Kazakhstan:Visa Requirements

KazakhstanLearn the visa requirements for this country. Last check:Last update:

Official Government Website

Kazakhstan Visa Requirements Map

Kazakhstan: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • The traveler must have a valid and machine-readable passport or another border crossing document recognized by Kazakhstan. Passports whose validity has been subsequently extended by stamp, additional page, handwritten entry, sticker, or similar method are not accepted as valid travel documents.
  • The exact minimum remaining validity that the passport must have on the date of entry into the country for visa-free entry is not precisely specified in the central official source. The number of blank pages required in the passport is also not precisely specified in the central official source for visa-free travelers.
  • The permitted duration of stay varies by passport type and applicable agreement. Under unilateral visa exemption, a maximum of 30 calendar days may be stayed per entry. Under this regime, the total duration of stay may not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period and 120 days within a calendar year. Visa-free stay durations based on bilateral agreements may differ.
  • Visa-free entry may be used for permitted purposes such as tourist visit, private visit, and short-term business travel. For staying longer than the permitted period, working, studying, or engaging in another long-term activity, a visa or residence permit appropriate for the purpose of travel must be obtained.
  • The receiving person, hotel, accommodation establishment, employer, or other authorized party must notify the immigration authorities of the traveler's arrival in the country within three business days. The traveler is not required to notify the immigration authorities in person. For notification, passport details, actual accommodation address, date of arrival, purpose of travel, and planned duration of stay must be provided to the receiving party.
  • For visa-free entry, a mandatory requirement for all travelers of a round-trip ticket, hotel reservation, bank statement, a specific minimum financial amount, or travel health insurance is not precisely specified in the central official source.

Electronic Travel Authorization Requirements

  • The Electronic Travel Authorization is obtained electronically via the QazETA mobile application. The system is currently in a pilot phase. During the pilot period, obtaining the authorization is recommended but not mandatory. The transition to mandatory implementation is planned to be done gradually in later stages.
  • The application must be submitted via the mobile application no later than 72 hours before the planned travel. The authorization is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. The validity period of the authorization does not determine the period the traveler may stay in the country; the permitted duration of stay is calculated separately according to the applicable visa-free entry rules.
  • The applicant must create an account in the QazETA application, complete registration with the one-time verification code sent to their phone, and select the electronic travel authorization service.
  • A photo of the valid passport or travel document must be taken within the application. Information automatically read by the system, such as name, surname, date of birth, passport number, dates of issuance and expiry of the document, must be checked and verified.
  • The application requests information such as phone number, email address, purpose of travel, type of entry, country of departure, planned dates of entry and exit, and the name, surname, and phone number of a person to contact in an emergency. The application may also ask questions regarding health insurance status, recent health information, and customs declaration.
  • Depending on the application created by the application, flight ticket, accommodation reservation, or other supporting documents may be requested to be uploaded. These documents are not stated as a universal and automatic requirement for all applicants.
  • Holders of diplomatic or service passports, members of official delegations, and accredited diplomatic representatives in Kazakhstan are exempt from the electronic travel authorization application.
  • The electronic travel authorization does not guarantee entry into the country. The final decision on admission is made by the authorized authority during border control.
  • The application fee, accepted payment method, and precise official processing time are not precisely specified in the central official source. Whether carrying a printed copy of the electronic authorization is mandatory is also not precisely specified in the central official source.

E-Visa Application Requirements

  • The e-visa application is made through the QazETA application or the Kazakhstan Visa and Migration Portal. The current system issues only single-entry e-visas. The e-visa can be used in officially defined categories such as service, investment, specific business trips, digital nomad, private visit, tourism, and medical treatment.
  • Before applying, the inviting party in Kazakhstan must obtain an electronic invitation from the regional police authorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The applicant must enter the invitation number sent to them into the electronic system. Whether an invitation exemption exists may vary by visa category and the applicant's situation.
  • The applicant must create an account in the system; fill in the invitation number, passport number, date of birth, gender, citizenship, and other personal information requested on the application screen. The entered information must be verified by comparison with the passport, and payment information must be entered into the system.
  • The submitted passport or recognized travel document must not raise doubts as to its authenticity and belonging to its holder. The passport must not contain erasures, corrections, torn or detached pages. The passport must have at least two blank pages, and the passport must be valid for at least three months after the expiry date of the requested visa. Passports whose validity has been subsequently extended by stamp, additional document, or handwriting are not accepted.
  • The e-visa is valid only for the person in whose name it is issued. Other persons registered in the same passport or accompanying the applicant cannot benefit from the e-visa; a separate authorization must be obtained for each eligible traveler. When the passport is changed, the old e-visa cannot be used and a new application must be made.
  • The approved e-visa must be downloaded from the personal account and printed, and presented at passport control. Entry to and exit from the country with an e-visa may only be made through the official border control points of international airports in Kazakhstan. The e-visa cannot be used at land border crossings, railway border crossings, or entry points without international airport status.
  • The e-visa fee is collected via the electronic system according to the visa category. A single fee valid for all e-visa categories is not precisely specified in the current central QazETA announcement. Accepted card types and other payment methods are also not precisely specified in the central official source. Paid consular fees are non-refundable.
  • The precise processing time applicable to all e-visa categories in the current QazETA system is not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • Whether a photograph also needs to be uploaded for the e-visa, the size, background, date of taking, file format, and technical dimensions of the photograph are not precisely specified in the current central QazETA announcement. Documents specifically requested on the application screen must be submitted.
  • Bank statement, minimum financial amount, employer letter, travel health insurance, accommodation, flight reservation, and other supporting documents vary according to the selected visa category and purpose of travel. A universal list of supporting documents applicable to all e-visa applicants has not been published.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • The application must be made to the competent Kazakhstan embassy or consulate. The mission where the application will be accepted may be determined according to the applicant's country of legal residence and the consular district of the relevant consulate. Some missions may request a residence permit or proof of residence showing legal residence in the country of application.
  • The visa application form must be filled out in Kazakh, Russian, or English, legibly by hand or by computer. All questions must be answered completely and the form must be personally signed by the applicant. Application documents for minor children are submitted by their legal representatives.
  • One color or black-and-white photograph measuring 3.5 × 4.5 centimeters must be attached to the application form. The photograph must show the applicant's current appearance, with the face clearly visible and facing forward. Dark glasses must not be worn. Continuously worn religious or national headgear may be accepted provided the person also appears with the same headgear in their passport photograph. The precise date of taking, background color, digital file format, and file size of the photograph are not specified in the central official source uniformly for all consulates.
  • A valid diplomatic, service, or ordinary passport or another border crossing document recognized by Kazakhstan must be submitted. The passport must have at least two blank visa pages, and the passport must be valid for at least three months after the expiry date of the requested visa.
  • The passport must not contain erasures, corrections, suspicious entries, torn or detached pages. Passports whose validity has been subsequently extended by stamp, sticker, additional page, handwriting, or any other modification are not accepted. The passport must be machine-readable and meet international travel document standards.
  • Which pages of the passport to submit photocopies of is not centrally established for all missions. The consulate applied to may request copies of the page with identity information, previous visas, entry-exit stamps, or residence permit.
  • The application must include the number and date of issuance of the invitation registered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The inviting party must provide this information to the applicant. Situations in which an application can be made without an invitation vary according to the applicant's status and visa category.
  • Depending on the purpose of travel, a petition from the inviting institution, verbal note, employment contract, work permit, company letter, commercial contract, acceptance or invitation letter from an educational institution, medical institution document, document proving family ties, religious activity permit, adoption document, or other category-specific documents may be requested.
  • Document lists for tourism, private visit, business, employment, education, family reunification, investment, medical treatment, and other visa types differ from each other. Kazakhstan's central system does not create a single universal document checklist for all consular visas.
  • A mandatory requirement for all visa categories of a round-trip ticket, hotel reservation, daily travel itinerary, employer letter, or student letter is not precisely specified in the central official source. These documents may be requested according to the purpose of travel and the checklist of the mission applied to.
  • The number of months a bank statement must cover and a common minimum amount that must be in the account of all applicants are not precisely specified in the central official source. The financial sufficiency requirement varies by visa category.
  • For the Neo Nomad visa, proof of stable income exceeding 3,000 US dollars per month with a bank statement for the last six months, tax return, criminal record certificate, and health insurance covering the entire requested visa period are required. The same financial amount and document list are not automatically applied for other visa categories.
  • A common travel health insurance coverage amount valid for all types of consular visas is not precisely specified in the central official source. The insurance requirement and coverage are determined according to the selected visa category.
  • Documents for minors must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian. Depending on the visa type and consulate, a birth certificate, copies of parents' identity documents or passports, custody document, and notarized parental consent may be requested. For some child visas for educational purposes, notarized written permission from legal representatives and a translation of the document into Kazakh or Russian are required.
  • For documents issued by foreign authorities and bearing an official seal, an apostille or consular certification may be required. The requirement for translation, notarization, apostille, and legalization varies according to the country of issuance, document type, and the consulate applied to.
  • A fingerprint procedure is applied for visa applications. Persons applying abroad provide their fingerprints at consular sections of Kazakhstan embassies. The document issued at the end of the fingerprint procedure is added to the visa file. Accompanying family members who have reached the age of sixteen also must provide fingerprints during the visa application. The applicant may be requested to appear in person or attend an interview.
  • The fee for a single-entry consular visa is 80 US dollars, excluding tourist and transit visas. The fee for a multiple-entry visa is 200 US dollars, excluding tourist and transit visas. A single-entry tourist visa is 60 US dollars, a multiple-entry tourist visa is 90 US dollars. Fees are non-refundable.
  • The original payment receipt must be attached to the application file. The accepted payment method, bank account, local currency, and exchange rate application vary according to the diplomatic mission applied to. A single payment method valid for all consulates is not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • After submission of a complete application, the official processing time is a maximum of five business days. For applicable electronic portal services, the processing time is stated as one business day. In the case of security review, inter-agency coordination, or missing documents, additional information may be requested before the processing concludes.
  • A single timeframe applicable to all visa categories regarding how early or how late before travel the application should be made is not precisely specified in the central official source. For invitation procedures, a private visit invitation may be submitted no earlier than one year and no later than five business days before the expected entry; other applications or verbal notes may be submitted no earlier than 90 calendar days and no later than five business days before.
  • The validity period of the visa, the permitted duration of stay, and whether it is single or multiple entry are determined according to the selected category. The applicant may only use the purpose of travel, duration of stay, and number of entries specified in the visa.
  • Submitting complete documents does not guarantee that the visa will be granted. The competent authority may request additional documents, explanations, fingerprints, or an interview, and may reject the application for reasons specified in the legislation.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • Travelers who will travel to another country via Kazakhstan and are subject to a transit visa must apply under category B13. The transit visa requirement may vary depending on passport type, itinerary, border crossing used, and whether the traveler will exit the transit area.
  • The applicant must submit a signed transit visa application form and a petition explaining the purpose of travel. The form must be filled out legibly and in capital letters.
  • One recent, color photograph measuring 3.5 × 4.5 centimeters is required. Some official consular checklists require a white background, the face facing directly at the camera, no smile, no sunglasses, and no headgear. An exception may apply for headgear used for religious or ethnic reasons. Exact photograph details may vary by the mission applied to.
  • The passport must have at least two blank pages, and the passport must be valid for at least three months after the expiry date of the requested transit visa. A photocopy of the passport must also be submitted.
  • A confirmed onward ticket and a valid visa, residence permit, or other permission document showing the right to enter the final destination country must be submitted. If transit is by road, a driver's license, vehicle registration, and other documents related to the vehicle used may be requested.
  • A single-entry B13 transit visa may be valid for up to 90 days and permits a stay of up to five days for transit in one direction through Kazakhstan. A multiple-entry transit visa may be valid for up to 180 days and permits a stay of up to five days for each transit in each direction.
  • The single-entry transit visa fee is 20 US dollars, the multiple-entry transit visa fee is 90 US dollars. Paid fees are non-refundable. The accepted payment method and local currency application vary by the consulate applied to.
  • The general official processing time for a complete application is a maximum of five business days. A single central timeframe specific to transit visas regarding how long before travel the application should be made is not precisely specified.
  • For transit applications, a mandatory requirement for all travelers of a bank statement, minimum financial amount, or specific travel health insurance coverage is not precisely specified in the central official source. The competent consulate may request additional documents and an interview based on the itinerary or personal circumstances.
Population
21,083,626(2026 est.)
Official language
Kazakh; Russian is officially used in state institutions
Government type
Presidential republic
Continent
Asia
Capital
Astana
Currency
Kazakhstani tenge
Area
2,724,900 km²
Phone code
+7

Kazakhstan: Key Destinations

Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) is the capital of Kazakhstan, while Almaty remains the largest city and primary international gateway. Most travelers arrive at Almaty International Airport and begin their journey there.

The country blends modern urban centers with vast natural landscapes, including the Charyn Canyon and the Caspian Sea coast. Business visitors often head to the capital's government district, while tourists explore the Silk Road city of Turkistan.

Domestic flights connect major cities like Almaty, Nur-Sultan, and Aktau, while trains offer scenic overland routes. Many visitors combine a few days in Almaty with trips to the mountains or the Caspian Sea.