On liberalisation of Kazakhstan border crossing procedure

The decision of the Interdepartmental Commission on Preventing the Occurrence and Spread of Coronavirus Infection in the Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (IDC) dated 7 February 2022 made amendments to the “Procedure for crossing the state border of the Republic of Kazakhstan during quarantine restrictions from 11 May 2020”.

The amendments exclude the requirement to obtain a permit from the IDC when entering Kazakhstan by air for citizens of countries with which Kazakhstan has a visa-free regime (unilateral or under bilateral agreements), as well as for citizens of states with which direct air communication has been resumed by decision of the Government of Kazakhstan (up-to-date information is regularly posted on the online sources of the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development of Kazakhstan).

To date, Kazakhstan has established a visa-free regime with 19 states through bilateral agreements (the agreement with Cuba is at ratification stage).

In addition, Kazakhstan has resumed the 30-day visa-free regime with 54 foreign countries from 1 January 2022.

Thus, citizens of 73 countries have the right to visit Kazakhstan via the country’s international airports without obtaining visas or permits from the IDC.

Entry and transit liberalisation applies to those arriving in Kazakhstan by air only. In other cases, the permission of the IDC is still required.

In all cases, it is mandatory to comply with quarantine restrictions and visa requirements, unless a different procedure is provided for by international agreements of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Kazakh citizens are permitted to leave Kazakhstan to go to foreign countries during quarantine restrictions through Kazakhstan’s international airports, and the limit on the border crossing frequency has been reduced from once in 30 days to once in 15 days.