INFORMATION on the procedure for obtaining an electronic authorization to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan

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  1. Persons subject to the requirement

The electronic advance authorization to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan applies to foreign nationals from countries enjoying visa-free entry to Kazakhstan (85 countries).

 

  1. Implementation stages
  • From November 1, 2026 - Aktau International Airport and the Urlyutobe (Pavlodar Region), Aukhatti (Zhambyl Region), Atameken (Turkistan Region), and Nurly Zhol (Jetisu Region) road border crossing points.
  • From January 1, 2027 - Astana and Almaty international airports.
  • From March 1, 2027 - all remaining crossing points on the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  • From July 1, 2027 - possession of an electronic authorization becomes mandatory; failure to have one will constitute grounds for refusal of entry.

Important. During the stages from November 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the absence of an authorization will not, on that ground alone, result in refusal of entry; the foreign national will be informed of the need to obtain one.

 

  1. Application procedure and border control

Application. Submitted electronically through the QazETA digital platform no later than 72 hours before the planned date of entry. Identification and/or authentication of the applicant is provided for.

Authorization validity. 180 calendar days. Permitted periods of stay in Kazakhstan are determined separately in accordance with paragraphs 14 and 24 of the Rules.

Application fee: 0 tenge.

Document at the border. When crossing the border, the traveler must present the valid passport or other identity document used when applying.

Border check. Holding an authorization does not preclude refusal of entry on grounds specified in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Migration of the Population.”

 

  1. Categories of persons exempt from obtaining an authorization

There are 29 categories of exemptions, subject to presentation of supporting documents.

1) Heads of foreign states, governments and international organizations, and members of their families;

2) Members of parliaments and governments of foreign states and of international organizations, and members of their families;

3) Honorary consuls of the Republic of Kazakhstan and members of their families;

4) Holders of diplomatic passports, official passports, and passports of international organizations who have status equivalent to that of diplomatic agents and are traveling to the Republic of Kazakhstan to work at diplomatic or equivalent missions of foreign states, international organizations and/or their representative offices, as well as employees of consular institutions of foreign states accredited in the Republic of Kazakhstan;

5) Holders of an accreditation certificate issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

6) Diplomatic couriers transporting diplomatic mail, provided they have a courier letter;

7) Foreign nationals arriving in the Republic of Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Office of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, law enforcement and special state bodies, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

8) Persons under the age of sixteen;

9) Persons aged sixty-five or older;

10) Transit passengers remaining in the transit zones of international airports without crossing the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

11) Foreign nationals and stateless persons holding a valid visa of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

12) Foreign nationals holding a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan;

13) Foreign nationals holding a residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan;

14) Persons recognized as refugees under the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

15) Asylum seekers;

16) Aircraft crew members listed in the general declaration (flight assignment);

17) Crew members of sea-going and river vessels listed in the crew list or an extract thereof;

18) Members of train, refrigerated railcar and locomotive crews included in crew rosters approved for each journey;

19) Employees of intergovernmental courier communications services holding service or travel identification documents (orders) issued by the competent authorities of the States Parties;

20) Law enforcement officers escorting suspects, accused persons or convicted persons, provided they hold service or travel identification documents (orders), unless otherwise stipulated by international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan;

21) Members of official state and government delegations of foreign states and persons accompanying them;

22) Personnel servicing cross-border facilities located in the Republic of Kazakhstan, provided they hold service identification documents (named lists certified by the management of the organizations or by the local executive authority);

23) Passengers of aircraft making a forced (emergency) landing at international airports of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

24) Passengers of sea-going vessels making a forced (emergency) call at international ports of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

25) Persons crossing the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan in connection with search-and-rescue operations, where provided for by international agreements ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan;

26) Persons arriving to participate in humanitarian missions or emergency response activities at the invitation of state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

27) Employees of medical organizations who are members of medical teams arriving in the Republic of Kazakhstan to provide emergency medical assistance;

28) Drivers of freight vehicles (with a permissible gross weight, including trailer, exceeding 6 tonnes, or a permissible payload, including trailer, exceeding 3.5 tonnes) engaged in international freight transport; drivers of buses with more than 12 passenger seats, excluding the driver’s seat, engaged in international passenger transport; including when transiting through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

29) Persons accompanying the bodies of deceased persons for burial, including those in transit.

 

  1. Refusal to issue and cancellation of an authorization

An authorization may be refused on the grounds set out in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Migration of the Population.” An electronic authorization may be cancelled in the following cases:

  • Where grounds specified in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Migration of the Population” exist;
  • Where a decision has been made to shorten the period of temporary stay;
  • Where a decision has been made on administrative expulsion from Kazakhstan;
  • Where the authorization was obtained in violation of the procedure established by the Rules.

Notification of refusal to issue or cancellation is sent to the foreign national through the digital platform.