Tourist Documents: Passport, Visa

Foreign guests enter and leave the Republic of Kazakhstan through border checkpoints using passports or equivalent documents, with Kazakhstan visas if required.

As of March 2020, citizens of 73 countries could enter Kazakhstan without a visa. However, according to Government Resolution No. 220 of April 17, 2020, the visa-free regime for 54 countries was suspended until November 1, 2020.

The visa-free regime applies only to citizens of Azerbaijan, Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Georgia, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Ecuador, and South Korea.

Who does not need a visa?

Visa-free entry for up to 30 days

Visa-free entry with the right to stay in the country for up to 30 days is granted to citizens of the following countries: Azerbaijan, Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Ecuador.

The list of countries with visa-free entry to Kazakhstan for up to 30 days also included the following countries (suspended until November 1, 2020): Commonwealth of Australia, Republic of Austria, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Hungary, Vatican City State, State of Israel, State of Qatar, State of Kuwait, Hellenic Republic, Ireland, Iceland, Italian Republic, Canada, Principality of Liechtenstein, Principality of Monaco, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Belgium, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of Thailand, Kingdom of Sweden, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lithuania, Malaysia, United Mexican States, New Zealand, Portuguese Republic, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Colombia, Republic of Malta, Republic of Poland, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovenia, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Chile, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Sultanate of Oman, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Finland, French Republic, Czech Republic, Swiss Confederation, Republic of Estonia, and Japan.

Citizens of the above-listed countries may enter the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan with any type of valid passport, with the right to stay in the country for up to 30 days.

Visa-free entry for up to 90 days

Visa-free entry with the right to stay in the country for up to 90 days is granted to citizens of the following countries: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine.

Hong Kong

Citizens of the Hong Kong SAR may enter Kazakhstan without a visa with the right to stay in the country for up to 14 days.

72-hour visa-free transit regime

Until December 31, 2020 inclusive, a 72-hour visa-free regime for entry, stay, and exit from the Republic of Kazakhstan was implemented for citizens of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India transiting through the international airports of Astana, Almaty, Aktau, Shymkent, Karaganda, and Taraz to a third country or returning from a third country. As of March 30, 2020, this regime has been suspended until November 1, 2020.

How to obtain a Kazakhstani visa?

For foreign citizens who require a visa to Kazakhstan, there are currently several options for obtaining one: through the representative offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or electronically, i.e., e-visa.

Option one

Visas are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as MFA RK), foreign missions and consular offices of the MFA RK, and in their absence, by specially authorized representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the request of host organizations, multiple-entry visas may be issued to foreigners.

Option two: E-visa

Since 2019, foreign tourists from 105 countries have been able to apply for an electronic tourist visa, and citizens of 18 countries for medical or business visas. An electronic visa (business, tourist, and medical categories) is issued based on a valid invitation from the Kazakhstani side. To obtain such an invitation for a foreign tourist, the inviting party (in the case of a tourist visa, only a tour operator or travel agency) must submit a set of documents to the relevant divisions of the Migration Service Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The processing time for the invitation is 5 business days, after which the inviting party will be provided with an invitation number that must be forwarded to the tourist for further processing of the electronic visa. The tourist can then apply for an electronic visa through the portal www.vmp.gov.kz

Visa categories:

A tourism visa (category B12) is issued as a single-entry visa for a period of up to 90 days with the right to stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan for no more than 30 days.
A business trip visa (category B1) is issued as a single-entry visa for a period of up to 90 days with the right to stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan for no more than 60 days.
Business trip visas (categories B2-B3) are issued as single-entry visas for a period of up to 90 days with the right to stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan for no more than 30 days.
A medical visa (category C12) is issued as a single-entry visa for a period of up to 180 days with the right to stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan for no more than 90 days.

Foreigners may enter/exit the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan using a valid electronic visa only through checkpoints at international airports in Astana and Almaty. You must have a printed copy of the visa for presentation at the airport.

Additional information is available on the MFA RK website.

Grounds for issuing visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan:

The grounds for issuing entry visas must correspond to the purposes of the foreigners' stay in Kazakhstan. Thus, those arriving in Kazakhstan at the invitation of relatives and acquaintances, i.e., on private matters, as well as those arriving for business purposes, studies, or as tourists, cannot be employed in Kazakhstan or engage in activities unrelated to the purpose of entry stated in the visa, except in cases provided for by the legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The categories and types of visas, the procedure for their issuance, as well as the reduction and extension of their validity periods are determined by the MFA RK and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in agreement with the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Foreigners transiting through Kazakhstan to a country with which the state of their citizenship has a visa-free entry agreement must have a Kazakhstan transit visa.

Those transiting through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan by motor vehicles, including those carrying out international road freight transport, must travel only on roads open for international road traffic.

Is registration with the migration police required after arrival?

30 days without registration

Since 2020, pursuant to the Law signed on December 30, 2019, mandatory registration of foreigners staying in Kazakhstan for up to 30 days has been abolished. However, the host party remains obligated to notify the migration service of the arrival of a foreign guest within three business days of entry into the country.

To do this, on the visa and migration portal you need to:

fill in information about the foreigner, and if necessary about their children;
sign the completed application form using a digital signature;
receive the completed document within 15 minutes, which will be stored in your personal account.

The service is free and has been provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs since 2014.

Foreign citizen's stay in Kazakhstan for more than 30 days

If a foreign citizen stays in Kazakhstan for more than 30 days, the host party (hotels, hostels, rental apartments, medical and preventive institutions, and other legal entities and individuals) is obligated to obtain a temporary residence permit (registration) for the guest.

Please note that the registration of foreigners and notification of foreigners' arrival in Kazakhstan are two separate obligations that are now imposed on the host party.