Electronic permits will be required for foreigners to enter Kazakhstan
New rules will come into force in July 2027
The Government of Kazakhstan has approved a new version of the Rules for entry and stay of foreigners in the republic. Starting from July 1, 2027, citizens of other states, including Russians, will require a mandatory electronic permit.
An electronic entry permit is issued by internal affairs bodies in coordination with national security bodies through the QazETA digital platform free of charge.
Applications for a permit must be submitted at least 72 hours before crossing the border of Kazakhstan. It is necessary to provide a valid national passport or ID cards (for citizens of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan), specify an email address, and the purpose of the visit to the republic. A decision on issuing the permit will be made within 10 minutes.
Where the system will be implemented:
- from November 1, 2026 - at Aktau airport and 4 road checkpoints with the Russian Federation
- from January 1, 2027 - at Astana and Almaty airports
- from March 1, 2027 - at all other checkpoints
Currently, obtaining an entry permit is recommendatory. From July 1, 2027, the rules will be tightened, so the absence of the document will be grounds for refusal to cross the border of Kazakhstan.
