Visiting Kazakhstan: visa-free stay and tourist visa

Citizens of 48 economically developed and migration-stable states, among them the EU states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea, may enter and leave Kazakhstan without a visa if their stay does not exceed 30 calendar days from the moment they cross the state border.

Other bilateral agreements give some neighbouring and partner countries their own visa-free terms, and the Visa and Migration Portal shows the current rule for each nationality. Nationals not covered by any exemption need a visa before travelling.

The passport must be beyond doubt as to authenticity, free of unofficial marks, erasures or loose pages, have at least two blank pages for visas and remain valid at least three months after the requested visa expires; passports with extension marks are not accepted.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee schedule sets USD 60 for a single-entry and USD 90 for a multiple-entry tourist visa. Other single-entry visas cost USD 80, transit visas USD 20 single and USD 90 multiple, and multiple-entry visas other than tourist and transit USD 200 for a year up to USD 1,000 for five years. Paid consular fees are not refunded.

Travellers who need a visa, or plan a tourist stay beyond the visa-free period, apply to a Kazakh mission or, for a single entry, for a tourist e-visa on vmp.gov.kz. Citizens of the 48 listed states are exempt from presenting an invitation for several visa categories. Invitations for private visits are filed by the host not earlier than one year and not later than five working days before entry, and the National Security Committee approves them within three working days.

Since the Law of 27 December 2019 No. 292-VI, foreigners entering for up to 30 days from the border crossing no longer have to register, and the registration service has been closed on the Visa and Migration Portal. Instead, hosts who are residents of Kazakhstan submit a notification of the foreigner's stay through the portal with an electronic digital signature; children under 16 are exempt from notification. A foreigner who plans to stay longer than 30 days must apply for a temporary residence permit at the migration service at the place of stay; the permit is issued at the request of the receiving party.