VISA REGIME
For holders of national passports and other travel documents: Visa is not required for stays up to 30 days
For holders of diplomatic and official passports: Visa is not required for stays up to 30 days
ENTERING AND LEAVING THE COUNTRY
The permitted period of stay for foreign nationals in Kazakhstan is three months within each six-month period. Foreign nationals entering Kazakhstan visa-free will be allowed to stay in the country legally for 30 days at a time, up to a total of 90 days within any 180-calendar-day period. A foreign national who has no legal grounds for staying in Kazakhstan will only be able to re-enter the country after the 180-calendar-day period has expired.
Kazakhstan has abolished the so-called “visa run” practice, which previously allowed foreign nationals to stay in Kazakhstan for 30 or 90 days, leave the country, and immediately re-enter, thereby renewing their permitted period of legal stay. These restrictions do not apply to foreign nationals who have entered Kazakhstan on a visa or to those who have been issued a temporary residence permit.
As of 10 October 2026, amendments have been made to Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan Resolution No. 148 of 21 January 2012, “On Approval of the Rules for the Entry of Immigrants into the Republic of Kazakhstan and Their Stay Therein, as well as Their Departure from the Republic of Kazakhstan.” A notice has also been issued concerning the procedure for obtaining an electronic travel authorisation for foreign nationals entering the Republic of Kazakhstan (ETA) through the government digital platform QazETA.
The electronic pre-authorisation for entry into the Republic of Kazakhstan applies to foreign nationals from countries whose citizens are permitted to enter Kazakhstan visa-free (85 countries, including the Republic of Serbia).
Implementation Phases
-
From 1 November 2026 – Aktau International Airport and the following road border crossing points: “Uryltobe” (Pavlodar Region), “Aukhatti” (Zhambyl Region), “Atameken” (Turkistan Region), and “Nurly Zhol” (Zhetisu Region).
-
From 1 January 2027 – the international airports in Astana and Almaty.
-
From 1 March 2027 – all other border crossing points along the state border of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-
From 1 July 2027 – possession of an electronic travel authorisation becomes mandatory. Failure to possess one will constitute grounds for refusal of entry into the country.
Important: From 1 November 2026 to 30 June 2027, the absence of an electronic travel authorisation will not, in itself, constitute grounds for refusal of entry. Foreign nationals will be informed of the requirement to obtain the authorisation.
Application Procedure
Applications must be submitted electronically through the QazETA digital platform no later than 72 hours before the planned date of entry. Applicant identification and/or authentication will be required.
The authorisation will be valid for 180 calendar days. However, the permitted periods of stay in Kazakhstan will be determined separately, in accordance with paragraphs 14 and 24 of the Rules.
The application is free of charge.
Possession of an electronic travel authorisation does not preclude the possibility of 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 Requirement to Obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation
A total of 29 categories of persons are exempt from this requirement, provided that they possess the relevant supporting documents.
For citizens of the Republic of Serbia holding ordinary passports, the following exemption categories are of particular interest:
-
Persons under the age of 16.
-
Persons aged 65 and over.
-
Transit passengers remaining in the transit zone of international airports without crossing the state border of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-
Foreign nationals holding a temporary residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-
Foreign nationals holding a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-
Persons who have been granted refugee status in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-
Persons seeking asylum.
-
Aircraft crew members, provided that they are listed in the general declaration (flight assignment).
-
Sea-going and river vessel crew members, provided that they are listed in the crew manifest or an extract thereof.
-
Persons arriving to participate in humanitarian missions or assist in responding to emergencies, at the invitation of the state authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-
Employees of healthcare institutions who are members of emergency medical teams and are arriving in the Republic of Kazakhstan to provide emergency medical assistance.
-
Drivers of freight motor vehicles whose maximum permissible weight, including the trailer, exceeds 6 tonnes, or whose permitted payload, including the trailer, exceeds 3.5 tonnes, provided they are engaged in international freight transport; drivers of buses with more than 12 passenger seats, excluding the driver's seat, engaged in international passenger transport; and drivers transiting through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
-
Persons accompanying the mortal remains of deceased persons for burial, including those travelling in transit.
Cancellation of an Electronic Travel Authorisation
An electronic travel authorisation may be cancelled 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 period of temporary stay.
-
Where a decision has been made to administratively expel the foreign national from the territory of Kazakhstan.
-
Where the authorisation was issued in violation of the procedure established by the Rules.
Notifications of refusal to issue an authorisation or of its cancellation will be sent to the foreign national through the digital platform.
SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
No social security agreement has been concluded.
USEFUL INFORMATION
HEALTH SITUATION – The Republic of Kazakhstan invests a lot in health care and health centers in major cities are modernly equipped, and the medical service is well organized.
Tap water is not consumed, but only bottled or filtered. In the country, great attention is paid to the prevention of smoking, so smoking is prohibited in all public institutions and most restaurants.
SECURITY SITUATION – The security situation in the country is stable, with occasional increased controls at border crossings.
TRANSPORT – During temporary stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan, can be used driving license R. of Serbia on the new form, provided that it meets the requirements of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968). You must have a certified translation of your driver's license in Russian or Kazakh.
The most reliable form of transport is air transport. During the winter, due to harsh weather conditions, particularly in the northern parts of the country, rail and road traffic could be disrupted for several days.
In addition, it is useful to install the YandexGo taxi application, which provides insight into the fixed amount of transportation costs.
OTHER INFORMATION – The national currency is the Kazakh tenge (KZT). The country has a developed network of banks and exchange offices which facilitates exchange of foreign currency for the local currency and vice versa. Money transfers to foreign countries is possible through Western Union. It is allowed to take 10,000 US dollars, in cash, out of the country. Daily budget for stay in Kazakhstan is approximately 50 US dollars or more, depending on the region, the standard of accommodation, the quality of food, and the method of travelling.
Contact information:
During your stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan, for consular assistance and protection you may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Astana (Address: Sariarka 6, 010000 Astana), at the following telephone number: 00 7 71 72 99 00 27, and e-mail: amb.astana@mail.ru.