Kazakhstan to simplify visa regime with China, India, EU and Gulf countries
By Kamila Aliyeva
Kazakhstan will simplify the visa regime with China, India, the EU and the Persian Gulf countries until 2025, according to the draft decree of the Kazakh President on approval of the country's strategic development plan until 2025.
“Legislation will be improved, especially in the area of liberalization of the visa and migration regime of the Republic of Kazakhstan in relation to the five priority markets for tourism - Russia, China, India, EU countries, the Persian Gulf. To simplify the process of filing documents for an entry visa, issuing invitations and obtaining a certificate with the decision of the state body, a visa and migration internet portal will be organized, an online visa issuance procedure will be introduced and the mechanism for issuing ADS visas will be improved,” the draft document said.
The document was published on November 28 on the website of the Kazakh National Economy Ministry.
The process of passing through the state’s physical borders with the unification of the visa and migration regime will be simplified.
"At the same time, the regime of ‘visa-free transit for 72 hours’ will be introduced for passengers of the first priority countries. Online payment practices directly at the checkpoints without the use of administrative arrest and the expectation of a court decision will be introduced for violation of the migration regime,” the document said.
The project developers plan to solve the task of developing export-oriented services through the adoption of these measures.
“The barriers to the development of services export will be removed and the services provided on the external markets with significant export potential will be promoted. These services consist of travel services, including medical and educational tourism, financial and business services, transit transport and space services,” the draft decree said.
Earlier, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry suggested creating an integrated online system of migration control in order to digitalize migration flows. The system will register foreign citizens automatically and issue e-visas.
Currently, in addition to a visa, Kazakhstan requires foreigners to obtain a migration card, which is issued by the Border Service of Committee of National Security after registration with the local authorities.
Cards are required and issued upon arrival to visitors aged 16 and above.
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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva
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