On temporary suspension of unilateral visa-free regime
Attention!
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Kazakhstan, the government of Kazakhstan has temporarily suspended its unilateral visa-free regime for citizens of 57 states, including the United Kingdom, Ireland and Iceland, starting from 17 April 2020.
The 72-hour visa-free regime has also been suspended for Chinese and Indian nationals who transit through the international airports of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Karaganda and Taraz.
The said suspension is effective from 17 April to 1 November 2020.
The above means that the citizens of the UK, Ireland and Iceland who are planning to visit Kazakhstan before 1 November 2020 will need to obtain a visa of the appropriate category at one of the consular offices of the Republic of Kazakhstan, for example, at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in London.
Please pay attention to an important change in the conditions for obtaining a Kazakh visa.
When collecting their passports with Kazakh visa from the consular office, applicants must present a medical certificate confirming that they do not have a coronavirus infection issued within 48 hours prior to their visit to the consular office. Failure to present such a certificate will result in cancellation of their Kazakh visa.
All Kazakh visas will be issued in accordance with the current rules of issuing visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Please note that citizens of 48 countries, including the UK, Ireland and Iceland, have the right to obtain a single-entry visa to Kazakhstan without a formal letter of invitation (visa support) in the following categories:
- Service (A3) - duration of stay 90 days
- Business (B1) - duration of stay 60 days
- Business (B3) - duration of stay 30 days
- Private (B10) - duration of stay 90 days
- Tourist (B12) - duration of stay 30 days
For all other visa categories, citizens of the above countries will need to provide a formal letter of invitation (visa support) issued via the immigration agency in the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the exceptions specified in the Rules of Issuing Visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan (for more details please contact the Consular Office of the Embassy of Kazakhstan or visit the Embassy website).
