NEWS

On March 15, 2026, Kazakhstan approved a new Constitution following a national referendum (73.12% turnout, 87.15% voted in favor). The document will come into force on July 1, 2026. On the same day, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree setting out the measures for its implementation, effectively launching a large-scale alignment of national legislation with the updated constitutional framework.

Since then, the country has entered an accelerated legislative phase. By the end of the current parliamentary session, lawmakers are expected to adopt six constitutional laws and amend more than 60 codes and laws.

Special legal regimes for cities

One of the key tracks of the reform is the introduction of special legal regimes for selected cities.

Alatau is set to be developed as a fast-track growth area, with a tailored tax regime, enhanced investment protection, regulation of digital assets, and provisions for autonomous transport. The draft law is already under parliamentary review.

Astana will also receive a dedicated regulatory framework covering urban planning, migration, and transport, with a focus on improving overall livability and urban infrastructure.

New constitutional guarantees: data, environment, and employment

For the first time, the right to personal data protection in the digital environment is enshrined at the constitutional level. This will drive changes across administrative, criminal, data protection, and cybersecurity legislation.

Environmental policy is also moving into the constitutional space. The “Taza Kazakhstan” initiative is being embedded into law, turning environmental responsibility into a binding legal principle rather than a policy declaration.

The labour market is another area of reform, with amendments being prepared to reflect the growth of remote work and platform-based employment.

Social policy and institutions

The healthcare system is expected to move toward a more diversified funding model, including off-budget sources. The mandatory social health insurance system (OSMS) is increasingly positioned as the main gateway to high-tech medical services.

At the same time, Kazakhstan is considering its first-ever administrative amnesty covering non-violent administrative offenses. The initiative includes the possible cancellation of fines for selected categories of cases that do not pose a threat to public safety.

Subsoil use and transparency

The constitutional principle that subsoil resources belong to the people is now being translated into practical mechanisms. Discussions are underway on introducing unified transparency standards for large extractive companies, including broader financial disclosure requirements for major players in the sector.

What it means in practice

The constitutional reform is driving a systemic overhaul of Kazakhstan’s legal framework. Parliament is working on an accelerated timeline, with key changes expected before the next session.

Importantly, many of the new provisions — from data protection to environmental responsibility and special city regimes — are now elevated to constitutional level. This makes them more stable and significantly harder to amend, reinforcing the importance of the current legislative phase.