REFERENCE INFORMATION
on the Procedure for obtaining Electronic Authorization
to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Persons Subject to the Requirement
The electronic pre-entry authorization for entry into the Republic of Kazakhstan applies to foreign nationals from countries whose citizens are eligible for visa-free entry into Kazakhstan (85 countries).
- Implementation Stages
- From November 1, 2026 – Aktau International Airport and the following automobile border crossing points: “Urlyutobe” (Pavlodar Region), “Aukhatty” (Zhambyl Region), “Atameken” (Turkistan Region), and “Nurly Zhol” (Zhetisu Region).
- From January 1, 2027 – Astana and Almaty International Airports.
- From March 1, 2027 – all other checkpoints along the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- From July 1, 2027 – an electronic authorization will become mandatory. The absence of such authorization will constitute grounds for refusal of entry into Kazakhstan.
Important:During the period from November 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, the absence of a permit shall not constitute grounds for refusing entry on this basis. The foreign national shall be informed of the requirement to obtain the permit.
- Application Procedure and Border Control
Submission of Application. The application must be submitted electronically through the QazETA digital platform no later than 72 hours before the planned date of entry. Identification and/or authentication of the applicant is required.
Validity Period of the Permit. 180 calendar days. However, the permitted period of stay in Kazakhstan is determined separately, in accordance with paragraphs 14 and 24 of the Rules.
Application Fee. The application is 0 tenge (free of charge).
Document Required at the Border. When crossing the border, the applicant must present a valid passport or other identity document used when submitting the application.
Border Control. The issuance of a permit does not preclude refusal of entry on the grounds provided for in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Migration of Population”.
- Categories of Persons Exempt from Obtaining a Permit
29 categories of persons are eligible for exemption, provided they submit supporting documentation.
1) Heads of foreign states, governments and international organizations, and members of their families;
2) Members of the parliaments and governments of foreign states and 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, and passports issued by international organizations who have a status equivalent to that of diplomatic agents and who are travelling to the Republic of Kazakhstan to serve in diplomatic missions and equivalent representations of foreign states, international organizations and/or their representations, as well as employees of consular institutions of foreign states accredited in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
5) Holders of accreditation cards issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
6) Diplomatic couriers carrying diplomatic mail, provided they possess a courier list.
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 years and older;
10) Transit passengers remaining in the transit zone 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) Persons seeking asylum;
16) Aircraft crew members, provided that they are listed in the general declaration (flight assignment);
17) Crew members of sea-going and inland waterway vessels, provided that they are listed in the crew list or an extract thereof.
18) Members of train crews, refrigerated train crews, and locomotive crews, as specified in crew lists approved for each journey;
19) Employees of intergovernmental courier communications services, provided they possess official identification cards and travel authorizations (orders) issued by the competent authorities of the States Parties.
20) Law enforcement officers escorting suspects, accused persons, and convicted persons, provided they possess official identification cards and travel authorizations (orders), unless otherwise stipulated in international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan;
21) Members of official state and government delegations of foreign states, as well as persons accompanying them.
22) Employees responsible for the maintenance of cross-border facilities located within the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, provided they possess official identification cards (or name lists certified by the management of the relevant organizations or 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) call at international ports of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
25) Persons crossing the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan in connection with search and rescue operations, where provided for by international agreements ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan.
26) Persons arriving to participate in humanitarian missions or emergency response operations at the invitation of state authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
27) Employees of medical organizations who are members of emergency medical assistance teams arriving in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the purpose of providing emergency medical care.
28) Drivers of freight vehicles (with a permissible gross vehicle weight, including the trailer, exceeding 6 tons, or a permissible payload capacity, including the trailer, exceeding 3.5 tons) engaged in international freight transportation; drivers of buses with more than 12 passenger seats, excluding the driver's seat, engaged in international passenger transportation, including transit journeys through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
29) Persons accompanying the remains of deceased persons for burial, including those travelling in transit.
- Refusal to Issue and Revocation of the Permit
A permit may be refused on the grounds provided for in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Migration of Population.”
An electronic permit may be revoked in the following cases:
- Where grounds established under Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Migration of Population” exist;
- Where a decision is made to shorten the period of temporary stay;
- Where a decision is made to administratively expel an individual from the territory of Kazakhstan;
- Where the permit has been issued in violation of the procedure established by the Rules.
A notification of refusal to issue or of revocation is sent to the foreign national through the digital platform.
