Dear citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan!
This check list is intended for citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan travelling abroad and contains general rules and practical recommendations, the knowledge and observance of which will help to avoid difficulties during the trip abroad.
PREAPARATION FOR THE TRIP
When travelling abroad, it is recommended that you check the validity of your travel documents first. Namely, make sure that your passport contains the correct name, surname, patronymic (including Latin transliteration), date and place of birth, children's details, and passport validity period (the validity of the passport should not expire less than 6 months after the end of the trip).
Before leaving, tell relatives and friends about your trip, place of stay, leave contact phone numbers.
Write down the phone numbers of the embassies or consular offices of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the country of your forthcoming stay, which are indicated on our website in the section "Representations of the Republic of Kazakhstan Abroad".
If a foreign currency is exported from the Republic of Kazakhstan in the amount exceeding the equivalent of three thousand U.S. dollars, it is necessary to declare the amount exported in writing. Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan may export foreign currency in cash abroad in the amount not exceeding the equivalent of ten thousand U.S. dollars, without providing documents confirming the origin of the exported foreign currency in cash. In case of export of currency in the amount exceeding this amount, it is necessary to provide supporting documents, which can be: certificates of exchange offices on purchase of foreign currency; documents on withdrawal of money from the bank account in foreign currency; bank documents on receipt of foreign currency on a single transfer; customs declaration on the amount of foreign currency imported earlier to the Republic of Kazakhstan. However, do not forget to specify the amount of cash that is not subject to declaration when entering the country you are going to.
Ask in advance if you have the medicines you need in your country. Often, drugs that can be easily bought in Kazakhstan are not produced abroad, or can be bought only by prescription.
If you travel to hot climates, you should get your vaccinations in advance. Vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus and polio are recommended for citizens travelling to tropical countries. Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory when travelling to Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa) and Latin America. Pilgrims to Mecca are recommended antimeningococcal vaccination. In cases of prolonged stay in countries of Africa and Southeast Asia, it is expedient to vaccinate against hepatitis B.
Before travelling abroad for studies, work or permanent residence, you should legalize or apostilize your documents well in advance. First of all, this applies to documents on education, certificates issued by the civil register office, documents relating to property relations and social security issues.
It should be taken into account that in many countries there are bans or partial restrictions on the importation of foodstuffs, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. For example, in Muslim countries it is not allowed to import any alcoholic products.
It will be prudent to take care of purchasing a medical insurance policy for the period of stay abroad. Its availability will allow to insure against accident during the trip and to avoid expenses for unforeseen medical expenses in case of insured event.
GETTING A VISA
If a visa is required to enter the territory of a foreign country, we recommend that you apply in advance (1-2 months in advance) to obtain it at a diplomatic mission or consular office of the relevant state in Kazakhstan personally or through a reputable travel agency. The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan provides a list of countries to which citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan do not need a visa to enter, depending on the type of passport and the dates of the planned trip.
Keep in mind that the visa processing period in some embassies of foreign countries sometimes takes a long time, especially during the period of increasing tourist flow abroad. Each embassy determines the procedure for issuing a visa, including an interview with a consul, the cost of the visa and the list of documents required to obtain a visa.
Strict compliance with the requirements imposed by foreign embassies to the documents for obtaining a visa (the size of the photo, the correct and readable completion of the questionnaire, payment of consular fees, etc.) will contribute to a positive and timely consideration of your application for a visa.
You should not pay for your trip before you get your visa. Please note that foreign embassies are not responsible for any financial losses that you may incur in the event of a visa being refused or delayed.
You should also not expect that your ticket with fixed dates will help you to get a visa on an urgent basis. Although some embassies have such a requirement.
If you follow the transit through the territory of other states to the destination country, consult in advance about the need to issue transit visas, including their validity and multiplicity for successful crossing of borders.
When you receive a visa from a foreign country, check the correctness of the data indicated in it: your passport number, name and surname, date of birth, category, number and duration of your visa, total number of days during which you are allowed to stay in a foreign country Remember that mistakes made in a visa, even if not due to your fault, can have undesirable consequences - both when entering and while in a foreign country.
Below are the peculiarities of visa rules of the most visited by Kazakh citizens of the countries.
CIS countries
Kazakhstan has an agreement with many CIS countries on mutual visa-free travel of citizens.
For example, a passport of a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan is enough to enter Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
When crossing the Kazakh-Russian border, citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan are required to fill out a Russian migration card. The Russian Border Guard puts a stamp on the migration card and/or any free passport page.
To enter Ukraine and Moldova for more than 3 months citizens of Kazakhstan need a visa of these countries.
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan must obtain a visa to travel to Turkmenistan. This rule does not apply to persons holding service and diplomatic passports.
Schengen countries
The Schengen Agreement on the Abolition of Passport Customs Control between a number of European Union countries covers 26 States: Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland and Estonia.
The procedure for short-term unified Schengen visas is the same for all Member States of the Schengen Area.
If you have a single-entry visa, you may only enter the Schengen area through the country whose consular office has issued the visa. For example, if you have a visa from the French consulate, you can only get to any of the Schengen countries through France.
The Schengen area does not include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
Near, Middle East, Asia and Africa
The Islamic Republic of Iran
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan need an Iranian visa to enter the Islamic Republic of Iran. Visas can be issued at diplomatic missions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Kazakhstan or at international airports of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In Iran, there is no practice of registration at the place of residence of foreign citizens.
If your visa expires, you will be fined US$10 or denied entry to the country.
The State of Katar
To enter the territory of the State of Qatar, citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan must obtain a visa. The minimum visa processing period is 5 working days.
A visa (working, student, private) can be obtained at Doha International Airport if the written consent of the Qatari Ministry of Interior is obtained. In this case, the receiving party (guarantor or sponsor) is obliged to notify the Ministry of Interior of Qatar in advance of the forthcoming visit of the foreign citizen and provide the data of the citizen.
The tourist visa is valid for 14 days and can be extended for another 14 days at local offices of the Department of Immigration.
A transit visa is required for transit through the country.
The Sultanate of Oman
Kazakh citizens require a visa in advance at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Omani visas are the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior of the Sultanate of Oman. Detailed information on visa regulations can be found on the official website of the Oman Police - Royal Oman Police www.rop.gov.om.
In addition, a visa can also be obtained upon arrival at the airport. This requires the pre-arrangement of visa support by the Omani host country at the Omani Police Department.
The Republic of Lebanon
A tourist or private visa for a stay of up to 1 month can be obtained directly from the border crossing point.
The visa is free of charge at the Beirut International Airport. At the remaining border crossings (sea and land), the cost of an entry visa is 20 USD.
To obtain a work, business or student visa you should apply to the consulate section of the Embassy of Lebanon in Astana.
When crossing the border, an entry migration card must be filled in, which must be submitted to passport control.
Professionals arriving to work under contracts must have an appropriate permit issued by the Lebanese Ministry of Labour.
Note:
Entry into the country can be prohibited if there are any marks in their passports about their visit to Israel.
Malaysia
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan do not need a visa to enter Malaysia, if the period of stay in the country does not exceed 30 days (the period of validity of the passport should be not less than 6 at the time of return from the trip).
Under migration law, a person who is banned from entering or staying illegally in Malaysia may be arrested and placed in a deportation camp for up to 30 days before a decision is made.
For illegal stay on the territory, Malaysian legislation provides a sanction in the form of imprisonment from
60 days to 5 years, or a fine of 2 to 13 thousand dollars.
The Republic of Singapore
To enter Singapore with a national passport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a printed electronic visa is required. A visa is not required for holders of Kazakhstani diplomatic and service passports arriving in Singapore for up to 30 days.
No visa is required for transit visits to Singapore for less than four days (96 hours). To confirm the duration of your stay in this case, you must have a return ticket.
Note:
A visa to Singapore or visa-free transit does not guarantee entry to Singapore. The final decision on whether to grant a residence permit is made by the Immigration Officer at an entry point.
People's Republic of China
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan holding diplomatic and service passports are not required to enter China for up to 1 month.
Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan with national passports should personally apply to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China for a visa and provide the necessary documents (additional information can be found on the website of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China).
Note:
At present, the embassies of foreign states in Kazakhstan are gradually moving towards the practice of accepting visa applications and recording interviews exclusively through the Internet, followed by the submission of original documents. For example, the embassies of the USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and China have already switched to this practice of visa processing.
ON THE WAY
Due to stricter safety requirements for air transport and a thorough inspection of personal belongings, please specify the list of items prohibited for carriage in advance. Keep in mind that it is not allowed to carry stabbing or cutting objects, toys or other items similar in shape to weapons in your hand luggage. In addition to the usual restrictions on hand luggage, Europe and America have introduced restrictions on the entry of liquids and gels taken with them and purchased prior to the inspection of air passengers.
Do not forget to fill in the customs declaration at the airport. Note, however, that it is up to each country to impose restrictions on the importation of cash. Therefore, it is desirable to have a part of the imported money on bank cards, traveler's checks, etc. Keep the coupons for checked-in baggage, which will be required if it is lost. Tickets, passports, money and other valuables should be kept to yourself.
When passing passport and border control in a foreign country, in addition to a valid passport with a visa, it is recommended to have other documents related to your trip (invitation of the host person/organization, hotel reservation and others).
When traveling abroad, refrain from taking other people's things through inspection points under the pretext of, for example, overweight luggage, and do not accept items (letters, parcels, luggage, etc.) from strangers that may be used as caches for the illegal movement of drugs, explosives, poisonous substances and pathogens of dangerous diseases.
WHILE ABROAD
During your stay in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws, which you must strictly observe. However, ignorance of the laws of the country of residence does not exempt you from liability.
While abroad, follow the generally accepted norms of ethics and morality, adjust your behavior in accordance with the environment, it is important to observe local customs and traditions, especially in the states of Asia and Africa.
Don't forget that knowing at least the basic words and phrases in a foreign language will make your stay in the country easier, as well as being welcomed by the local population.
In general, the following recommendations should be followed
Upon arrival at the hotel, pay special attention to the rules of accommodation and fire safety; it is advisable to always have your hotel card with you (in addition, you can always get booklets with maps in the hotels).
In case of unforeseen circumstances (detention by local law enforcement agencies, threats from other persons, traffic accidents, etc.), you have the right to demand a meeting with an employee of the Kazakh consular office in the receiving state. Do not sign any protocols or other documents in a foreign language in the absence of employees of the consular institution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
It is also recommended that you bring a copy of your passport, visa and invitation with you during your trip abroad, if that was the reason for issuing it. A copy of your passport or identity card of a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan will help you, in case of possible theft or loss of these documents, get a "Certificate of Return to the Republic of Kazakhstan" from the Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan. If you do not have any documents or their copies with you (in case of theft or loss), you will have to go through the procedure of identification of your identity at the Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in order to issue this Certificate.
It is recommended that Kazakhstani citizens arriving in a foreign country for the purpose of study, work or permanent residence should register with the nearest Kazakhstani diplomatic mission or consular office. Consular registration will make it possible to solve many issues without leaving for Kazakhstan (participation in elections and referendums, issuance of passports, registration of civil status acts, etc.), as well as facilitate your evacuation in case of military actions, mass disorders, natural disasters in the host country.
If you rented a car, inspect the car for external defects/scratches already present, and carefully check all documents, including insurance, to ensure that in the event of an accident, you do not bear the costs of damages and are not subject to legal proceedings.
It is also important to take into account some peculiarities of foreign countries.
In particular, many countries around the world prohibit smoking in public places or allow smoking in designated smoking areas. For example, countries such as Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden have introduced a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. A similar ban applies in some Australian, British and US territorial districts.
Many countries have introduced a complete or partial ban on the use of mobile phones while driving (some countries allow the use of special devices such as "hands-free"). Among them are Australia, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, USA (some states) and others.
It is strongly recommended that hygiene precautions be taken during your stay in hot climates. Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, consume water and other drinks from factory-clogged bottles, and refrain from using water and freshly squeezed juices, fresh vegetable and fruit salads, and ice cream in public places.
Many countries have adopted left-hand traffic. These include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Japan, Cyprus, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Singapore, New Zealand, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Malta, Jamaica and others.
The U.S. strictly adheres to the principle of equality between women and men, and sometimes you may find that you may be involved in legal proceedings if you show your family name or if you flirt innocently (in your opinion) with a woman.
In Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria, strict compliance with the rules and laws has been established. When traffic rules are violated, anonymous calls to the police by German citizens are not uncommon. Parking in prohibited places is threatened at best by a fine, at worst by a tow truck.
In China, a country with a rich history and culture, one should always remember to follow local customs and traditions.
The Chinese do not like to say "no", carefully selecting words for a more veiled and evasive answer, which can often be simply incomprehensible to another culture.
You can't pat on the back, waving your hands, tapping one hand in the palm of your hand with your fist on the other, because all this is considered unacceptable.
In India, instead of the usual handshake, Indians greet their guests with a traditional "namaste" (or "namaskar") greeting - two palms pressed one against another at chest level. This, however, does not preclude a subsequent handshake.
When choosing a gift for an Indian partner, it is important to avoid beefskin products, as the cow in India is a sacred animal.
Indians often shake their heads from side to side during communication, which should be seen as a gesture of approval and satisfaction rather than denial. Sitting with your foot on your feet is considered disrespectful to the person you are talking to.
In Thailand, Buddhism and its traditions must be respected. When entering a temple or Thai home, take off your shoes on the doorstep. The same should be done wherever the Thais do it.
Speaking of the King and members of the royal family should be respectful. These are deeply respected people and any disdain or gesture towards them is perceived as a personal insult.
Although Turkey is a secular country, the provisions of the Qur'an are strictly observed in that country. During the holy month of Ramadan, it is not recommended to eat any food or drink, smoke or chew gum in public places. Outside the tourist areas, shorts and t-shirts are undesirable.
When visiting the Muslim world, it is important to know that:
Meeting, acquaintance with representatives of Muslim countries traditionally begins with a handshake. Women greet men with a light bow.
Particular attention should be paid to the appearance. Women's clothes should be spacious and modest. For example, in Iran and Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to go outside in open clothes and with their heads uncovered.
Sharia law is strict and binding, especially during Muslim holidays. Guests of the country in the month of Ramadan should also refrain from smoking, eating and consuming any drinks in public places.
Alcohol is only sold in bars and restaurants in some hotels. Being drunk on the street or driving is punishable by a fine, arrest or deportation. It is strongly discouraged to offer local residents alcoholic beverages as gifts or souvenirs.
You can't go into a Muslim's house wearing shoes. If the owner walks in in his shoes, the ban is lifted.
No meals should be refused on arrival as this may be perceived as an insult or disrespect to the host's home. They are very cherished and proud of their ancient traditions of hospitality.
In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslim foreign nationals are prohibited from visiting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Nor should we walk among praying people. It is not allowed to photograph state institutions, sheikhs' palaces, military facilities and constructions.
Communicating with local women (outside work) is considered an insult and is punishable by a fine. You can't take pictures of a woman, go behind her, let her go forward. Men can only be photographed with their permission.
We hope that these simple recommendations will provide you with a pleasant stay and comfortable rest abroad.
In addition, further information on the country of destination would be welcome: political situation, climatic conditions, laws and national traditions, peculiarities of behavior in public and other places.
Have a nice trip!