Kazakhstan to Introduce Paid Entry Permits

Fee amount for processing not yet determined

Kazakhstan’s authorities are preparing to introduce a paid electronic entry permit for foreign citizens. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has drafted the relevant amendments, which are open for public discussion until August 17, 2026. The fee amount for processing the permit has not yet been set.

According to the ministry, funds collected will be directed toward maintaining digital systems and protecting personal data. Officials believe the system will improve transparency in migration control and allow more effective monitoring of foreign citizens’ movements. Implementation of electronic permits is planned in stages from August to December 2026.

At the end of July, President Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV stated that Russia currently ranks first in terms of tourist arrivals to Kazakhstan, followed by China and India.

Kazakhstan tightened rules for Russian and other Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) citizens in 2023. The new regulations effectively abolished the so-called “visa run” practice, which allowed travelers to extend their stay by briefly leaving and re-entering the country. Previously, Russian citizens could enter Kazakhstan with either a domestic or foreign passport and remain without a visa, repeatedly renewing their stay through border crossings. Since 2023, EAEU citizens are allowed to stay in Kazakhstan for a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period.

Photo credit: yandex.kz.

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