Starting March 1, 2010, new “Rules for Obtaining Visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan” (hereinafter “The Rules”) will enter into force, as approved by the joint order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior of Kazakhstan.
The main purpose of the adoption of the new Rules is bringing them in conformity with the current situation with migration, as well as regularizing foreigners’ stay in Kazakhstan. The document’s provisions set forth favourable conditions for those on private business trips, engaged in investment activity, and tourists.
The new Rules introduce such new visa categories as a “missionary visa” and “an exit visa”.
The provisions of the new Rules do not provide prolongation of the validity term of a “business visa” upon invitation of legal entities, except for those foreigners who arrive in Kazakhstan at invitation of Kazakh government agencies, diplomatic missions, consulates of foreign states, and international organizations accredited in the country.
Besides, private, tourist, missionary, and transit visa types cannot be prolonged as well.
Another novelty of the Rules is a visa-free stay on the territory of Kazakhstan for staff of diplomatic missions, employees of consulates of foreign states, international organizations, and persons equated to them, as well as members of their families on the basis of their accreditation cards issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, i.e. an accreditation card will replace a visa for Kazakhstan for the period of their diplomatic and official activities inside the country.
Besides, the Rules exclude the notion of visa types as all visas will be issued as “entrance-exit”, except for the “exit” category. In addition, the practice of triple-visit private and tourist visas is being introduced. Triple-visit tourist and private visas will be issued for up to 90 days.
The Rules stipulate a simplified procedure of issuing visas for citizens of 47 developed nations, who can obtain diplomatic, official, business, private, and tourist visas without an invitation.
Diplomatic, official, investment, and business visas can be issued for up to 3 years, and with consideration of the international principle of reciprocity, visas of these categories can be issued for longer terms as well.
One of the differences of the new Rules from the previous Instruction is the simplification of the order of registering invitations for foreigners. According to the new Rules, an inviting organization directly addresses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan for visa support excluding the previous practice of securing approval by the migration police, except for trips on private matters.
