:: Visas Visa support
Foreign citizens and individuals without citizenship are expected to hold a visa to enter Kazakhstan unless otherwise specified in the agreement between Kazakhstan and the party in question.
A visa is a sticker attached into the passport or another recognized document identifying the individual and provides for his/her entry in Kazakhstan and exit from the republic or en route.
The present procedures for the issue of visas specify that a host legal entity or individual registered in the appropriate region of Kazakhstan is to apply to local divisions of the migration police in the region or the Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the CS) in Astana or the Rep Office of the CS in Almaty for a visa to be issued for the coming foreign citizens unless otherwise specified in an international agreement or any other arrangement with Kazakhstan.
Then, a foreign citizen seeking to apply for the visa to be issued by the appropriate organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan abroad is expected to submit the valid passport (or an international travel document), a copy of the letter of invitation that must carry the number of the visa to be issued at the CS of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a completed visa application form and a photo.
As the documents submitted for the issue of the visa come in the Consular office will verify the passport that can expire as early as six months after the expiration of the visa and check on the accuracy of the completed application form and other issues that may likely be considered to decide on the possible issue of the visa and the consequent issue of the visa in Kazakhstan.
At the same time, if it is an individual trip the host individual is to apply to the local division of the migration police of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. A private invitation processed by the organs of the migration police of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan may serve a ground for the issue of the private visa of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
If an invitation is issued urgently (in the event of the disease or the death of a relative) the visa can be issued if a relevant international wire is sent from the Republic of Kazakhstan and endorsed by the doctor.
If an individual needs to stay in Kazakhstan for over 10 days he/she is required to provide an HIV certificate.
The timing of the processing of visas, the reception hours and the issue of the documents are designated by the Consular office immediately. The consular fees for the processing of the documents and the issue of the visa are based on the size of the fixed consular fee plus the amount of the actual costs. The fees are paid in USD or, on mutual terms, any currency of the country where a Consular office is located.
The amount of the consular fees for the visa of Kazakhstan for multiple stays in the republic (entry-exit, exit-entry or extention) for up to seven days are the equivalent of USD 30, for up to 14 days - USD 50, for up to 30 days - USD 70 and for over 30 days - USD 100.
A double visa is one and half the cost of a one-time visa for the corresponding period and a triple visa is 1.75 times the cost of a one-time visa for the corresponding period. A multiple visa valid for up to one year is the equivalent of USD 200 and for up to two years - USD 400.
The amount of the consular fees for the issue of the transit visa of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the equivalent of USD 15.
According to the bilateral arrangements, specific consular fees are applied to the citizens of Lithuania and the People's Republic of China while the officers of the diplomatic and consular offices of foreign countries and the rep offices of certain international organizations recognized by Kazakhstan as well the citizens of Japan and some citizens of the U.S. and Germany are exempted fully from the consular fees.
In addition to the aforementioned and in line with the state program aimed at supporting the fellow citizens living abroad the citizens of certain foreign states and the Kazakhs having no citizenship can enjoy the free processing of visas or reduced consular fees.
The fees paid to compensate actual costs (costs related to application forms, posts, wire, phone, facsimile or any other communications and incurred in order to obtain a visa and so on) resulted from the issue of the visa in any Consular office depend on the local factors.
Double consular fees will be paid if a visa is to be processed as soon as possible.
Diplomatic visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan processed without paying the consular fees are given to the holders of diplomatic passports or in the case when the issue of the diplomatic visa is justified.
Service visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan is given to the staff of foreign diplomatic and other rep offices and international organizations that are not classified as diplomatic as well as foreign citizens and individuals having no citizenship who arrive in the Republic of Kazakhstan on the official trips being invited by the legal entities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The renewed investment visas are given to actual investors the leaders and top executives of large foreign companies operating on the Kazakhstani market or having real plans to pursue business-projects
In addition to the aforementioned documents the issue of employment visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan requires a permit for the hire of foreign workforce, unless otherwise specified in the international agreements and arrangements of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and a contract concluded with the employer.
Foreign citizens and individuals having no citizenship going to Kazakhstan on a business trip (for business negotiations, forums, market research and others) can be issued with business visas if non-governmental legal entities registered in the Republic of Kazakhstan submit an appropriate petition.
Tourism visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan can be issued if a tourism organization of the Republic of Kazakhstan holding a license for tourism activities carried out to receive foreign tourists and provide services to them in the Republic of Kazakhstan is to endorse the reception of foreign tourists along with obtaining the permit from the internal affairs and visa support organ of the CS Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Educational visas are issued if the internal affairs organ gives a permit on the basis of an application made by an educational institution holding the right to training foreign citizens and the purpose of stay related to the class of the visa.
Treatment visas are given to foreign citizens and individuals having no citizenship going to Kazakhstan for treatment, medical check, consultations and other similar purposes if the internal affairs organ issues a permit on the basis of applications submitted by the appropriate institutions and organizations or any other documents confirming the nature of arrival.
Permanent residence visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan are issued if the appropriate documents processed in a proper legal fashion.
Transit visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan are processed by an appropriate organization abroad and the Consular offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the airports of Astana, Almaty and Atyrau en route Kazakhstan if the documents (visas) are available to enter the country of destination and the tickets carrying the date of the departure from the point of transfer in Kazakhstan but not later than 72 hours from the moment of arrival at the port or terminal located in Kazakhstan are presented. The visa provides the right to stay in Kazakhstan or travel en route the republic for a certain period specified in the visa, and depending on the purpose of stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan entry, entry-exit, exit or exit-entry visas can be issued.
Visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan can be extended by the offices of the CS of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the migration police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan depending on the class of original visas. The visas that are not original visas can be issued by the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Submitting to the Overseas Visa
Support Offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Kazakhstan an Invitation for Foreign Citizens to Come to the Republic
of Kazakhstan
(for private organizations)
Applying for a visa support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan for foreign citizens going to the Republic of Kazakhstan, a host organization is expected to submit the following documents to the Consular office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
- A letter of invitation of a standard form (Appendix 1)
- A payment order or a receipt that consular fees and actual costs are paid for;
- If an organization applies to the CS of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the first time it will provide the certified copies of the bylaws, the certificate on the registration in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a statistics card, the certificate confirming that taxes are paid fully, (licenses for tourism activities if tourists are invited), nonresident organizations will also mail the aforementioned documents to 10 Beibetshilik St., the Consular Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Passport Department, the Visa Support Unit, Astana.
A letter of invitation is made in three copies, one for the CS of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, one for the coming individuals (by post, fax, e-mail or any other ways), one for the host organization.
The CS will process an application for three to five days and consequently instruct the appropriate office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan abroad to issue a visa. Afterwards, the CS will announce the number of a visa support which the host organization is to give to a foreign citizen who needs to give it to the Consular office to obtain a Kazakhstani visa.
The reception days and hours on visa issues are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.00 a.m. until 12.00 p.m.. Room 118A, tel.: (3172)327145, fax: (3172) 327592
Note: Applications will not be accepted until consular fees are paid according to the Consular Fees provisions. If a letter of invitation is submitted as early as five working days before the pending entry of foreign citizens the visa will be processed at urgent (double) tariffs.
:: Customs Regulars Main aspects of customs in RK
Clause 19 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Customs Affairs in the Republic of Kazakhstan" any legal entity is entitled to import the goods and vehicles into the Republic of Kazakhstan and export them from the Republic of Kazakhstan, specifically when carrying out foreign economic transactions.
The Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan can ban the import of the goods and vehicles into the Republic of Kazakhstan and the export of them from the Republic of Kazakhstan in the context of the national security, morals, human life and health, environmental issues, flora and fauna, the arts, historic and archeological heritage of the people of the Republic of Kazakhstan and foreign countries, as well as ownership rights, including copyrights, the interests of the consumers of the goods imported and other vital interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The goods and vehicles can be moved via the customs border of the Republic of Kazakhstan according to the customs regime. The following types of the customs regimes are applied according to the customs laws:
- free trade of the goods;
- the re-import of the goods
- the transit of the goods;
- the customs' warehousing;
- duty-free shops;
- the processing of the goods on the customs area;
- the processing of the goods under the customs supervision;
- the temporary import and export of the goods;
- the free customs zone;
- the free warehousing;
- the processing of the goods outside of the customs area;
- the export of the goods;
- the re-export of the goods
- the elimination of the goods;
- the surrender of the goods to the state.
Also we want to brief you on the descriptions of each of the aforementioned customs regimes.
1. The free trade of the goods
The "free trade of the goods" regime is designed to allow the goods imported to stay permanently or be consumed on the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. The re-import of the goods
The re-import of the goods is the customs regime that allows the Kazakhstani goods to be brought out of the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan in line with the customs regime for exports and than brought back to the republic in due time without levying customs duties and taxes and applying any economic sanctions.
3. Transit of the goods
The customs regime of the transit of the goods is designed to allow the goods to be moved via the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan or a foreign country under the customs supervision without levying customs duties and taxes and applying economic sanctions.
4. The customs' warehousing
The "customs' warehousing" regime is designed to allow the goods imported to be warehoused under the customs? supervision without levying the customs duties and taxes and applying economic sanctions for the period of warehousing and the goods exported to be warehoused under the customs' supervision without levying the customs duties and taxes and applying economic sanctions until they are actually exported.
5. Duty-free shops
A duty-free shop is the customs regime that allows the goods imported into the Republic of Kazakhstan to be retailed without levying the customs duties and taxes and applying non-tariff regulations providing that the goods will be exported from the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The goods will be sold under the customs supervision on the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the airports, seaports and border crossings available for international communications as well as aboard air and sea ships that carry out international traffic operations.
6. The processing of the goods on the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan
This customs regime is designed to allow the foreign goods to be processed on the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan without applying economic sanctions against them and with the import customs duties and taxes being reimbursed providing that the processed goods will be exported beyond the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
7. The processing of the goods under the customs supervision
This customs regime is designed to allow the foreign goods to be used in due order on the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan without levying the customs duties and taxes and applying economic sanctions and be processed under the customs supervision until they are distributed in free trade or their processed products re placed under other customs regime.
8. The temporary import and export of the goods
This customs regime is designed to allow the goods that are partially or fully released from the customs duties and taxes and economic sanctions to be used on the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
9. The free customs zone and the free warehousing
This customs regime is designed to allow the foreign goods to be placed and used within the corresponding territorial borders or spaces without levying the customs duties and taxes and applying economic sanctions and the Kazakhstani goods to be placed and used on the terms applied, in due order, to exports according to the customs regime of exports.
10. The processing of the goods outside of the customs area
This customs regime is designed to allow the Kazakhstani goods to be exported and used for processing outside of the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the processed products to be sold in free trade on the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan without levying partially or fully the customs duties and taxes and applying economic sanctions.
11. The export of the goods
This customs regime is designed to allow the goods to be brought out of the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan in order to state permanently or be used outside of the republic?s customs area.
12. The re-export of the goods
This regime is designed to allow the foreign goods to be re-exported from the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan without levying the import customs duties and taxes and applying economic sanctions and with possibly reimbursing the customs duties and taxes in line with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
13. The elimination of the goods
This regime is designed to allow the goods to be eliminated or rendered unusable under the customs? supervision without levying the customs duties and taxes and applying economic sanctions.
The laws specify that any legal entity is entitled to choose any customs regime or change it for another regardless of the nature, quantity, the country of destination, arrival or designation of the goods and vehicles unless otherwise provided by the laws.
Also we want you to note that the following types of the customs fees will be paid for the goods moving via the customs border of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
- customs duties;
- customs dues for the customs clearance.
Other customs fees include:
- duties for a license issued by customs organs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
- duties for a qualification certificate issued by a specialist processing the customs documents;
- customs dues for the goods warehoused;
- customs dues for the goods supervised by the customs;
- fees for making an initial customs decision.
The goods crossing the customs border of the Republic of Kazakhstan are subjected to customs duties according to the Customs Tariff of the Republic of Kazakhstan that comprises the customs fees applied to the goods imported into the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan and exported from the customs area and systematized and grouped according to the Lists of the goods involved in foreign economic transactions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (LGFET). LGFET is based on the Harmonized system of coding and describing the goods that is maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and make available by the organization to its member nations.
The base for calculating the customs fees, except the customs fees paid according to specific rates is the customs value of the goods and vehicles. The customs value of the goods being brought out of the customs area of the Republic of Kazakhstan is based not on the prices of the goods specified in the invoices but on the actual expenses incurred according to the laws unless they are included in the invoices.
VAT and excises for the goods imported are levied by the customs organs in due order and in line with the terms specified by the customs laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
We also give general information on the customs clearance.
The laws specify that the goods and vehicles crossing the customs border of the Republic of Kazakhstan will be subjected to the customs clearance and the customs supervision in due order.
The customs clearance means taking efforts to place the goods and vehicles under a certain customs regime and fulfill this regime in accordance with the terms of the laws.
The customs supervision means a series of efforts taken by the customs organs in order to enforce the laws and international agreements of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The customs clearance is carried out on the sites and the production spaces and during the time of the operation of the customs organ of the Republic of Kazakhstan that are designated according to the guidelines issued by the central customs organ of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Upon the request of the interested legal entity at its expense and the consent of the customs organ of the Republic of Kazakhstan the customs clearance can be carried out on any sites and beyond the time of the operation of the customs organ of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
No one is entitled to use and dispose of the goods and vehicles which have not been cleared by the customs completely unless otherwise specified in the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The customs clearance can be simplified in the event of urgent deliveries (the goods needed in case of disasters, accidents and calamities, live animals, perishable goods, radioactive materials, news and mass media materials).
The customs organ of the Republic of Kazakhstan is entitled to require that a legal entity moving the goods, or the shipper or the warehouse owner or any other entity that has the authorities for the goods and vehicles is to transport, weight or carry out any other measurement of the quantity of the shipment, load, offload, reload, remedy the damaged packages, unpack, pack up or repack the goods and vehicles subjected to the customs clearance and open spaces, containers and other facilities that can hold such goods and vehicles.
The customs organs of the Republic of Kazakhstan are entitled to take samples of the goods and test them (examine them), specifically in cooperation with the customs labs, in order to complete the customs clearance.
:: Embassies Embassies in Republic of Kazakhstan
