Procedure for Obtaining Electronic Authorization to Enter the Republic of Kazakhstan

1. Persons subject to the authorization requirement

The requirement to obtain prior electronic authorization to enter the Republic of Kazakhstan applies to citizens of 85 countries that enjoy a visa-free regime with Kazakhstan.

2. Stages of system implementation

From 1 November 2026 – at Aktau International Airport and the Urlitobe (Pavlodar Region), Aukhatty (Zhambyl Region), Atameken (Turkistan Region) and Nurly Zhol (Zhetisu Region) road border crossing points;

From 1 January 2027 – at Astana and Almaty international airports;

From 1 March 2027 – at all remaining crossing points on the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

From 1 July 2027 – electronic authorization becomes mandatory. Failure to hold authorization will constitute grounds for refusal of entry.

Important. From 1 November 2026 to 30 June 2027, the absence of electronic authorization will not result in refusal of entry on this ground. During this period, foreign nationals will be informed of the need to obtain authorization. 

3. Application and border control procedures

Application. Applications must be submitted electronically through the QazETA digital platform at least 72 hours before the planned date of entry into Kazakhstan. Identification and/or authentication of the applicant is required.

Validity of authorization. 180 calendar days. The permitted periods of stay in Kazakhstan are determined separately in accordance with paragraphs 14 and 24 of the Rules.

Processing fee. KZT 0.

Document to be presented at the border. When crossing the State Border, applicants must present the valid passport or other identity document used when submitting the application.

Border checks. Holding electronic 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.

4. Categories of persons exempt from the authorization requirement

There are 29 categories of persons exempt from the authorization requirement, provided they hold supporting documents.

1) heads of foreign states, governments and international organizations, and their family members;

2) members of foreign parliaments, governments and international organizations, and their family members;

3) honorary consuls of the Republic of Kazakhstan and their family members;

4) holders of diplomatic passports, service passports and passports issued by international organizations, with status equivalent to that of diplomatic agents, who are assigned to the Republic of Kazakhstan to work in diplomatic and equivalent missions of foreign states, international organizations and/or their representative offices in Kazakhstan, as well as staff of foreign consular posts 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 carrying diplomatic mail, provided they hold a courier certificate;

7) foreign nationals entering 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 Government Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, special state bodies, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, or the authorized state body responsible for foreign policy;

8) persons under the age of sixteen;

9) persons aged sixty-five and over;

10) transit passengers remaining in the transit areas of international airports without crossing the State Border of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

11) foreign nationals holding a valid visa for the Republic of Kazakhstan;

12) foreign nationals holding a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan;

13) foreign nationals holding a permanent 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, provided a corresponding entry is made in the general declaration (flight assignment);

17) crew members of sea and river vessels, provided a corresponding entry is made in the crew list or an extract thereof;

18) members of train, refrigerated train and locomotive crews, according to crew rosters approved for each journey;

19) staff of the intergovernmental courier communications service, provided they hold service identification and travel certificates (orders) issued by the competent authorities of the States Parties;

20) law enforcement officers escorting suspects, accused persons and convicted persons, provided they hold service identification and travel certificates (orders), unless otherwise provided for in 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 maintaining cross-border facilities located in the Republic of Kazakhstan, provided they hold service identification (lists of names certified by the management of the organizations and the local executive authority);

23) passengers on aircraft making a forced (emergency) landing at international airports in the Republic of Kazakhstan;

24) passengers on sea vessels making a forced (emergency) call at international seaports in 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 in international treaties ratified by the Republic of Kazakhstan;

26) persons arriving at the invitation of state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan to participate in humanitarian missions or to respond to the consequences of emergencies;

27) employees of medical organizations entering the Republic of Kazakhstan as members of medical teams to provide emergency medical care;

28) drivers of goods vehicles engaged in international freight transport (with a permissible gross weight, including the trailer, exceeding 6 tonnes or a permissible payload, including the trailer, exceeding 3.5 tonnes), and drivers of buses engaged in international passenger transport or transiting through the Republic of Kazakhstan (with more than 12 seats, excluding the driver’s seat);

29) persons accompanying the remains of deceased persons for burial, including in transit.

5. Refusal and cancellation of authorization

Electronic authorization will be refused on the grounds specified in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Population Migration.

Electronic authorization will be cancelled in the following circumstances:

• where the grounds specified in Article 48 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Population Migration exist;
• where a decision is made to shorten the period of temporary stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• where a decision is made on administrative expulsion from the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• where authorization was issued in breach of the procedure established by the Rules.

Notification of refusal or cancellation of authorization is sent to the foreign national through the digital platform.