[1] Metallist, Arman and CSKA Almaty were all relegated to the Kazakhstan First Division at the end of last season.
Before the start of the season, Arsenal-SKIF became SKIF-Ordabasy, Aktau became Munaishy, Uralets became Uralets-Arma, Montazhnik became Yassi, Zhetysu became Taldykorgan, Traktor became Ansat, Ekibastuzets became Batyr and Zenit Kokshetau became Azhar Kokshetau.
The rest of the teams played in a group for positions 13 to 25.
Teams played against each other on home-away basis in their groups.
Final standings of teams did not count the results of the first stage.