Notification on arrival of a foreign citizen
According to the applicable rules, a receiving party is obliged to notify a migration service about arrival of a foreign citizen to Kazakhstan, as well as about the change of residence. This should be done within 3 working days from the date of arrival of a foreign citizen.
A notification is required in all the cases, regardless of the order of entry: with visa or under a visa-free regime. The notification is submitted by a receiving party. A foreign citizen does not need to apply to a migration service himself/herself.
There are several options to submit a notification:
· online via the Visa and Migration Portal (vmp.gov.kz)
· in paper to a migration service
· online via eQonaq.kz information system
Note: late submission of a notification entails a fine for a receiving party in the amount from 10 to 20 MCI*. Repeated violation during an year entails a 1-year ban on issuing visa invitations**.
Monthly calculation index (hereinafter - MCI) for 2023 is KZT 3.450.
Unilateral visa-free regime
Foreigners from 54 countries do not need a visa to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan. Foreigners can use the visa-free regime to visit Kazakhstan for tourist, guest and business purposes.
Facilitated visa-free entry allows foreigners to stay and move throughout the country for 30 calendar days. It is enough to have a valid passport only.
Note: the total period of stay in Kazakhstan should not exceed 90 calendar days during each 180-day period, but not more than 120 days during one calendar year. For a longer stay, it is recommended to apply for a relevant visa.
Visa-free regime under bilateral agreements
A visa is not required for citizens from countries with which Kazakhstan has ratified bilateral agreements on mutual visa-free travel.
Visa regime
You may need a visa depending on the purpose of your visit and the length of your stay in Kazakhstan. For example, a B2 visa is issued when the purpose is to deliver consulting services.
The most common visa categories issued in Kazakhstan are listed below:
Change of visa category
The applicable migration rules provide for the possibility of changing a visa of one category to another without a need for a foreigner to leave Kazakhstan.
Facilitated visa processing procedure
According to the current regulations, a visa is issued based on an invitation from the Kazakh side. However, such an invitation is not required for citizens from 48 countries* obtaining a single-entry visa for up to 30 days of the following category:
- A3 official
- B1, B3 business
- B10 private
- B12 tourist
This means that you can apply for a visa at the Consulate of Kazakhstan in your country of residence without an invitation letter from the Kazakh side.
*48 economically developed and politically stable countries
Temporary Residence Permit (TRP)
A temporary residence permit is issued to citizens of the CIS countries.
The TRC is issued for a period of up to 1 year for the following purposes:
- labour activity (based on an employment contract and an independent contractor agreement (for the EAEU countries), a work permit, a labor patent)
- entrepreneurial activity as a business immigrant
- family reunion
- study
- medical treatment
- missionary activity
A receiving party (individual or legal person) applies for a clearence via Citizen Service Center or a foreigner himself/herself can do this, if there is a notification available on arrival of a foreign citizen (see page 4) and IIN*. Temporary residence permit is not needed for children under 16 years old. Though it is requested from a spouse, as well as children older than 16 years old.
Note: when leaving Kazakhstan, TRC remains valid until the end of the issuance period. There is no need to get TRC again, the next time you enter the country.
*An IIN is necessary for a foreigner to open a bank account, receive salary on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, issue a digital signature, get public services, pay national duties, consular fees and make other payments.
Visa fees
Below is a table of national duties for processing Kazakhstan visas for a current year.
The amount of national duty is indicated in the MCI.
|
Procedure
|
National duty
|
|
Registration of a letter of invitation for a visa
|
0.5 MCI
|
|
Issuance of a multiple-entry visa on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan
|
30 MCI
|
|
Extension of the validity period of a multiple-entry visa on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan
|
30 MCI
|
|
Exit visa processing (visa cancellation)
|
0.5 MCI
|
|
Issuance of a B8 visa for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit
|
7 MCI (single-entry visa)
30 MCI (multiple-entry visa)
|
Note: consular fee rates for visa issuance in foreign missions of the Republic of Kazakhstan left unchanged:
Single-entry visa: $ 80
Multiple-entry visa: $ 200 (for 1 year)
Administrative offenses
In relation to a foreigner
(Article 517 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Administrative Offenses")
|
Type of offence
|
National duty
|
|
Untimely departure from the country within the time limits established by law:
up to 3 days
from 3 to 5 days
from 5 to 1 days
over 1 days
|
|
warning
10 MCI
15 MCI
25 MCI (or deportation)
|
|
Repeated violation within a year after a penalty was imposed
|
|
15 MCI (or deportation)
|
|
Carrying out work activities without a work permit (when applicable), non-compliance of the activities carried out with the purposes specified in a visa
|
|
25 MCI (either arrest for 10 days or deportation)
|
In relation to a receiving person (Article 518 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Administrative Offenses")
|
Type of offence
|
National duty
|
|
Untimely notification of a migration service about arrival of a foreigner, as well as failure to take measures to issue documents for the right of stay of foreigners and their timely departure from the Republic of Kazakhstan
|
|
10 MCI /small business entity 15 MCI /medium business entity 20 MCI /large business entity
|
|
Repeated violation within a year after a penalty was imposed
|
|
40 MCI / small business entity
70 MCI / medium business entity
|
|
|
|
100 MCI / large business entity
prohibition on issuing invitation letters
|
Laws and regulations
The information in the migration digest has been prepared based on the following regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan as of February 2023:
- Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Population Migration"
- Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Legal Status of Foreigners"
- Rules for issuing invitations, approving invitations for foreigners and stateless persons to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan, issuing, canceling, restoring visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as extending and reducing their validity periods
- Rules of entry and stay of immigrants in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as their departure from the Republic of Kazakhstan and Rules of migration control, as well as registration of foreigners and stateless persons illegally crossing the state border of the Republic of Kazakhstan, illegally staying in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as persons who are prohibited from entering the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Rules for provision by receiving persons of information about immigrants staying with them, as well as transit travel of foreigners and stateless persons on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Administrative Offenses"
