Birth to a Kazakhstani parent creates nationality. Birth in Kazakhstan alone to foreign parents is not unrestricted jus soli; territorial rules cover foundlings and children who would otherwise be stateless.
An ethnic Kazakh who was not previously a citizen and returns to the historical homeland may obtain "kandas" status and acquire citizenship through a simplified registration procedure regardless of the period of residence.
A spouse of a Kazakh may naturalize after three years of residence, instead of five.
A child at least one of whose parents is a Kazakhstani citizen is a citizen (jus sanguinis), regardless of birthplace.
Adults generally need about five years of continuous permanent residence (about three years for spouses of citizens); applicants must generally renounce prior citizenship. Grant is discretionary.