in other countries, by a foreign institution, together with a copy of the child's birth certificate (adoptive parents, guardians and trustees submit a copy of the decision of the local executive body of the Republic of Kazakhstan) or a document confirming the identity of the incapacitated person.

When applying for a change of citizenship for a child between the ages of 14 and 18, the child's consent is required, which must be in writing and notarized, and in other countries certified by a foreign institution.

The documents should be drawn up in the state or Russian language, or in another language with a notarized translation into the state or Russian language.