Kazakhstan introduces e-visa in 2019
By Abdul Kerimkhanov
A procedure for obtaining a single-entry visa for foreigners in electronic format is being introduced in Kazakhstan from January 1, 2019, according to the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
An electronic visa (business, tourist and for treatment) is issued on the basis of a valid invitation from the Kazakh side, drawn up in the migration service of the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs in the prescribed manner.
Foreigners can enter or leave the territory of Kazakhstan using a valid electronic visa only at checkpoints of the international airports of Astana and Almaty.
Tourist e-visas are issued to citizens of 117 states, business and medical treatment visas - 23 states.
The electronic visa is valid only for the visa recipient and does not apply to accompanying persons.
Paid consular fees are non-refundable.
The passport provided by the visa recipient should not cause doubts in the authenticity and affiliation of its owner, contain marks of renewal, reservations, records, erasures and corrections, torn or embroidered pages.
The passport must have at least 2 blank pages and it should expire no earlier than three months from the expiry date of the requested visa.
Receivers inform migration service authorities about foreign citizens staying within three working days from the date of their arrival. This service is available online at the Visa Migration Portal.
To obtain an e-visa, you must register on the website of the Visa-Migration Portal (www.vmp.kz). After registration, familiarize yourself with the requirements for obtaining an e-visa. Then, enter the invitation number (sent by the inviting party in the Republic of Kazakhstan) and fill in the visa application form. After that, a consular fee is paid and the electronic visa is printing. Finally, present a printed electronic visa when passing through passport control at international airports in Astana and Almaty.
Kazakhstan abolished the visa regime for EU citizens and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries as Malaysia, Monaco, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Citizens of mentioned countries can come to Kazakhstan for up to 30 days without a visa from January 1, 2017.
This policy is designed to promote an even more favorable investment climate in Kazakhstan and the development of the country's tourism potential.
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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94
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