Trending questions about the UAPF Who is entitled to receive scheduled pension benefits from the UAPF? In accordance with the Social Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, monthly pension benefits derived from mandatory pension contributions and/or mandatory occupational pension contributions (hereinafter referred to as MOPC) are made from the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund (UAPF) to individuals with pension savings in the UAPF who meet the following criteria:- They have reached the retirement age (63 years for men; 61 years for women—with the age for women increasing by 6 months annually, starting from 2028, until it reaches 63 years in 2031).- They have reached the age of 55 and have had mandatory occupational pension contributions paid on their behalf for a total of at least 84 calendar months by the time they apply for pension benefits, provided they have ceased employment in hazardous working conditions (in roles specified in the list of industries, jobs, and professions approved by the authorized state body).- They have been granted a Group 1 or Group 2 disability status on an indefinite basis.Pension benefits derived from voluntary pension contributions may begin before the standard retirement age—specifically, from the age of 50. Furthermore, such benefits are available to individuals with disabilities, regardless of the disability group or the duration for which the disability status has been assigned. In these cases, the payment schedule is determined by the contributor themselves.  How scheduled benefits are calculated?  Scheduled benefits are calculated as follows: for the first year of receiving benefits, the total amount of pension savings is multiplied by a payout rate of 6.5% and then divided by 12. In subsequent years, the monthly pension benefit amount is increased by an indexation rate of 5%. Furthermore, the monthly pension benefit from the UAPF (Unified Accumulative Pension Fund) must be at least 70% of the subsistence minimum (hereinafter referred to as the "SM") established for the relevant fiscal year by the Law on the Republican Budget.For certain categories of beneficiaries—specifically, individuals with a Group 1 or 2 disability (assigned on an indefinite basis) and those who have worked in hazardous or dangerous occupations—the Methodology provides for adjustment coefficients that increase the monthly pension benefit amount, provided that their savings include at least 60 months of MOPC. If an individual meets more than one of these criteria, the adjustment coefficient with the highest value is applied.When calculating and issuing pension benefits to individuals who have reached the age of 55 and for whom MOPC have been paid for a total of at least 84 months:- the requirement that the pension benefit must be at least 70% of the SM does not apply;- the adjustment coefficients do not apply;- any remaining balance in an individual pension savings account that is less than 70% of the SM cannot be paid out in addition to the regular monthly pension benefit.            It should be noted that pension benefits from the UAPF are paid until the pension savings are exhausted.If, as of the date of a payment from the UAPF, the total amount of pension savings does not exceed twelve times the minimum pension—as established by the law on the republican budget for the relevant fiscal year—the benefit is paid as a single lump sum. Where and when should one apply for the payout of pension savings from the UAPF upon reaching retirement age?  To receive pension benefits from the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund based on mandatory pension contributions upon reaching retirement age, as well as to obtain the basic and PAYG pensions from the state budget, individuals must submit an application in a timely manner to the "Government for Citizens" State Corporation (Public Service Center — PSC) at their place of residence. This may be done up to 10 days before reaching retirement age. All types of age-based pension benefits commence from the date of application. The date of application is defined as the day the application and required documents are registered at the PSC, provided the individual has already reached retirement age; if the application is submitted earlier, the date of reaching retirement age is considered the date of application. Timely submission is particularly important for receiving state-funded pension benefits, which require a verification of the individual's employment history based on the documents provided. State-funded pension benefits are made for life, while benefits from the UAPF continue until the individual's pension savings are exhausted.Please note that individuals who have reached the age of fifty or who have a disability may apply to the UAPF to receive benefits derived from voluntary pension contributions (VPCs). Such applications can be submitted via the user's personal account on the UAPF website, through the UAPF mobile app, or in person at a UAPF office.In what cases are pension benefits funded by voluntary pension contributions granted automatically? In accordance with amendments to the Social Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan—which provide for the disbursement of pension benefits funded by Voluntary Pension Contributions (VPC) according to the procedures and terms defined in the VPC-based pension provision agreement and the pension rules of UAPF—a proactive (application-free) procedure for VPC-based pension benefits will be introduced starting in March 2026. This applies to individuals who have reached retirement age and hold VPC-based pension savings in the UAPF, but who have not previously applied to the UAPF for such benefits (e.g., upon reaching the age of 50 or due to a disability).The proactive procedure for VPC-based pension benefits (where applicable) entails:The automatic authorization of VPC-based pension benefits by the UAPF when an individual submits an application to the State Corporation—following established procedures—to receive a state-funded pension and/or MPC- or MOPC-based benefits upon reaching retirement age.The disbursement of VPC-based funds as part of a proactive service, based on an annual reconciliation with the State Corporation to verify whether the individuals in question are already receiving age-based state pensions and/or the state basic pension benefit, as recorded in the information system of the authorized body for social protection.Where should one apply to receive a payout of pension savings in the event of being granted a permanent disability status (Group 1 or 2)?To claim a pension benefit due to being granted a permanent disability status (Group I or II), you must contact a UAPF branch, or use your personal account on the UAPF website (enpf.kz) or the UAPF mobile app, authenticated with an electronic digital signature.Please note that the UAPF offers on-site service for individuals with a permanent Group I or II disability. This process includes an initial consultation to determine whether the required services can be provided remotely, without the need for an in-person visit.           Where can I find the list of documents required to apply for pension benefits from the UAPF?The website enpf.kz, under the "Services – Pension Benefits" section, provides a list of required documents—varying based on the type of pension benefit and the submission method—along with formatting requirements, application forms, sample completed forms, and a template for a power of attorney. Additionally, the "Online Services" section offers a tool for the preliminary review of documents intended for UAPF pension benefits (the service is titled "Preliminary Review of Pension Benefit Documents": https://www.enpf.kz/ru/elektronnye-servisy/checkdoc.php).            UAPF was founded on August 22, 2013 on the basis of GNPF APF JSC. The founder and shareholder of the UAPF is the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan represented by the State Institution Committee of State Property and Privatization of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Trust management of UAPF pension assets is carried out by the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In accordance with the pension legislation, the UAPF attracts mandatory pension contributions, employer’s mandatory pension contributions, mandatory occupational pension contributions, voluntary pension contributions, as well as carries out enrollment and accounting of voluntary pension contributions formed at the expense of the unclaimed amount of guaranteed compensation for the guaranteed deposit, transferred by the organization carrying out mandatory guarantee of deposits, in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On mandatory guarantee of deposits placed in second-tier banks of the Republic of Kazakhstan", ensures the implementation of pension benefits. The Fund also carries out accounting of target assets and target requirements, accounting and crediting of target savings (TS) to target savings accounts, payments of TS to their recipients in bank accounts, accounting for returns of TS in the manner determined by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan within the framework of the National Fund for Children program (More details at www.enpf.kz)   Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/abay-kokpekti/press/news/details/1313940?lang=ru

REGULATIONS OF THE “OQ STARTUP” CREATIVE COMPETITION FOR THE BEST PROJECTS AMONG ETHNIC KAZAKHS ABROADI. Main Objective of the Competition— The “OQ Startup” Creative Competition for the Best Projects is aimed at providing comprehensive support to projects in the fields of science, culture, IT, business, media, volunteering, as well as other creative and social fields.— The main objective of the competition is to promote the original projects of Kazakh compatriots and ethnic Kazakhs living abroad in Kazakhstan, facilitate networking and the establishment of connections among participants, and support their creative initiatives.II. Organization and Procedure for Conducting the Competition— Kazakh compatriots aged 15–30 who are citizens of foreign countries are eligible to participate in the competition.— Projects in the fields of science, culture, IT, business, media, volunteering, as well as other creative and social fields are accepted for the competition.— To present their project, participants must submit the following materials:1. Project Presentation— A horizontally recorded video in MP4 or MOV format, no longer than 2 minutes, or a presentation in PPTX or PDF format, consisting of no more than 10 slides.— The video or presentation must briefly and clearly present the main content and relevance of the project, its objectives, target audience, implementation methods, and expected outcomes.2. Brief Project Description (PDF format)The description must include the following information:— project title;— relevance of the project and the problem it aims to address;— project objective;— key project tasks;— target audience (who the project is intended for);— implementation mechanism and key activities;— project implementation period;— expected outcomes;— resources required for project implementation.If funding is required to implement the project, the participant must indicate the requested amount of funding and provide a detailed budget in the PDF document. The budget must specify the name of each expense item, quantity, unit cost, and total cost.The submitted video or presentation should provide a concise and clear overview of the project, while the PDF description should provide a comprehensive explanation of the project.Projects that have already begun implementation, are currently being implemented, or are planned for future implementation are eligible for participation in the competition.If a project is already being implemented, the participant must provide information on its current results, achievements, and plans for further development.For a planned project, its objectives, tasks, implementation stages, timeline, and expected outcomes must be clearly specified.4. Submissions are accepted via email at Oqbaiqau@gmail.com.5. Participants must submit their work, along with the following personal information — full name, citizenship, university and year of study, and age — by October 30, 2026.6. By submitting their work, participants consent to its publication on the official website and social media platforms of Otandastar Qory (Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram).7. Works are accepted in Kazakh, Russian, or English.III. Competition Period— Creative works will be accepted from September 30 to October 30, 2026.— The judging panel will determine the winners within 30 days after the competition closes.IV. Competition Results and AwardsBased on the results of the competition, the winners will receive the following awards:— 1st Place: Laptop and diploma— 2nd Place: Tablet and diploma— 3rd Place: Smartwatch and diploma— Special Recognition Prize: Bestemshe traditional board game and certificate of recognition.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-rabat/press/news/details/1313884?lang=ru

Algiers, 19 October 2026 - As part of the celebrations marking the Republic Day of Kazakhstan, the 35th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Algeria, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Algiers held a business roundtable and a videoconference dedicated to the prospects for developing Kazakh-Algerian trade, economic and investment cooperation.Ambassador Anuarbek Akhmetov provided participants with a detailed overview of the political and socio-economic reforms being implemented under the leadership of Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and highlighted key areas of cooperation between the two countries. Particular attention was paid to Kazakhstan’s trade, economic and investment potential, as well as to key sectors of the national economy.For their part, Algerian entrepreneurs noted that Kazakhstan offers favourable conditions for investment and expressed their interest in further expanding bilateral business ties.During the discussion, the participants exchanged views on prospects for cooperation in agriculture, energy, digitalisation, transport and finance.The business videoconference brought together the heads of 20 Algerian and 10 Kazakh companies operating in the priority sectors of the economies of both countries. During the online meeting, the participants presented their companies and outlined promising areas for cooperation with Algerian partners. They also expressed their interest in establishing mutually beneficial business contacts and implementing joint projects.Overall, Algerian business representatives congratulated the people of Kazakhstan on Republic Day, commended the country’s significant achievements in political and socio-economic development, and expressed their gratitude to Kazakhstani diplomats for providing them with the opportunity to gain a closer understanding of the business environment in Kazakhstan and the opportunities available for implementing investment projects in the country.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-algeria/press/news/details/1313886?lang=ru

Geneva, 19 October 2026 – Kazakhstan is expanding its participation in international scientific research through cooperation with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). During a visit by a Kazakh delegation to CERN, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to advance collaboration in the field of advanced detector technologies.With the support of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, the delegation, led by A. Makhambetov, Deputy Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy, held talks with CERN Director-General Mark Thomson. The discussions focused on prospects for deepening the partnership in nuclear physics, high-energy physics, and fundamental research.A key outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Kazakhstan’s Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) and CERN on participation in the international research collaboration DRD1 (Detector Research and Development 1), which specializes in the development of gaseous detectors. The agreement will enable Kazakhstani scientists to expand their involvement in joint research, gain expertise in advanced technologies, and contribute to international scientific projects.During the talks, the Kazakh side also presented an initiative to establish a scientific data processing centre at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, with the prospect of integrating it into CERN’s computing infrastructure. The proposal received a positive response from CERN’s leadership and is being considered as a promising avenue for further cooperation.The visit and the signing of the Memorandum open up new opportunities to develop Kazakhstan’s scientific capacity, expand international research partnerships, and strengthen the expertise of Kazakhstani specialists in advanced technologies.  Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-geneva/press/news/details/1313871?lang=ru

Today, at Akorda under the chairmanship of Head of State Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich, a ceremonial meeting dedicated to Rescuer Day — October 19 — was held.The President highly appreciated the work of emergency situations personnel, noting that they are true professionals who have undergone special training, are not subject to fear, and are capable of making decisions promptly at critical moments. At the ceremonial meeting, state awards were presented to Kyzylorda residents who conscientiously fulfill their professional duty.In particular, senior firefighter-rescuer of Fire Station No. 6 of the Emergency Situations Department of the city of Kyzylorda Nursultan Zhalgasov was awarded the 'Erligi ushin' medal, and Abdikhamit Aralbayev, director of the 'Ontalap' farm in Kyzylorda region, was awarded the 'Eren enbegi ushin' medal for sponsorship assistance in building a fire station under the 'Aul kutkarushysy' project. Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kyzylorda/press/news/details/1313836?lang=ru