The order of precedence in Kazakhstan is the official protocol ranking of state officials used for ceremonial purposes, including state events, diplomatic receptions, seating arrangements, and official processions. It is administered by the State Protocol Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is established through presidential decrees.
The system does not determine constitutional succession or executive authority, but it provides a formal hierarchy for state protocol.
History The modern system of state protocol in Kazakhstan developed after independence in 1991. In the early years, ceremonial arrangements were handled through internal administrative practices without a unified legal framework.
The first formal regulation of state protocol was introduced in 1996 by Nursultan Nazarbayev through Presidential Decree No. 3028, which approved the Basic Provisions of the State Protocol. This established a structured system for ceremonial ranking within state institutions.
A revised framework was introduced in 1999 by Presidential Decree No. 173, which updated the protocol rules and clarified the hierarchy of senior state positions.
The Presidential Decree No. 201 of 12 October 2006 consolidated earlier regulations into a unified framework defining the ceremonial ranking of state officials for domestic and international events. The decree was amended on 20 February 2025 under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, including the removal of protocol positions previously assigned to the First President of Kazakhstan.
Legal basis The order of precedence is regulated by presidential decrees on state protocol and implemented by the State Protocol Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These acts define the ceremonial ranking of state officials and institutions for official events within Kazakhstan.
The system is administrative in nature and does not form part of the constitutional order of succession.
Current order of precedence The following is the official protocol hierarchy for officials of the Republic of Kazakhstan during domestic and international events, as defined in Appendices 1 and 2 of Presidential Decree No. 201 (as amended): RankPosition1President2Prime Minister3Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament4Chairman of the Majilis of the Parliament5State Counsellor6Head of the Presidential Administration7Ex-president8Chairman of the Constitutional Court9Chief Justice of the Supreme Court10Chairman of the National Bank10-1First Deputy Prime Minister10-2First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration11Secretary of the Security Council12Prosecutor General13Chairman of the National Security Committee14Chairman of the Central Election Commission15Executive Director of the President15-1Chairman of Samruk-Kazyna Board15-2Chairman of the Supreme Audit Chamber16Deputy Prime Minister (by date of appointment)16-1Deputy Heads of the Presidential Administration17Assistant to the President (by appointment)18Head of the Office of the President19Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council21Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament22Deputy Chairman of the Majilis of the Parliament23Minister of Internal Affairs24Minister of Defense25Minister of Foreign Affairs26Head of the State Security Service28Heads of agencies reporting to the President29Chief of Staff of the Government30Ministers (by date appointed)30-1Advisors to the President31Regional Governors (akims)33Special Representatives of the President34Head of Presidential Representation in Parliament35Deputy Secretaries of the Security Council36Head of Presidential Protocol Service37Press Secretary of the President38Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Court39Members of Parliament (alphabetical order)40Heads of national holdings41Commissioner for Human Rights42State awards holders (Golden Eagle, Heroes of Labour, etc.)43Presidential Administration department heads44Judges of the Constitutional Court45Justices of the Supreme Court46Commissioner for Children's Rights and other ombudsmen47Judicial Administration Head48Heads of national companies49Other state officials50Political party leaders and public associations
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See also Kazakh presidential line of succession Order of precedence