Date of publication:
06/08/2025
Kyrgyzstan
Do domestic laws and policies provide refugees or stateless persons access to permanent residency status?
Assessment by population
Analysis
The legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic regulates in detail the legal status of refugees and stateless persons, which is recognized as permanent residency status, providing them with rights, obligations and opportunities for social integration. The main rules concerning this issue are enshrined in the following legal acts: the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Refugees" dated March 25, 2002 No. 44, the Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Kyrgyz Republic" dated December 14, 1993 No. 1296-XII, as well as the Regulation on the procedure for registration and issuance of a residence permit, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic dated July 31, 2024 No. 437. According to Article 13 of the Law "On Refugees", a person recognized as a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic has the same rights and obligations as foreign citizens permanently residing in the country. Refugees are granted the right to employment, purchase real estate under the conditions established for foreign citizens, and access to medical care on an equal basis with citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. These provisions are aimed at facilitating their social integration and stable life in the country.
For stateless persons, the law provides the possibility of obtaining a temporary or permanent residence permit. A temporary residence permit can be issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons who have been legally residing in the Kyrgyz Republic for at least six months. The main grounds for obtaining it are work, study or investment activities. This document allows you to stay in the country legally and enjoy most of the rights provided by law. After continuous residence in the country for five years, holders of a temporary residence permit can apply for permanent status. For stateless persons with preferential rights to immigration, the period is reduced to six months. A permanent residence permit provides almost all the rights available to citizens, including the possibility of long-term residence and naturalization.
In addition, the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic provides the possibility of naturalization for refugees and stateless persons. In accordance with the Law "On Citizenship of the Kyrgyz Republic", they can apply for citizenship after three years of residence in the country. This allows them to fully participate in the social, economic and political life of the state, which is an important step for their integration into society. Thus, the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic forms the legal basis for protecting the rights and freedoms of refugees and stateless persons, providing them with equal opportunities for residence and integration.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
The Regulation on the procedure for registration and issuance of a residence permit
- Year: 2024
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Documentation
- Link to external source: https://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/7617/edition/1146092/ru
Legal provision
Chapter 1. General Provisions
Residence permits are issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons in electronic form, which contain a QR code, with the possibility of subsequent printing on paper. Residence permits are divided into: 1) temporary residence permit - issued for a period of one year with subsequent annual renewal, but not more than five years; 2) permanent residence permit - issued for a period of five years, but not more than the validity period of the passport of a foreign state or certificate of a stateless person, upon reaching 45 years of age - for the entire validity period of the passport of a foreign state or certificate of a stateless person.
The Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on Refugees
- Year: 2002
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2002/en/119852?prevDestination=search&prevPath=/search?keywords=Law+on+refugees&order=desc&page=1&sm_country_name%5B%5D=Kyrgyzstan&sort=score&result=result-119852-en
Legal provision
Article 13 - Rights and obligations of a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic
A person recognized as a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic enjoys the same rights and bears the same obligations as foreign citizens permanently residing in the Kyrgyz Republic. A person recognized as a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic shall also be granted the rights and obligations of a person applying for refugee status, as stipulated by Article 6 of this Law. A person recognized as a refugee in the Kyrgyz Republic and his family members shall have the right to: - reside for three months in a temporary settlement; - choose a settlement from among those proposed by the Authorized Body in which his relatives reside as their place of permanent residence, subject to their consent to cohabitation; - work for hire or engage in entrepreneurial activity in accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic; - acquire real estate under the conditions established for foreign citizens and stateless persons by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic; - receive, with the assistance of the relevant state bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic, information about property left behind in the state of previous residence; - have the necessary documents proving his identity and travel documents; - to receive medical care on an equal basis with citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic; - to receive administrative assistance when applying to state bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic; - to mandatory registration of civil status acts and receipt of relevant documents.