Kyrgyzstan Entry Requirements

Kyrgyzstan Entry Requirements define all the rules that must be met in order to enter the country hassle-free. These requirements also specify the list of documents necessary to prepare prior to the planned trip.

One of the most essential documents that one must hold to travel to Kyrgyzstan is a valid passport. It should not expire for at least 180 days from the intended arrival date. Remember to check with your travel provider whether your passport, as well as other necessary travel documents, meet their particular requirements.

Apart from a valid passport, you may also need to obtain a visa. The Kyrgyzstan visa policy determines the visa requirements. Depending on your nationality, traveling purpose, or duration of stay, different types of visas may be required to enter Kyrgyzstan.

Foreigners who wish to visit Kyrgyzstan for a short-term stay can apply for an electronic visa online. The Kyrgyzstan e-Visa is available in 3 different types: tourist, mountain tourist, and transit visa. Each type differs in terms of the validity period, permitted duration of stay, and the purpose of usage. There are over 130 different countries currently eligible for Kyrgyzstan online visa application.

Moreover, travelers from certain countries can apply for a visa on arrival in Kyrgyzstan. This option is most convenient for last-minute travelers, while others should rather handle all visa formalities before their trip. It will help them save plenty of time spent in long lines at the border.

Nationals of some countries who are not eligible for online or on-arrival visas will need to obtain a regular visa from the nearest Kyrgyz diplomatic mission. Additionally, some visas, and permits, including work permits, are only available at an embassy or consulate.

Those who plan to live in Kyrgyzstan can replace their visas with residence permits after arrival in the country.

Due to the recent Kyrgyz-Tajik conflict and the tense situation between these two countries, all travelers are advised to avoid traveling to the Batkeny region and the Kyrgyz-Tajik border areas. The Kyrgyz-Tajik land and air borders remain closed until further notice.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Kyrgyzstan followed other countries' decisions to introduce some additional restrictions aimed at minimizing the spread of the coronavirus. Nevertheless, all the covid-related requirements have already been scrapped. Incoming travelers no longer need to submit either a negative coronavirus test or vaccination certificate.

Please remember that all the coronavirus restrictions may change at short notice. Do always remember to check the up-to-date travel advice before any international travel.

Who can enter Kyrgyzstan?

The country welcomes all international travelers regardless of their vaccination status. Currently, there is no ban on any countries whose nationals would not be permitted to enter Kyrgyzstan.

Documents check-list for entering Kyrgyzstan

• valid passport
• valid Kyrgyz visa
• travel insurance (optional)

Testing, vaccination, and quarantine requirements

Testing Requirements

There are no pre-departure or post-arrival testing requirements in place regardless of a traveler's Covid-19 vaccination status, age or nationality.

Vaccination Requirements

A person arriving in Kyrgyzstan no longer needs to provide any Covid-19 vaccination proof.

Quarantine Requirements

No foreign traveler to Kyrgyzstan is subject to quarantine requirements.

Traveling from Kyrgyzstan

Before leaving Kyrgyzstan, you should check the travel advice and entry requirements of the country of your next travel destination. You may need to perform a valid negative Covid-19 test or gather other covid-related documents.

Check also the requirements of your travel provider, different airlines, for example, can have introduced their own procedures.

Traveling to Kyrgyzstan

Before traveling to Kyrgyzstan, every traveler should ensure that has all the necessary documents that will be verified upon their arrival in the country.

In most cases, these documents will be reduced to a valid passport and relevant visa.

There is no need to submit either a certificate of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test report. All coronavirus restrictions have been lifted in the Kyrgyz Republic. Nevertheless, bear in mind that all these regulations are subject to change at short notice.

Entry Rules for Children

All the coronavirus restrictions have been lifted in the country. It means that children do not need to provide any Covid-related documents to enter Kyrgyzstan.

Parents or legal guardians should be responsible for ensuring that their young travel companions meet other requirements necessary to enter Kyrgyzstan without any issues.

Transit through Kyrgyzstan

When transiting through Kyrgyzstan, you will need to meet the requirements applicable to your final destination.

If you plan to pass through immigration (layover), for example, to spend a night in a hotel before taking a connecting flight the next day, you should follow the normal entry requirements for travelers visiting Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan visa requirements

Electronic Visa

Kyrgyzstan introduced the electronic visa system in 2017 to facilitate and speed up the application process. Online visa for Kyrgyzstan comes in three different types and can be obtained within only 3 business days.

The entire process can be completed online and requires applicants to simply fill out a short online form, cover the processing fee and receive the approved e-Visa to the email inbox.

For more information on Kyrgyzstan e-Visa and a list of countries that can obtain a visa online, check here.

Visa On Arrival

Kyrgyzstan offers the facility of Visa on Arrival. The visa can be issued only to certain travelers upon their arrival at the Kyrgyz borders.

Currently, the VoA is available only at the Manas International Airport, and the list of eligible applicants includes nationals of around 20 different countries.

Holders of Visa on Arrival can stay either 30 or 60 days in Kyrgyzstan - the permitted length of stay depends on the nationality.

Application for the VoA often involves spending long hours waiting in line at the immigration control. That is why individuals who are eligible for an online visa application should choose the online alternative.

The complete list of countries who can obtain a Visa on Arrival includes the following:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Chile
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Macedonia
• Mexico
• Montenegro
• Oman
• Philippines
• Republic of Cyprus
• Romania
• San Marino
• South Africa
• Thailand
• Venezuela

Embassy or Consular Visa

Kyrgyz visa policy requires nationals of more than 40 different countries to obtain an embassy or consulate visa no matter the purpose or desired length of stay in Kyrgyzstan.

Embassy or consular visas issue all types of visas and permits, including business visas or work permits.

In order to get a regular visa for Kyrgyzstan, one must visit the nearest diplomatic mission and submit a visa application form which very often involves providing some supporting documents.

Since the traditional visa application process may take more time than online procedure, all travelers are advised to start handling the formalities well in advance of the planned journey.

The complete list of countries that need an embassy or consular visa for Kyrgyzstan:

• American Samoa
• Anguilla
• Antarctica
• Aruba
• Bermuda
• Bonaire
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Christmas Island
• Cocos Islands
• Cook Islands
• Curacao
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Guadeloupe
• Guam
• Guernsey
• Isle of Man
• Jersey
• Martinique
• Mayotte
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• Niue
• Norfolk Island
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Pitcairn Islands
• Puerto Rico
• Reunion
• Saint Barthelemy
• Saint Helena
• Saint Martin
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Sint Maarten
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Svalbard and Jan Mayen
• Tokelau
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United States Virgin Islands
• Wallis and Futuna

Visa-exempt countries

The visa exemption applies to travelers from particular countries who do not need a visa if they plan to stay in Kyrgyzstan for the short term. The only document they will need to hold to enter the country is just a valid passport.

Currently, there are around 60 different countries that are permitted visa-free access to Kyrgyzstan. Depending on the traveler's nationality, the maximum duration of visa-exempt permitted stay may last either 30,60, or 90 days.

Nationals of these 60 countries can travel to Kyrgyzstan without a visa for tourism or leisure-related purposes.

Nevertheless, in order to take up employment or stay for longer in Kyrgyzstan, every citizen will need to obtain a relevant visa.

Countries that do not need a visa to travel to Kyrgyzstan for a short-term period:

• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brunei Darussalam
• Canada
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• North Korea
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Russian Federation
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tajikistan
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uzbekistan
• Vatican City
• Vietnam

Indefinite visa-free entry

According to the visa policy of Kyrgyzstan, there are 11 countries whose nationals enjoy complete visa exemption. Holders of passports from these countries are allowed to stay in Kyrgyzstan for an indefinite period of time without any visa.

The complete list of countries that are granted indefinite visa-free access to Kyrgyzstan:

• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Cuba*
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Moldova
• North Korea*
• Russia
• Tajikistan
• Vietnam*

*Nationals of Cuba, Vietnam, and North Korea must also be permanent residents of their countries in order to benefit from visa exemption. If they live in other countries, they will need to apply for a Kyrgyzstan visa anyway.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not mandatory to travel to Kyrgyzstan. Nevertheless, due to the poor level of medical services in the country and their relatively high costs, all travelers to Kyrgyzstan are highly recommended to have comprehensive insurance, including medical transport. There is no requirement to purchase additional Covid-19 medical insurance.

Additionally, Kyrgyzstan requires visitors to have valid motor third-party liability insurance.

When choosing your insurance policy, make sure it will cover your particular travel needs, and remember to check whether your insurance company's policy is honored in Kyrgyzstan.