Kazakhstan entry requirements
Kazakhstan rolls out an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for visa-free travelers, available via the official QazETA mobile app.
Kazakhstan is continuing to modernize its entry procedures with the launch of an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) intended for visa-exempt travelers. Accessible exclusively via the official QazETA mobile application, this new system is part of a broader strategy to digitize migration services. Currently in a pilot phase, the Kazakhstan ETA aims to streamline pre-departure checks while strengthening border security. In the long term, this authorization will become mandatory for many nationalities traveling to Kazakhstan without a visa, following the model already adopted in other international destinations.
Key points: Kazakhstan ETA via QazETA
- 📅 15 July 2025: official launch of the Kazakhstan ETA
- 📱 Application via the QazETA app only
- ⏳ To be completed 72 hours before departure
- 📆 Validity: 180 days
- ⚠️ The ETA does not guarantee entry into Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is taking a new step forward in modernizing its border checks with the launch of the Kazakhstan ETA, an Electronic Travel Authorization Kazakhstan designed for visa-exempt travelers. This system, already proven in other regions of the world, allows authorities to carry out a pre-travel screening before departure, while maintaining a fast and fully digital procedure.
Unlike a traditional visa, the Kazakhstan ETA requires neither a consular appointment nor the submission of a paper file. The process is completed exclusively online, via an official mobile application, and applies only to nationals authorized to enter Kazakhstan without a prior visa.
🎯 Why is Kazakhstan introducing an ETA?
However, the authorities remind travelers that the Kazakhstan ETA is a pre-travel authorization and does not automatically guarantee entry into the country, as the final decision is made during border control.
At the heart of this new system, the QazETA app stands out as a key pillar of Kazakhstan’s migration services digitization strategy. Presented as a digital one-stop shop, the QazETA Kazakhstan platform allows foreign travelers to complete all their procedures from a smartphone, without having to navigate multiple administrative portals.
Available on Google Play and the App Store, the app targets an international audience and focuses on an intuitive, secure interface.
📱 What the QazETA app allows you to do
With the QazETA app, the authorities aim to streamline the traveler experience from the planning stage, while improving administrative efficiency upon arrival.
The Kazakhstan ETA is intended for visa-exempt travelers Kazakhstan, meaning nationals of countries authorized to enter Kazakhstan visa-free for short stays.
Until now, these travelers could visit the country without any pre-departure formalities. With the gradual introduction of the ETA, a new step is added before travel, while remaining significantly simpler than a traditional visa application.
👤 Travelers concerned
During the pilot phase (2025–2026), the ETA is recommended but not mandatory. However, the authorities have confirmed that it will eventually become an essential formality to travel to Kazakhstan visa-free.
Kazakhstan applies a visa exemption policy to a wide range of nationalities. Nationals of these visa-exempt countries Kazakhstan are directly affected by the gradual rollout of the ETA.
🌍 Categories of visa-free stays
Kazakh authorities have stated that after the testing phase, the Kazakhstan ETA mandatory requirement will be gradually introduced for these travelers, even before boarding.
⚠️ Travelers exempt from the ETA
The ETA application is completed entirely through the official mobile app. The Kazakhstan ETA application has been designed to be simple, fast, and fully digital. Unlike traditional visa procedures, no embassy visit or mailing of paper documents is required. The entire process takes place directly within the official mobile application of the Kazakh government.
This approach is intended to make travel preparation easier while enabling authorities to receive, in advance, the essential information on travelers entering the country. The Kazakhstan ETA form is structured in a progressive, guided way to reduce errors and omissions during completion.
📲 Requirements before applying
Before starting an application, the traveler must:
Once these elements are ready, the procedure can be initiated directly from the official application.
The Kazakhstan ETA application follows a structured process, designed to guide the user step by step via the QazETA ETA app.
🧾 Main steps of the procedure
👤 Create a personal account
The traveler enters basic information (last name, first name, email, phone number) and sets a secure password.
🛂 Passport reading
The passport can be photographed or scanned electronically. The data is automatically extracted to populate the Kazakhstan ETA form.
✈️ Travel information
The applicant indicates:
the purpose of the trip (tourism, business, transit, etc.)
the type of entry (air, land, or sea)
arrival and departure dates
the country of origin
🏥 Health declaration
This step includes confirmation of valid medical insurance and certain recent health information.
📦 Customs declaration
Questions related to customs rules are included to anticipate formalities upon arrival.
📤 Submit the application
Once all information is verified, the application is transmitted electronically to the authorities via the QazETA ETA app.
The entire process usually takes only a few minutes, provided you have all the required information available.
The Kazakhstan ETA validity is set at 180 days from the approval date. This period corresponds to the timeframe during which the traveler is authorized to present themselves at the Kazakh border. The actual length of stay remains governed by the migration rules applicable to the traveler’s nationality.
Regarding the Kazakhstan ETA processing time, the authorities have provided several options to suit different traveler profiles.
⏱️ Processing options
The authorities noted that final pricing may change after the testing phase.
It is essential to remember that obtaining an ETA does not constitute an automatic right of entry into Kazakhstan. As with any international travel, the final decision is made by the authorities during Kazakhstan border control.
Upon arrival, officers may check:
The Kazakhstan ETA therefore facilitates the process in advance, but in no way replaces standard border checks.
The QazETA platform is not limited to the ETA. It centralizes several statuses tailored to the specific needs of travelers and professionals.
🔍 Comparison of the systems
This comprehensive approach makes QazETA a central tool for entry, stay, and remote activities in Kazakhstan.
Find out if your question has been answered in the list below
No, not yet. Since 15 July 2025, the Kazakhstan ETA has been rolled out in a pilot phase. It is recommended but not mandatory for visa-exempt travelers. However, Kazakh authorities have confirmed that the ETA will gradually become mandatory before departure once the testing phase is completed.
The application is made exclusively via the official QazETA mobile app, available on Google Play and the App Store. The traveler must create an account, scan their passport, complete the Kazakhstan ETA form, make the required declarations, and then submit the application online no later than 72 hours before departure.
No. Even with an approved ETA, entry into Kazakhstan is not automatic. The final decision remains with the authorities during border control. Officers may check the purpose of stay, travel documents, and compliance with the entry requirements in force.