Tourism

• It’s best to start from these cities to get a better understanding of Kazakhstan.
• 5 unexpected reasons to visit Kazakhstan
• Health resorts in Kazakhstan

The unique nature of Kazakhstan startles. It dazzles a traveler with the grandeur of vast steppes and gold domes of mosques, blue surface of Lake Balkhash and modern buildings of Astana. The cities of the Great Silk Road and the Baikonur cosmodrome, all those represent Kazakhstan. Occupying an advantageous geographical position and being in the center of the Eurasian continent, the nature of the country is a symbiosis that has absorbed the brightest nature features from both parts of the continent.

For one part, there are rapidly developing cities with modern buildings, on the other part there is the pristine nature of Kazakhstan, deserts, ancient cities and beautiful alpine-like sceneries. Here you can get acquainted with “yurts” (houses of nomads), drink “kumys” (mare's milk), taste amazing dishes of national cuisine, breathe in the healing air, and contemplate an outstandingly beautiful mountain landscapes. For example, the high mountain cluster of Kazakhstan can be called one of the most fascinating ones.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, domestic tourism is developing more rapidly in Kazakhstan, which resulted in opening of new locations and facilities. Regardless of attraction to outdoor activities, mountain routes, horseback riding tours and ancient historical sites, resort vacations will always be the most popular and demanded among tourists.

Nature is pretty much the main reason of travelers` interest in our country, though the architectural heritage also attracts a lot of attention.

Throughout the world, ecotourism is most actively developing near designated conservation areas: national parks and reserves. This is how the oases of wild nature are left untouched by civilization and even if any human activity is allowed it is strictly regulated.  

Needless to say that Kazakhstan has a great number of unique conservation areas. 

Thus, in the article, we describe a dozen unique places in Kazakhstan that look just as at the paintings of great artists. There you can take stunningly beautiful photos, so if you have a camera you certainly should use it during a trip.

Solo travelling is a new tourism trend resulting from the global pandemic. And Kazakhstan, considering its vast territory, low population density and an abundance of natural parks, is a unique place for solo travels when social distancing will be something unobtrusive and natural.

How to get a Kazakhstan visa?

Brief information about the documents that a tourist must have during his tourist trips and in preparation for them (separately for domestic and foreign tourists).

Foreign citizens enter and leave the Republic of Kazakhstan through checkpoints on the state border using foreign passports or documents replacing them, if they have Kazakhstan visas (if required).

Effective January 1, 2022, Kazakhstan resumed visa-free regime for citizens of 54 countries.

Foreign citizens can visit Kazakhstan with tourist, private and short-term business purposes under visa waiver. Business trips may include meetings, negotiations, contracts conclusion, as well as participation in the conferences and forums.

Pay attention. Within the framework of visa-free travel, foreigners are prohibited from engaging in missionary, labor or other paid activities in Kazakhstan. Any installation and repair work are also prohibited. Visa is required for such purposes of visit. More information can be found here.

How to apply for a Kazakhstan visa?

For foreign citizens who require a visa to Kazakhstan, today there are two options for obtaining it:

Option 1

Visas are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, foreign agencies and consular posts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In the absence thereof, by specially authorized representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Multiple visas can be issued to foreigners at the request of host organizations.

Option 2. E-visa

As for March 2020, citizens of 105 countries have the opportunity to apply for an electronic tourist visa, citizens of 18 countries - for medical treatment and business visas.

An electronic visa (for business, tourist and medical treatment purposes) is issued on the basis of a valid invitation from the Kazakh side. In order to get this invitation, please contact your receiving party (in the case of a tourist visa - a tour operator or a travel agency based in Kazakhstan). The invitation is issued within 5 business days, after which you receive the 13-digit invitation number, which must be further used to apply for an e-visa on www.vmp.gov.kz.

Visa categories:

• A tourist visa (category B12) is a single-entry visa valid for up to 90 days and provides the right to stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan for no more than 30 days.
• A business visa (category B1) is a single-entry visa valid for up to 90 days and provides the right to stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan for no more than 60 days.
• A business visa (category B2-B3) is a single-entry visa valid for up to 90 days and provides the right to stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan for no more than 30 days.
• A medical treatment visa (category C12) is a single-entry visa valid for up to 180 days and provides the right to stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan for no more than 90 days.

Foreigners can enter/leave the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan using a valid electronic visa only at checkpoints at international airports of the cities of Astana and Almaty. You must have a printed e-visa to be presented at the airport-check.

You can get additional information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan  or on the Visa-migration portal www.vmp.gov.kz.

The basis for issuing Kazakhstan visas and extending their validity are:

The grounds for issuing entry visas must be consistent with the purpose of stay. Thus, those arriving in Kazakhstan at the invitation of friends and relatives, that is, for private purpose, as well as those arriving for business, studying or tourism purposes, cannot be employed in Kazakhstan, and engage in other activities not related to the purpose of entry indicated on a visa, except as provided for by legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The category and types of visas, the procedure of their issue, as well as the reduction and extension of their validity are determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in coordination with the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Foreigners traveling through the territory of Kazakhstan in transit to visa exempt countries are required to have a transit visa of Kazakhstan.

Passing through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan in transit by vehicles, including those engaged in international transportation of goods, must follow only roads open to international traffic.

Do I need to register with the migration service after arrival?

Since 2020, according to the Law signed on December 30, 2019, the compulsory registration of foreigners staying in Kazakhstan for up to 30 days has been canceled. Nevertheless, the receiving party remains obligated to notify the migration service of the arrival of a foreign guest within three business days from the moment of crossing the border.

Notification of the arrival can be done online, through www.vmp.gov.kz.

The service is free and has been provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs since 2014.

If a foreign citizen stays in Kazakhstan for more than 30 days

When a foreign citizen stays in Kazakhstan for more than 30 days, the receiving party (hotels, hostels, rental apartments, medical institutions and other legal entities and individuals) must issue a temporary residence permit (kazakhstan registration).

Please note that registration of foreigners and notification of the arrival of foreigners in Kazakhstan are two separate duties that are now assigned to the receiving party.

Information system «eQonaq»

One of the main tasks in modern realities is digitalization and widespread information systems employment to facilitate the tourists' stay processes. A unified tourist registration information system "eQonaq" (eHotel) analyzes the tourist flow and improves the migration control. Within the 2019-2025 tourism development program the Ministry of Culture and Sports jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and National Security Committee have started the system development and implementation.

The system was integrated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan information system service "Migration Police" through a SmartBridge integration portal.

The system has 6 main tasks:

1. Tourist climate improvement;
2. Creation of accommodation places register;
3. Tourist registration automation;
4. Improved migration control;
5. Creation of tourist fee infrastructure BedTax;
6. Tourism quality improvement services.

The system assists with analytics of tourist flows within the country. It is easy to know which hotels are chosen and in which region. Similar digital platforms and applications have operated around the world, improving the quality of tourism services and attractiveness of domestic hotels.

Specialized accommodation places (hotels, hostels, recreation centers) that are registered in the system are also available on the tourist portal kazakhstan.travel, where the tourists can make a hotel reservation, and the reservation itself goes to the eQonaq system personal hotel account. The system is capable to recognize the passports of over 190 countries through a web camera or smartphone camera, 54% of the tourist registrations in the system are carried out through this function. To comply with the law on the foreign tourists stay terms, a migration guide is presented on the main page of the eQonaq personal account. In the real time, the system provides data on the tourist flow and portrait by region, which are available to privileged users, for non-registered users a digest with up-to-date tourist flow information on the main page has been published on a monthly basis.

The system has been put into operation in November 2020.

As of July 20, 2022, the system has registered 265,715 foreign tourists, arrival notices thereof were sent to the “Migration Police” system. Upon the tourist registration, notice receipt certificates are provided to the accommodation places (hotels, hostels, holiday homes, etc.) in the personal accounts or a mobile application.

Since the system operation start-up, work related to the technical support and implementation as well as the system development has been done at the accommodation places.

COVID-19 situation in Kazakhstan

From June 8, the requirements for confirmation of vaccination and PCR test when crossing the border for citizens of Kazakhstan and foreigners will be canceled. This decision was made by the Interdepartmental Commission on the Non-Proliferation of Coronavirus.

The Interdepartmental Commission decided to cancel:

• from June 8, 2022, a mandatory requirement for citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and foreigners to present documentary evidence of vaccination or revaccination against COVID-19 (passport/certificate/certificate of vaccination against COVID-19), and in their absence, a certificate with a negative test result for COVID -19 by PCR method when crossing the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• a ban on the work of 12 temporarily closed automobile checkpoints on certain sections of the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan in seven regions of the country.

We encourage all travelers visiting Kazakhstan to stay up-to-date on the current situation in the country when planning their trip and stay aware of changing conditions during your stay in Kazakhstan.

Consult with your travel agent, hotel representatives, tour operators and local information centers for reliable information about Kazakhstan tourist destinations.