Before travelling to another country, it is necessary to prepare documents for crossing the border and staying there, as well as to be aware of local customs, traditions and culture.
The first thing to do is to obtain a passport if you do not have one, or to re-issue one if you have less than six months left before its expiry date. Please note that more and more countries require children under the age of 16 to have their own passport (for example, European countries of the Schengen zone, USA, UAE, etc.)
At the same time, according to international agreements, crossing the state border of the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic is allowed on the identity card of a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The state border of the Russian Federation can be crossed on the identity card of a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as on the birth certificate of children under the age of 16.
If a visa for citizens of Kazakhstan is required in the country of stay, it is necessary to apply to the embassy of this country for its obtaining or prolongation.
Then it is necessary to make sure that there are no travel bans, to pay off debts to the state and to double-check yourself in the register of debtors.
Every foreign country has its own laws, customs, culture, religion and traditions. It is recommended to familiarize oneself with them, at least in general, in order not to get into awkward situations.
It is also worth paying attention to the climate and natural features of the country you are going to visit. Before visiting countries with hot, humid climates, it is necessary to get vaccinations, vaccinations and medical insurance.
Checking for a ban on traveling abroad is available on the website aisoip.adilet.gov.kz.
Payment of fines and other debts is possible in the application "Kaspi.kz" or in the terminals of Kazpost JSC located at the airports of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
To get a passport, you need to apply to the branch of the NJSC GC "Government for Citizens" (PSC) with the following documents:
When obtaining a new passport, the old one (if you have one) must be surrendered.
To save time, you can book a line at the PSC online
If you have an old format passport and want to renew it, for example, because of the expiring validity period, it can be done through the online service of the portal eGov.kz, as it allows you to apply for the exchange of old format passports for a new one.
When applying online, you must have a digital signature and register on the portal. The electronic application must include a digital photo that meets certain requirements and a personal signature in a scanned 7x2 cm format in the form of a graphic file ( signature scan requirements). Then it is necessary to make an online payment for the state passport fee (8 MCIs) with the help of a payment card of any bank.
For other reasons, such as: obtaining a passport for the first time, passport replacement due to a change of name, expiration, loss, or other - the service is provided only through a PSC.
When cash and/or traveler's checks in the amount of up to USD 10,000 are taken out of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a written declaration is not required; when taking out an amount exceeding the equivalent of USD 10,000, the amount to be taken out of the Republic of Kazakhstan must be declared in writing. Also, it is necessary to find out what things and amounts of money are subject to mandatory declaration when entering the host country.
The customs declaration shall be filled in by passengers travelling across the customs border of the Republic of Kazakhstan in writing for the entire amount of imported or exported foreign currency cash, national currency cash and traveler's checks with information on the origin and purpose of the transported cash and traveler's checks.
Illegal transfer of goods or currency across the customs border of the Republic of Kazakhstan or their non-declaration or unreliable declaration entails administrative or criminal liability.
If you decide to bring your favorite food or brand of cigarettes with you, do not forget that in many countries there is a ban or partial restrictions on the importation of food, alcohol and tobacco products. For example, in Muslim countries it is not allowed to import any alcoholic products.
It is prohibited to leave and move the movement of cultural valuables, objects of wild fauna and flora that are endangered, weapons and ammunition to it without the permission of authorized bodies.
When traveling by air in hand luggage, it is not allowed to carry piercing or cutting objects, children's toys or other items similar in shape to weapons. In addition to the usual restrictions on hand luggage in Europe and America, as well as in a number of other countries, restrictions have been imposed on the transfer of liquids and gels taken with them or bought in Duty Free shops before inspecting air passengers.
In order for pastime in another country to be comfortable enough and without trouble, remember that during your stay in a foreign country you are subject to the laws of your country, which you must strictly observe. Ignorance of the laws of the host country does not relieve you of responsibility.
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. Along with this, it is desirable to get acquainted with information about the political situation in the country and its climatic conditions.
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.
Write down the phone numbers of the embassies or consular offices of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the country of the forthcoming visit (Contacts of foreign missions of the Republic of Kazakhstan).
Health insurance and vaccinations
It will be prudent to take care of purchasing a medical insurance policy for the period of stay abroad. Its presence will allow during the trip to avoid the cost of unforeseen medical expenses in case of sudden illness or injury during the trip.
Health insurance can be obtained from insurance companies, many of which provide the opportunity to apply online. If you visit the insurance company physically, you will need a passport or ID card to take out insurance.
– List of insurance companies in Kazakhstan
Take care of taking with you medicines and medicines that may be needed in another country, it happens that even headache medications can be sold only by prescription of a doctor, or those medicines that you are accustomed to using may not be there. Find out in advance what kind of medicines are allowed in the country of destination.
When you are going to go to a country with a hot climate, you should get vaccinated in advance. Diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccines are recommended for entry into tropical countries. When traveling to countries in Africa (south of the Sahara) and Latin America it is required to vaccinate against yellow fever. 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. In some countries, you may not be allowed to leave without information about the vaccines they need.
Vaccinations are given in specialized offices of medical institutions because vaccines require certain rules of storage.
The next stage is the visa application. Before travelling to the selected country, you should find out about the regime of stay in that country for citizens of Kazakhstan.
If you need to apply for a visa to enter the country, it is recommended to do so at least 15 calendar days in advance and at most 6 months before departure.
For its receipt, it is necessary to apply to the diplomatic mission or consular establishment of the state in the Republic of Kazakhstan personally or through a well-established travel agency.
Also, it should be remembered that in embassies or consulates in some countries visa processing can take quite a long time and maximum compliance of submitted documents with the requirements may speed up the process.
If there is a visa-free regime or simplified entry rules for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the country you have chosen, then it will be necessary to find out the maximum term and procedure of stay (in particular, the need to register at the place of stay), as the violation of the order of stay may entail disciplinary and administrative responsibility in the form of a fine or deportation with the imposition of a ban on re-entry.
Positive and timely consideration of visa applications will be facilitated by strict adherence to all requirements imposed by embassies of foreign states for documents for obtaining a visa.
It is not recommended to pay for the trip before the visa is received. Embassies of foreign countries are not responsible for the financial losses that you may incur in the event of refusal or delay in issuing a visa.
If you follow the transit through the territory of other states to the destination country, consult in a consulate 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: number of your passport, name and surname, date of birth, category, multiplicity and validity of the visa, the total number of days during which you are allowed to stay in a foreign country. The mistakes made in the visa (not even by your fault) can have undesirable consequences - both at entry and while in a foreign country.
In case of changing the date of travel, the visa field becomes impossible to change. You will need to reapply with new travel dates.
The granting of a visa entitles you to enter a foreign country, but does not constitute a basis for the entry requirement. The final decision is made by the Border Police at the entry control points of the foreign state. It is also possible that the Border Police will ask for additional documents on financial means, duration and purpose of stay, as well as road health insurance. The relevant documents (e.g. invitation, hotel reservation, travel health insurance) must be kept with you at all times when crossing the border.