Kyrgyzstan Grants Refugee Status to 387 Ethnic Kyrgyz in First Seven Months of 2026

Kyrgyzstan has granted refugee status to 387 ethnic Kyrgyz individuals in the first seven months of 2026, according to the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration. This influx of ethnic Kyrgyz returnees, known as 'kairylmans,' reflects a long-standing trend of migration to the Central Asian nation.

Since its independence, Kyrgyzstan has seen over 90,000 ethnic Kyrgyz people repatriate, with around 70,000 of them subsequently acquiring Kyrgyz citizenship. The process for obtaining 'kairylman' status involves an interdepartmental commission comprising representatives from the State Committee for National Security, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration, and the 'Kyzmat' state institution. Applications are typically reviewed within a three-month period.

The majority of the 387 individuals who received 'kairylman' status in the first seven months of the year came from Tajikistan, with 351 people. Other countries of origin included Uzbekistan (16 people), China (10 people), Russia (5 people), Afghanistan (1 person), and other nations (4 people).

Under Kyrgyz law, individuals granted 'kairylman' status receive social guarantees and benefits that are nearly equivalent to those provided to Kyrgyz citizens. This includes the right to social benefits, pensions, medical and sanitary assistance, education, and employment within Kyrgyzstan. The 'kairylman' certificate is issued for a period of three years, during which time the recipients are expected to apply for Kyrgyz citizenship.