Passport for 3 million: risky marriage schemes to obtain Kazakhstan citizenship

Tengrinews.kz — A story about a foreign national allegedly seeking a fictitious marriage in exchange for money has gained traction on social media. The price is three million tenge, and the goal is to obtain Kazakhstan citizenship. Tengrinews looked into how risky such schemes are and what consequences both sides may face.

What happened

A Threads user shared a post claiming that a foreign citizen is offering three million tenge to a Kazakh woman in exchange for a fictitious marriage in order to obtain Kazakhstan citizenship.

“My friend sometimes shocks me. Recently, she ordered a taxi and ended up chatting with the driver. It turned out he came from Tashkent and plans to start a business. He drives a taxi just for fun, but to do business he urgently needs Kazakhstan citizenship. His friends suggested a ‘working scheme’ — to enter into a fictitious marriage with a Kazakh woman, wait three years, and then legally obtain a passport. Now he is looking for a woman willing to marry him for three years for three million tenge,” the post says.

Reaction in the comments

The post sparked heated discussions online. Some users reacted jokingly and even expressed interest:

“If he pays five million, I’m in.”
“There are two of us with my friend — we’re ready.”
“Three million? Give him my number.”

Others warned against treating the situation lightly and pointed out potential risks:

“Are Kazakh women really willing to do this? You can earn that money honestly.”
“Doesn’t responsibility in marriage scare anyone? Loans, debts — it’s all risky.”

What the lawyer said

Tengrinews contacted lawyer Zhandos Palmanov to clarify the legal consequences of fictitious marriages.

He explained that the law does not recognize the term “fictitious marriage” unless it is proven in court. Until then, the marriage is considered fully legal, with all accompanying rights and obligations.

“Until a marriage is declared invalid by a court, it has the same legal consequences as a regular marriage. This includes jointly acquired property, potential debt obligations, inheritance rights, as well as risks related to migration and tax legislation. Verbal agreements that the marriage is ‘only formal’ have no legal force and do not protect either party,” Palmanov said.

He added that in real practice, cases often arise where one spouse takes out loans, and the other learns about them only during legal proceedings. If the borrowed money was spent on family needs, the debt may be recognized as joint.

“As a result, the second spouse must prove their non-involvement in court, which requires time, financial resources, and qualified legal assistance,” the lawyer noted.

Among the possible consequences of a fictitious marriage, he listed:

• loss of property;
• prolonged court disputes;
• claims to real estate;
• claims to vehicles or business assets.

“In addition, fictitious marriages often carry criminal-law risks — from fraud accusations to illegal acquisition of benefits or legal status,” Palmanov added.

According to the lawyer, a prenuptial agreement can reduce risks, but only if it is properly drafted and does not violate the balance of interests between the parties.

How the law works

The Ministry of Culture and Information reminded that a marriage concluded without the intention to create a family may be declared invalid through court proceedings. Such a case can be initiated by the spouses themselves or by other interested parties.

“Within three days after the court decision declaring a marriage invalid enters into legal force, the court must send an extract of the decision to the registry office where the marriage was registered. The marriage is considered invalid from the date it was originally concluded,” the ministry explained.

The ministry also clarified that if a marriage is declared invalid, the spouses do not retain family rights or obligations. Property is divided under civil law, and the foreign citizen may lose migration privileges.

“When applying for citizenship or permanent residence, the fact of a fictitious marriage is taken into account by migration authorities and may result in refusal or cancellation of status,” the ministry added.