Almaty as solely a city of republican significance. With the transfer of the capital to Astana, the city acquired the status of a city of republican significance, joining Almaty as the second urban center to hold this designation.

On 19 June 2018, by Presidential Decree No. 702 "On Some Issues of the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Republic of Kazakhstan", Shymkent was elevated to the status of a city of republican significance, thereby acquiring the legal position of an independent administrative-territorial