# Visa policy of Kazakhstan

Visitors to Kazakhstan must obtain a visa from one of the Kazakh diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries or citizens eligible for an e-Visa.
Kazakhstan's visa and other migration policies are also implemented in accordance with the mobility rights arrangements within the Commonwealth of Independent States and the rules of the single market of the Eurasian Economic Union.

## Visa exemption
### Ordinary passports

Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories may enter Kazakhstan without a visa for the following period:
| Albania$^1$  Andorra$^1$  Armenia$^2$  Belarus$^2$ | Georgia  Kyrgyzstan$^{ID}$ $^2$  Moldova  Mongolia | Russia$^{IP}$ $^2$  Ukraine$^2$ |
| Argentina$^3$  Azerbaijan  Brazil$^3$  China$^2$  Ecuador$^4$  Maldives | Morocco  Nicaragua$^4$  San Marino  Serbia  Seychelles$^4$  South Korea$^5$ | Tajikistan  Turkey  United Arab Emirates  Uzbekistan$^7$  Vietnam |
| Hong Kong | India$^6$ | Iran$^6$ | Macau |
$_{ID-MayenterwithanIDcard.}$ $_{IP-Mayenterwithaninternalpassport.}$ $_{1–90dayswithinany365-dayperiod.}$ $_{2–90dayswithinany180-dayperiod.}$ $_{3–30dayswithinany1-yearperiod.}$ $_{4–30dayswithinany180-dayperiod.}$ $_{5–30days,60dayswithinany180-dayperiod.}$ $_{6–14days,42dayswithinany180-dayperiod.}$ $_{7-mustregisterifstayinglongerthan5days.}$

### Visa-free program

Citizens of the following countries may enter Kazakhstan without a visa for 30 days as part of a visa-free policy for countries with the large foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan's economy. These visitors can stay for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period (counted from the first entry).
The program was initially started on 15 July 2014 providing unilateral visa free access to 10 countries and in July 2015 it was further extended to a total of 19 countries, then to 43 in January 2017 and to 54 in September 2019.
| Australia  Bahrain  Canada  Chile  Colombia  Iceland  Indonesia  Israel  Japan | Kuwait  Liechtenstein  Malaysia  Mexico  Monaco  New Zealand  Norway  Oman  Philippines | Qatar  Saudi Arabia  Singapore  Switzerland  Thailand  United Kingdom  United States  Vatican City |
* Date of visa changes
* Citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan have never required a visa to enter Kazakhstan.
* 2 March 1992: Turkey
* 2 January 1995: Mongolia
* 28 May 2011: Serbia
* 26 July 2012: Hong Kong
* 15 July 2014: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States
* 1 November 2014: Argentina
* 29 November 2014: South Korea
* 15 July 2015: Australia, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Monaco, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland
* 31 August 2016: Ecuador
* 6 September 2016: Brazil
* 1 January 2017: Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Israel, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia
* 10 March 2018: United Arab Emirates
* 29 September 2019: Bahrain, Colombia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vatican City
* 8 July 2022: China, India and Iran
* 14 September 2022: Maldives
* 28 February 2023: Andorra
* 25 April 2023: Albania
* 26 July 2023: Nicaragua
* 6 January 2024: Seychelles
* 25 May 2024: Vietnam
* 24 October 2024: Macau
* Cancelled:
* Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: 22 October 1993 (was resumed in 2017)
* Hungary: 6 November 1996 (was resumed in 2015)
* Turkmenistan: 1 March 2001
* Cuba: 10 January 2005
* Turkmenistan - residents of Balkan Region have visa-free entry to Atyrau Province and Mangystau Province for up to 5 days.

### Non-ordinary passports

Under reciprocal agreements, holders of diplomatic or service passports of the following countries may enter and remain in Kazakhstan without a visa:
| Albania$^{4DS}$  Andorra$^{4DS}$  Argentina$^{3DS}$  Armenia$^{5DS}$  Australia$^{6DS}$  Azerbaijan$^{6DS}$  Bahrain$^{6DS}$  Belarus$^{5DS}$  Bosnia and Herzegovina$^{6DS}$  Brazil$^{3DS}$  Canada$^{6DS}$  Chile$^{3DS}$  China$^{6DS}$  Colombia$^{3DS}$  Cuba$^{6DS}$  Ecuador$^{7DS}$  Egypt$^{3D}$ | Georgia$^{3DS}$  Hong Kong$^{8DS}$  Iceland$^{6DS}$  India$^{6DS}$  Indonesia$^{6DS}$  Iran$^{6DS}$  Israel$^{3DS}$  Japan$^{3DS}$  Jordan$^{6DS}$  Kuwait$^{3DS}$  Kyrgyzstan$^{4DS}$  Liechtenstein$^{6DS}$  Malaysia$^{6DS}$  Maldives$^{6DS}$  Mexico$^{3DS}$  Moldova$^{3DS}$  Monaco$^{6DS}$ | Mongolia$^{3DS}$  Montenegro$^{3DS}$  Morocco$^{6DS}$  New Zealand$^{6DS}$  Nicaragua$^{7DS}$  North Macedonia$^{6DS}$  Norway$^{1DS}$  Oman$^{6DS}$  Pakistan$^{6DS}$  Paraguay$^{3DS}$  Philippines$^{6DS}$  Qatar$^{6DS}$  Russia$^{5DS}$  San Marino$^{6DS}$  Saudi Arabia$^{5DS}$  Serbia$^{6DS}$  Seychelles$^{6DS}$ | Singapore$^{6DS}$  South Korea$^{3DS}$  Sri Lanka$^{6DS}$  Switzerland$^{3DS}$  Tajikistan$^{6DS}$  Thailand$^{6DS}$  Turkey$^{6DS}$  Turkmenistan$^{6DS}$  Ukraine$^{5DS}$  United Arab Emirates$^{3DS}$  United Kingdom$^{6DS}$  United States$^{6DS}$  Uzbekistan$^{6DS}$  Vatican City$^{1DS}$  Venezuela$^{3DS}$  Vietnam$^{6DS}$ |
$_{D-Diplomaticpassports}$ $_{S-Servicepassports}$ $_{1–90daysfordiplomaticpassports,30daysforservicepassports.}$ $_{2-ForcitizensofBulgaria,Cyprus,Hungary,Romania,Slovakia:90daysfordiplomaticorservicepassports;forcitizensofAustria,Croatia,Ireland,Malta,Sweden:30daysfordiplomaticorservicepassports.}$ $_{3–90days}$ $_{4–90dayswithinany365-dayperiod.}$ $_{5–90dayswithinany180-dayperiod.}$ $_{6–30days}$ $_{7–30dayswithinany180-dayperiod.}$ $_{8–14days}$
A visa is not required for holders of a UN Laissez-Passer for up to 30 days within any 180-day period.

### Future changes

Kazakhstan has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:
| Country | Passports | Agreement signed on |
| Suriname | Diplomatic, official | 25 January 2024 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Diplomatic, official | 25 January 2024 |
| Macao | All | 4 April 2024 |
| Laos | Diplomatic, official | 4 July 2024 |
| Rwanda | Diplomatic, service | September 2024 |
| Sierra Leone | Diplomatic, service | September 2024 |
* In December 2018, it was announced that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan planned to mutually accept visas from February 2019, but this was delayed.
* In March 2019, it was reported that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were "ready to launch" a joint visa program that could extend to neighboring countries. All approvals have already been obtained, all that remains is to work out the technical details and equipment.

## Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Citizens of other countries (except Afghanistan, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Pakistan, Palestine, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Timor-Leste and Yemen) may obtain an e-Visa.
Kazakhstan issues business, investor, medical treatment and tourist e-Visas. Holders of an e-Visa must arrive via Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport or Almaty International Airport.

## Visa required in advance

Citizens of the following countries and territories must apply for a visa at a Kazakhstan embassy or consulate:
| Afghanistan  Cape Verde  Democratic Republic of Congo  Equatorial Guinea  Iraq  Jordan | Libya  Pakistan  Palestine  Solomon Islands  Somalia  South Sudan | Sudan  Syria  Taiwan  Timor-Leste  Yemen |

## Pre-arranged visa on arrival

A pre-arranged visa for a stay of up to 1 month may be obtained on arrival for citizens arriving from a country without a Kazakh diplomatic mission. The fee is approximately 80 USD, and they must hold an invitation letter and obtain an approval from the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They must enter via one of the following ports of entry:
* Aktau Airport
* Almaty International Airport
* Atyrau Airport
* Oral Ak Zhol Airport
* Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport

## Visa types

Kazakhstan issues 39 types of visa.
| A |
| A | Diplomatic visa |
| A | A1 | Issued to foreign dignitaries, diplomats traveling on official business and diplomatic couriers |
| A | A2 | Issued to diplomats accredited to Kazakhstan |
| A | Service visa |
| A | A3 | Issued to members of the official delegations, accredited mass media journalists, military personnel on official visits and dependents, members of international organizations, diplomatic couriers without a diplomatic passport, service passport holders on official business |
| A | A4 | Issued to administrative-technical and maintenance staff of foreign missions and offices |
| A | Investor visa |
| A | A5 | Issued to heads and deputy heads and heads of structural divisions of legal entities carrying out investment activities and their family members |
| B |
| B | Business visa |
| B | B1 | Issued to participants of conferences and meetings, persons accompanying humanitarian aid, lecturers, participants in youth programs and student and school exchanges |
| B | B2 | Issued to persons installing or maintaining equipment or to persons providing consulting and auditing services |
| B | B3 | Issued to persons arriving for negotiations or to the founders or the board directors |
| B | International road carriage visa |
| B | B4 | Issued to persons engaged in international road transport |
| B | B5 | Issued to aircraft, train and sea and river vessel crews |
| B | Visa for participation in religious events |
| B | B6 | Issued to persons participating in the activities of religious associations, except for missionary activity |
| B | Student visa |
| B | B7 | Issued to persons for practical training or internships and their family members |
| B | Permanent residence visa |
| B | B8 | Issued to persons arriving to register a permit for permanent residence |
| B | B9 | Issued to persons arriving for permanent residence |
| B | Private visit visa |
| B | B10 | Issued to persons traveling for private reasons, funerals, former compatriots, persons accompanying family members who are citizens of Kazakhstan and spouses or children of ethnic Kazakhs |
| B | Adoption visa |
| B | B11 | Issued to persons for adoption of citizens of Kazakhstan |
| B | Tourist visa |
| B | B12 | Issued to persons traveling as tourists |
| B | Transit visa |
| B | B13 | Issued to persons transiting through the territory of Kazakhstan |
| B | Exit visa |
| B | B14 | Issued to permanent residents when exiting for permanent residence abroad |
| B | B15 | Issued to persons who have lost their passport in Kazakhstan |
| B | B16 | Issued to persons whose visa validity was reduced |
| B | B17 | Issued to persons under administrative responsibility, not associated with deportation, if there are no reasons for further stay |
| B | B18 | Issued to persons who arrived or are staying without a valid visa, if there are no reasons for further stay |
| B | B19 | Issued to persons who have served criminal sentence or were exempted or whose probationary control or deferral expired |
| B | B20 | Issued to persons who have presented proof of force majeure for overstay |
| B | B21 | Issued to persons who were victims of grave or especially grave crimes |
| B | B22 | Issued to persons charged with criminal offense where the criminal case has been closed or other persons in respect of whom legal restrictions on exit are lifted |
| C |
| C | Permanent residence visa |
| C | C1 | Issued to ethnic Kazakhstan traveling to Kazakhstan for permanent residence |
| C | Family reunification visa |
| C | C2 | Issued to family members of Kazakhstan national who are permanently residing in Kazakhstan, ethnic Kazakhs and former compatriots with temporary residence permit, foreigners and stateless persons permanently residing in Kazakhstan as well as business immigrants |
| C | Work visa |
| C | C3 | Issued to persons traveling to Kazakhstan or persons in Kazakhstan and their family members for the purpose of employment |
| C | C4 | Issued to persons traveling to Kazakhstan or persons in Kazakhstan for self-employment in professions that are in demand in the priority sectors of the economy |
| C | C5 | Issued to business immigrants |
| C | C6 | Issued to seasonal workers |
| C | Missionary activity visa |
| C | C7 | Issued to persons carrying our missionary activities and their family members |
| C | Humanitarian purposes visa |
| C | C8 | Issued to volunteers and providers of humanitarian aid and with a view to charity and grants provision |
| C | Education visa |
| C | C9 | Issued for the purpose of admission to educational organization in secondary, technical and vocational, post-secondary, higher and postgraduate education |
| C | Private trip visa (ethnic Kazakhs) |
| C | C10 | Issued to ethnic Kazakhs |
| C | Minor citizens visa |
| C | C11 | Issued to underage persons permanently residing in Kazakhstan or who have arrived to Kazakhstan without a visa or to persons born in Kazakhstan intending to go abroad |
| C | Medical treatment visa |
| C | C12 | Issued to persons traveling for treatment, medical examination or consultation and accompanying persons as well as persons in Kazakhstan in the event of the need for treatment; persons traveling to Kazakhstan with the aim of caring for close relatives who are citizens of permanent residents of Kazakhstan and who are treated in hospitals or persons in Kazakhstan in case of need to care for close relatives |

## Admission restrictions

Entry and transit is refused to citizens of Kosovo, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight. Kazakhstan also does not recognize the passports of Abkhazia, the Sahrawi Republic, Somaliland, South Ossetia and Transnistria.

## Visitor statistics

| Year | Visitors |
| 1992—1995 | No data |
| 1996 | 202,000 |
| 1997 | 284,000 |
| 1998 | 257,000 |
| 1999 | 394,000 |
| 2000 | 1,683,000 |
| 2001 | 1,693,000 |
| 2002 | 3,678,000 |
| 2003 | 3,237,000 |
| 2004 | 4,291,000 |
| 2005 | 4,365,000 |
| 2006 | 4,707,000 |
| 2007 | 5,311,000 |
| 2008 | 4,117,000 |
| 2009 | 3,774,000 |
| 2010 | 4,097,000 |
| 2011 | 5,685,000 |
| 2012 | 6,163,000 |
| 2013 | 6,841,000 |
| 2014 | 6,333,000 |
| 2015 | 6,430,000 |
| 2016 | 6,509,000 |
| 2017 | 7,701,000 |
| 2018 | 8,789,000 |
| 2019 | 8,115,000 |
| 2020 | 2,035,000 |
Most visitors arriving in Kazakhstan were from the following countries of nationality:
| Country | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Uzbekistan | 3,344,577 | 2,459,757 | 2,297,180 | 2,107,177 | 2,494,568 |
| Russia | 1,708,873 | 1,587,409 | 1,646,568 | 1,757,721 | 1,780,574 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 1,273,378 | 1,348,709 | 1,359,625 | 1,308,139 | 1,382,706 |
| Tajikistan | 383,368 | 207,009 | 158,507 | 137,443 | 186,214 |
| Azerbaijan | 110,810 | 94,846 | 89,296 | 83,174 | 112,617 |
| Germany | 99,396 | 90,286 | 88,346 | 79,572 | 75,491 |
| Turkey | 98,840 | 89,611 | 106,301 | 104,986 | 92,070 |
| China | 94,817 | 117,465 | 111,706 | 228,617 | 205,066 |
| Belarus | 70,810 | 63,520 | 62,786 | 55,356 | 55,090 |
| Ukraine | 66,041 | 73,390 | 97,100 | 84,932 | 82,971 |
| Turkmenistan | 63,249 | 63,156 | 69,230 | 66,938 | 47,711 |
| South Korea | 30,582 | 22,276 | 22,046 | 20,445 | 16,620 |
| United States | 29,632 | 26,402 | 29,124 | 25,824 | 22,508 |
| Armenia | 26,169 | 26,097 | 37,461 | 39,934 | 54,244 |
| India | 21,890 | 13,975 | 11,170 | 10,725 | 9,929 |
| United Kingdom | 21,341 | 20,166 | 24,201 | 23,036 | 22,389 |
| Total | 7,701,196 | 6,509,390 | 6,430,158 | 6,332,734 | 6,841,085 |