Kazakhstan Visa Requirements and QazETA
Who needs a visa, how the new electronic travel authorisation works, and the rules to know before you fly
Last reviewed on 2 November 2026
Most travellers from Europe, North America, Australia and East Asia do not need a visa for Kazakhstan and can stay up to 30 days per visit. What changed on 1 November 2026 is that visa-free visitors should now also apply for a free online authorisation called QazETA at least 72 hours before travel. It stays optional in practice until 30 June 2027 and becomes mandatory on 1 July 2027.
At a glance
- Visa-free stay: 30 days per visit, 90 days in any 180 for most passports
- QazETA: free, apply 72+ hours ahead at qazeta.kz or in the app, valid 180 days
- Passport: UK advice is 30 days of validity from arrival and one blank page
- Registration: your hotel or host does it within 3 working days
- Need a visa? Apply through vmp.gov.kz or a Kazakh consulate
Do I Need a Visa for Kazakhstan?
It depends on your passport. The table below reflects Kazakhstan's foreign ministry list as summarised in 2026. Rules are bilateral and change often, so confirm your own nationality with the nearest Kazakh embassy before booking.
| Passport | Visa-free stay |
|---|---|
| EU member states, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, China, Turkey | 30 days per visit, up to 90 days in any 180 days |
| Russia and several other former Soviet states | Up to 90 days |
| India, Iran, Hong Kong, Macao | 14 days |
| Most other countries | Visa required, often available as an e-visa |
QazETA: Kazakhstan's New Electronic Travel Authorisation
QazETA is an online pre-travel authorisation for people who do not need a visa, similar in idea to the US ESTA or the UK ETA. It does not replace a visa, does not extend your stay, and does not guarantee entry: border officers still make the final decision.
When does QazETA start?
UK government advice is that visa-free travellers should apply from 1 November 2026. Without one you will not be turned away until the end of June 2027, but you will be told about the requirement on arrival. Serbia's foreign ministry describes this phase-in by entry point:
| From | Where it applies |
|---|---|
| 1 November 2026 | Aktau International Airport and the Uryltobe, Aukhatti, Atameken and Nurly Zhol road crossings |
| 1 January 2027 | Astana and Almaty international airports |
| 1 March 2027 | All other border crossings |
| 1 July 2027 | Mandatory: no authorisation, no entry |
How to apply for QazETA
- Apply early: at least 72 hours before travel. Leaving a few extra days is sensible while the system is new.
- Use the official route: the QazETA portal or the QazETA mobile app.
- Use the passport you will travel on: the application and the passport shown at the border should match.
- Pay nothing: the UK government says it is free. Treat any site asking for payment with suspicion.
- Keep the approval: it lasts 180 days from the date of issue and is reported to cover repeat entries in that period, which helps on Central Asia loops.
Who does not need QazETA?
- Anyone holding a valid Kazakh visa or residence permit
- Travellers under 16 or over 65
- Passengers staying in the airport transit area without crossing the border
- Holders of diplomatic or service passports
The published list runs to 29 categories in total, so check the portal if your situation is unusual.
The 30-Day and 90-Day Rule
For most visa-free passports you can stay 30 days at a time and no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. You may enter as often as you like within that limit, but count back 180 days from any given day and your total must stay at 90 or fewer. Leaving for a day to reset the clock no longer buys you unlimited time, which matters if you plan to base yourself in Almaty and hop to Bishkek or Tashkent.
Passport and Entry Requirements
Bring to the border
- A passport with at least 30 days of validity from arrival and one blank page (UK advice; six months is a safe margin)
- QazETA approval, if you are visa-free and have one
- Proof of onward travel and your first night's address, in case you are asked
- Travel insurance, see the health guide
After you arrive
- Your hotel or host registers you within 3 working days
- In a private rental, ask the host how this will be done before you book
- Keep your hotel paperwork until you have left the country
- Verify your phone at imei.kz if you use a local SIM, see the SIM guide
The old rule of thumb that registration only applies after five days is out of date, and older guides that say so should be ignored. The duty sits with your hotel or host, but it is your stay that is affected if it is missed, so ask.
Customs: declare cash above US$10,000 on arrival. See the money guide for cards and exchange.
If You Need a Visa
If your passport is not on the visa-free list, apply through the government's vmp.gov.kz portal or a Kazakh consulate. Tourist e-visas are reported to be available to citizens of more than 100 countries. E-visas are generally single-entry, are used through international airports, and cannot be extended inside the country, so build in spare days. Some categories need an invitation from a Kazakh host or company, so check which applies to you before you book flights.
If you hold a visa, your passport must expire at least 3 months after the visa does, and you do not need QazETA. UK nationals aged 17 or over applying for a visa or residency must give fingerprints, and other nationalities should expect the same.
Crossing by Land from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan or China
Land borders are normal on a Central Asia trip, and QazETA reaches them in stages, so check the table above against the crossing you plan to use. Apply before you leave home if your route enters Kazakhstan more than once: an approval valid for 180 days covers a typical Almaty, Bishkek and Tashkent loop far more easily than applying from the road. Some land near the borders is also a controlled zone, including parts of Mangystau and the upper Kolsai valley, so carry your passport when you hike there.
Embassies and Consulates
Kazakh embassies publish their own contact details and visa instructions on the foreign ministry's gov.kz site. If something goes wrong during your trip, your own country's embassy in Astana or consulate in Almaty is the first call, see the safety guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to visit Kazakhstan?
Not if you hold a passport from the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea or most other high-income countries. Those travellers can stay up to 30 days per visit without a visa. Since 1 November 2026 visa-free travellers should also apply for a free QazETA travel authorisation before they fly.
What is QazETA?
QazETA is Kazakhstan's electronic travel authorisation for visa-free visitors. It is not a visa. You apply online or in the QazETA app at least 72 hours before travel, and it is valid for 180 days from the date of issue.
Is QazETA mandatory?
Not yet. Between 1 November 2026 and 30 June 2027 you will not be refused entry for lacking one, but you will be told about the requirement at the border. From 1 July 2027 it becomes mandatory for visa-free nationals, and travellers without one will be refused entry.
How much does QazETA cost?
It is free, according to the UK government and Serbia's foreign ministry. Reports from before the rules were finalised mentioned a fee of about 3,900 tenge, so if a website asks you to pay, check that you are on qazeta.kz.
How long can I stay in Kazakhstan without a visa?
Up to 30 days per visit, and no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, for most visa-free passports. Citizens of Russia and several other former Soviet states can stay longer, and a few nationalities, including India, are limited to 14 days.
How long must my passport be valid for Kazakhstan?
UK government advice is at least 30 days from your arrival date, with one blank page. If you hold a visa, the passport must expire at least 3 months after the visa does. Some agencies quote six months, so more validity is a sensible margin, and rules can differ by nationality.
Do I need to register after arriving in Kazakhstan?
Your hotel or host must register your arrival with the authorities within 3 working days. In a hotel this happens as part of check-in. In a private flat, ask your host how they will do it before you arrive.
Can I extend a visa-free stay in Kazakhstan?
Plan on not being able to. Tourists have no automatic right to extend, and QazETA does not lengthen your stay. If you need longer than 30 days, get the right visa before you travel or leave and return within the 90-in-180-day limit.
What happens if I overstay in Kazakhstan?
Published penalties start with a warning for up to 3 days over and rise to fines. After 10 days the case goes to court, which can impose a fine of 25 MCI, about 108,000 tenge in 2026, or expulsion. Expelled foreigners are reported to be barred from returning for five years.
Do I need QazETA or a visa for a transit through Kazakhstan?
If you stay in the airport transit area and do not cross the border, you do not need QazETA. If you pass through passport control you are entering Kazakhstan and the normal rules apply. Travellers who need a visa should check transit rules with their airline or a Kazakh consulate.
Do children need QazETA?
UK government advice says under-16s and over-65s are exempt. Sources differ slightly on the exact age limits, so check the FAQ on qazeta.kz if a traveller is close to either age.
Checked against UK government travel advice and Serbia's foreign ministry summary of the rules on 2 November 2026. Entry rules differ by nationality and are changing quickly, so confirm yours with an official source before you travel. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.
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