Kazakhstan Entry Requirements

Kazakhstan Entry Requirements define all the rules that must be followed for hassle-free entry to the country. These rules also outline the types of documents one needs to prepare prior to the planned trip.

Among the most essential documents necessary to travel to Kazakhstan are a valid passport and a visa. Make sure that your passport will be valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiry date of your Kazakh visa. Moreover, it should also have at least one blank page for stamping purposes.

Another document without which your entry to Kazakhstan can be impossible is a visa. According to the Kazakh visa policy, there are 60 different countries whose nationals can travel to Kazakhstan visa-free for a stay between 14 and 90 days. Nevertheless, citizens of over 180 other countries will need to obtain a relevant visa before visiting Kazakhstan.

It is possible to obtain a Kazakh visa either by visiting the nearest embassy or consulate or by submitting an online visa application.

At the moment, there are more than 115 countries eligible for an online visa for Kazakhstan. All travelers from these countries no longer need to book embassy appointments and apply for a visa well in advance. An electronic visa can be approved within only 3 business days and delivered via email, eliminating the need to visit the embassy.

Citizens of around 65 other countries who aren't eligible for a Kazakh eVisa must, however, obtain an embassy or consular visa regardless of the length or purpose of their stay in Kazakhstan. A traditional visa also applies to all those travelers who wish to stay in Kazakhstan for a longer period of time.

Currently, there is no Visa on Arrival facility offered by Kazakh immigration officials.

Travelers planning a trip to Kazakhstan no longer need to worry about Covid-related restrictions. As of 8th June 2022, the country's authorities lifted all Covid-19 requirements, i.e., it's no longer necessary to provide coronavirus vaccination proof and a negative PCR test certificate to enter Kazakstan.

Important: All travelers planning to visit Kazakstan should ensure that they know the latest updates on entry requirements. These may change at short notice amid the still-evolving Covid-19 situation worldwide.

Who can enter Kazakhstan?

There are no visa or entry bans in place for foreigners traveling to Kazakhstan. Moreover, the Covid-19 vaccination status of the travelers arriving is no longer verified.

Documents check-list for entering Kazakhstan

• valid passport
• Kazakh visa
• motor insurance (mandatory)
• travel insurance (recommended)

Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements

Testing requirements

Performing PCR tests before traveling to Kazakhstan is no longer mandatory.

Vaccination requirements

The country's authorities don't check the Covid-19 vaccination status of the persons entering Kazakhstan.

Quarantine requirements

Should you happen to test positive for Covid-19 while staying in Kazakhstan, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days.

If you test positive while in Kazakhstan, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days. If medical assistance is necessary, you may be confined in government quarantine facilities.

Traveling from Kazakhstan

There are no specific requirements for travelers departing Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, every traveler should remember to familiarize themselves with the entry requirements of a country they plan to visit next.

Moreover, it is highly recommended to contact the airline or travel provider for the most accurate information about their travel rules, e.g., testing or vaccination requirements.

Traveling to Kazakhstan

Before going to Kazakhstan, it is recommended to check the availability of flights operated to the country.

Since all the Covid-19 entry documents were dropped, a traveler no longer needs to present a vaccination and negative test certificate. However, all passengers should follow all pre-pandemic requirements which are still effective, for example, holding a relevant visa for Kazakhstan.

Entry Rules for Children

There are no separate entry requirements for minor travelers arriving in Kazakhstan. They should follow the same rules as adult travelers, including visa requirements.

It is a parent or legal guardian who should ensure that every underage traveler has a valid visa for Kazakhstan and meet other remaining requirements to enter the country.

Transit through Kazakhstan

When planning to transit through Kazakhstan, you need to meet the requirements of your final destination. Do also remember to consult the requirements of your airline or travel provider to ensure issues-free travel.

If you plan to pass through immigration (layover), for example, to spend a night in a hotel before taking the connecting flight the next day, you will need to follow the entry protocol for regular travelers arriving in Kazakhstan.

Visa for transit purposes

Passport holders of India and the People's Republic of China can transit through Kazakhstan visa-free since April 2018 under certain conditions. Namely, a visa for transit isn't necessary when a transit stop lasts up to 72 hours either at Almaty Intl. Aiport or Nursultan Nazarbayev Intl. Airport.

Moreover, this visa-free transit rule only applies to passengers who have valid air tickets and whose flights are operated by one of the Kazakh airlines. In any other situation, a transit visa will be necessary.

Check if you can apply for a transit eVisa online and obtain a visa that will enable you a 5-day transit stop in Kazakhstan before traveling further.

Visa requirements

Kazakhstan eVisa

In 2019, the Kazakh Government implemented the electronic visa system to enable travelers from eligible countries to obtain a visa for Kazakhstan entirely online.

Eligible applicants can choose from three available types of electronic visas that will best cover their traveling needs. All types of visas can be used for tourism or transit purposes and their validity differs according to the selected type.

To complete the Kazakhstan eVisa application, one needs first to check eligibility. Then, it will be necessary to complete a short online form and cover the processing fee. Once approved, Kazakh eVisa will be delivered to the applicant's email inbox.

Embassy or Consular Visa

According to Kazakh immigration law, nationals of around 65 different countries must apply for an embassy or consular visa before visiting Kazakhstan, no matter the purpose of their visit.

Individuals can choose between 40 various embassy visa types that are issued at Kazakh government diplomatic posts, i.e., embassies or consulates. Among the most popular types of issued visas are tourist visas, work visas, business visas, transit visas, etc.

In order to obtain an embassy or consular visa for Kazakhstan, one needs to visit the nearest Kazakh diplomatic mission and go through the entire time-consuming procedure. It may be necessary to provide some supporting documents and cover the processing fee before the visa will be approved.

Consult the following list and find out whether your country is listed among those ones that need to obtain an embassy or consular visa for Kazakhstan:

• Afghanistan
• Aland Islands
• Albania
• American Samoa
• Anguilla
• Antarctica
• Bermuda
• Bonaire
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cape Verde
• Cayman Islands
• Christmas Island
• Cocos Islands
• Cook Islands
• Curacao
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Egypt
• Equatorial Guinea
• Falkland Islands
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Guadeloupe
• Guam
• Guernsey
• Iran
• Iraq
• Isle of Man
• Jersey
• Jordan
• Libya
• Martinique
• Mayotte
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• Niue
• Norfolk Island
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Pakistan
• Palestinian Territory
• Pitcairn Islands
• Puerto Rico
• Reunion
• Saint Barthelemy
• Saint Helena
• Saint Martin
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Sint Maarten
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Svalbard and Jan Mayen
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Taiwan
• Timor Leste
• Tokelau
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United States Virgin Islands
• Wallis and Futuna
• Yemen

Visa-exempt countries

There are around 60 different countries whose nationals can travel to Kazakhstan without a visa and stay there for various periods of time. The visa-exempt entry is allowed for tourism and business purposes and can last from 2 weeks up to 3 months, depending on the traveler's nationality.

Moreover, residents of the Balkan Region of Turkmenistan can enjoy visa-free entry to the Kazakh Atyrau and Mangystau Provinces and stay there for up to 5 days without a visa.

Most of the visa-exempt travelers who don't need to hold a visa to enter Kazakhstan must present a valid passport anyway. Kyrgyzstan citizens can use a National ID card instead of a passport, while Russian nationals are allowed to use an internal passport.

Please note that for any other traveling purpose than tourism or business, or for longer stays in Kazakhstan, you may need to apply for a Kazakh visa directly from an embassy or consulate even if your country is listed as visa-exempt.

Following, you will find the complete list of countries whose nationals can travel to Kazakhstan without a visa:

• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of Cyprus
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tajikistan
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uzbekistan

Travel Insurance

Although it's not mandatory, a traveler arriving in Kazahstan should have comprehensive travel insurance.

Medical treatment costs can be really high and the proper insurance policy will cover all unexpected expenses, e.g., hospitalization or medical transportation. Choose travel insurance that also has Covid-19 coverage.

Please note that if you plan to use a car when in Kazakstan, motor insurance will be mandatory and can be purchased at most road border crossings.