Abstract
This chapter examines the naturalisation of ethnic Kazakh repatriates as a critical lens through which to understand the intersection of law, bureaucracy, and everyday governance in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. Since independence, more than 1.14 million ethnic Kazakhs have returned to the country under state-sponsored repatriation programmes; however, their legal and social integration remains uneven. Although repatriation is publicly celebrated as a cornerstone of national identity, the process of obtaining citizenship reveals a system characterised by administrative complexity, inconsistent regulations, and limited access to reliable information. Drawing on interviews with repatriates from Mongolia, China, and Uzbekistan, as well as insights from officials and experts, the chapter explores how individuals navigate bureaucratic uncertainty through informal networks and personal connections. These coping strategies emerge not as isolated exceptions, but as routine tools for survival within an unpredictable institutional environment. Field observations and situational conversations illustrate how the promise of inclusion is frequently replaced by experiences of frustration, delay, and negotiation. The study argues that citizenship in Kazakhstan is not merely a legal entitlement but an ongoing process shaped by both institutional practices and informal adaptations. By foregrounding the lived experiences of those seeking recognition from the state, the chapter highlights the gap between policy and practice, formality and informality, and belonging and exclusion. In doing so, it offers a broader reflection on how post-Soviet states manage migration and nationhood, demonstrating that the right to belong often depends less on formal law than on one’s ability to navigate the system itself.