As part of ongoing efforts to improve the migration system, enhance security and simplify entry procedures for foreign nationals, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan has introduced amendments to Decree No. 148 of 21 January 2012, establishing the procedures for obtaining prior Electronic Travel Authorisation (QazETA).
The new digital system aims to make border control procedures more transparent, convenient and predictable for visitors to Kazakhstan.
Scope of Application
The requirement to obtain a prior Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for entry into the Republic of Kazakhstan applies to foreign nationals of countries enjoying a visa-free entry regime with Kazakhstan (85 countries).
Implementation Schedule
- From 1 November 2026 – Aktau International Airport and the road border crossing points of Urlyutobe (Pavlodar Region), Aukhatti (Zhambyl Region), Atameken (Turkistan Region), and Nurly Zhol (Zhetysu Region).
- From 1 January 2027 – Astana and Almaty International Airports.
- From 1 March 2027 – all remaining border crossing points along the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- From 1 July 2027 – possession of an Electronic Travel Authorization will become mandatory. Failure to hold a valid authorization will constitute grounds for refusal of entry.
Important: During the phased implementation period from 1 November 2026 to 30 June 2027, the absence of an Electronic Travel Authorization will not, in itself, constitute grounds for refusal of entry. Foreign nationals will be informed of the requirement to obtain such authorization.
Application Procedure and Border Control
Submission of Application. Applications must be submitted electronically through the QazETA digital platform no later than 72 hours before the planned date of entry. The procedure provides for the identification and/or authentication of applicants.
Validity Period. An Electronic Travel Authorization is valid for 180 calendar days. The permitted duration of stay in Kazakhstan is determined separately, in accordance with paragraphs 14 and 24 of the Rules.
Application Fee – 0 KZT.The authorization is issued free of charge.
Documents Required at the Border. When crossing the State Border, foreign nationals must present a valid passport or another identity document used when submitting the application.
Border Control. Possession of an Electronic Travel Authorization does not preclude refusal of entry on the grounds specified in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Population Migration".
Categories of Persons Exempt from the Authorization Requirement
Exemptions are provided for 29 categories of persons, subject to the presentation of supporting documents.
1. Heads of foreign states, governments and international organizations, and members of their families;
2. Members of parliaments and governments of foreign states, members of international organizations, and members of their families;
3. Honorary consuls of the Republic of Kazakhstan and members of their families;
4. Holders of diplomatic passports, service passports or passports issued by international organizations who enjoy a status equivalent to that of diplomatic agents and are travelling to the Republic of Kazakhstan to perform duties at diplomatic missions and equivalent representations of foreign states, international organizations and/or their representative offices, as well as employees of consular establishments of foreign states accredited in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
5. Holders of accreditation certificates issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
6. Diplomatic couriers transporting diplomatic mail, provided they hold a valid courier document;
7. Foreign nationals arriving in the Republic of Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Office of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, law enforcement and special state agencies, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
8. Persons under the age of sixteen;
9. Persons aged sixty-five or over;
10. Transit passengers remaining within the transit zones of international airports without crossing the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
11. Foreign nationals and stateless persons holding a valid visa of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
12. Foreign nationals holding a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
13. Foreign nationals holding a residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
14. Persons recognized as refugees in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
15. Asylum seekers;
16. Aircraft crew members whose names are included in the general declaration (flight assignment);
17. Crew members of sea-going and river vessels whose names are included in the crew list or an extract therefrom;
18. Members of train crews, refrigerated railcar crews and locomotive crews, on the basis of crew rosters approved for each journey;
19. Personnel of intergovernmental courier communications services holding official identification documents or business travel certificates (official orders) issued by the competent authorities of the States Parties;
20. Law enforcement officers escorting suspects, accused persons or convicted persons, provided they hold official identification documents or business travel certificates (official orders), unless otherwise stipulated by international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan;
21. Members of official state and government delegations of foreign states and persons accompanying them;
22. Personnel servicing cross-border facilities located within the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, provided they hold official identification documents or are included in nominal lists certified by the management of the relevant organizations (or by the local executive authority);
23. Passengers of aircraft that have made a forced (emergency) landing at international airports of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
24. Passengers of sea-going vessels that have made a forced (emergency) port call at international seaports of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
25. Persons crossing the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan in connection with search and rescue operations, where such crossings are provided for under international agreements ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan;
26. Persons arriving to participate in humanitarian missions or emergency response and disaster relief operations at the invitation of state authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
27. Personnel of medical organizations travelling to the Republic of Kazakhstan as members of emergency medical teams for the purpose of providing emergency medical assistance;
28. Drivers of freight vehicles with a maximum permissible gross weight, including trailers, exceeding 6 tonnes, or a maximum permissible payload, including trailers, exceeding 3.5 tonnes, engaged in international freight transport; drivers of buses with more than 12 passenger seats, excluding the driver's seat, engaged in international passenger transport; including those transiting through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
29. Persons accompanying the remains of deceased individuals for burial, including those travelling in transit.
Refusal to Issue and Revocation of an Authorization
An application for an Electronic Travel Authorization may be refused on the grounds specified in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Population Migration".
An Electronic Travel Authorization may be revoked in the following circumstances:
- where grounds specified in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Population Migration" exist;
- where a decision has been made to shorten the permitted period of temporary stay;
- where a decision has been made to impose administrative expulsion from the Republic of Kazakhstan;
- where the authorization was issued in violation of the procedure established by the Rules.
Notification of refusal to issue or revocation of an Electronic Travel Authorization shall be sent to the foreign national through the digital platform.
