Entry issues in Kazakhstan

ENTRY ISSUES IN KAZAKHSTAN

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, Kazakhstan has changed the procedure of entry for foreigners. Now the entry issues are more complicated. Our lawyers prepared this legal insight to highlight important moments.

Entry permit from Government commission¹

For the period of restrictions due to Covid-19, a foreign citizen must obtain a permit from Government commission to enter.

According to the Procedure for crossing the Kazakhstan’s State border², an entry permit can be issued only to a certain category of foreigners. Foreign employees of KZ companies can obtain a permit only if they confirm the social significance of why they should be in Kazakhstan.

Individuals exempted from entry permit from Government commission

Kazakhstan state bodies made an exception to this rule for citizens of countries that resumed direct flights with Kazakhstan. On the date of this legal insight, Kazakhstan resumed direct flights with Russia, Turkey, UAE, Uzbekistan, Germany, Maldives, Korea, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Azerbaijan. Therefore, citizens of these countries do not need to obtain an entry permit.

Visa issues

Kazakhstan stopped visa-free regime with 24 states until 31 December 2021 due to the pandemic. However, as of the date of this legal insight, Kazakhstan resumed visa-free regime with 30 countries like Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, etc.

In addition, a Visa is not necessary for the countries that have mutual agreements on visa-free regime with Kazakhstan, such as Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Turkey, Hong Kong, etc.

Additional requirements regarding Covid-19 testing and vaccination

To enter Kazakhstan, a foreign citizen must have a certificate with a negative test result for Covid-19 or a vaccination passport.

The certificate is valid for 3 days from the date of issuance until the moment of crossing the border of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

At the moment, Kazakhstan has recognized valid vaccination passports of Hungary, Thailand, Mongolia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Turkey. Therefore, citizens of these countries may show their vaccination passports without obligation to pass Covid-19 testing.

Please note that due to the pandemic situation in Kazakhstan, local entry requirements are subject of constant changes and updates. We recommend to check Kazakhstan entry requirements on estimated dates of entry.

_________________________________

¹ Interdepartmental Commission on Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Infection

² The procedure for crossing the State border of the Republic of Kazakhstan from May 11, 2020 for the period of quarantine restrictions, approved by the decision of the Interdepartmental Commission on Preventing the Occurrence and Spread of Coronavirus Infection in the Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 13 May 2020 No. 21-3/05-2411

The Synergy Partners team in corporate and employment prepared this review: Symbat Tursyngali, Aidana Satimova