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Astana Entry Requirements

Astana Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Everyone funnels through one immigration hall at Astana's Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport. Officers scan passports, verify e-visas or electronic travel authorisations, and may ask for proof of onward travel. Lines move quickly outside peak hours, early morning and late evening. But allow 45-60 min if several flights land together. Bring printed copies of accommodation confirmations for your first night in Astana. Mobile screenshots are accepted. Yet paper speeds things up.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa-Free Entry
30 days (extendable by another 30 days at the Migration Service office on Kunayev St).

Holders of ordinary passports from 65+ countries may enter Astana without a visa.

Includes
United States United Kingdom Germany France Italy Japan South Korea UAE Malaysia Argentina Brazil Australia New Zealand

The 30-day clock resets only after leaving the Common Economic Space; same-day return does not grant a fresh 30 days.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
30 days single-entry or 60 days multiple-entry.

Citizens of 118 countries must obtain an eVisa before boarding flights to Astana.

Includes
India China Egypt Jordan Morocco Philippines
How to Apply: Apply through the official eGov portal vmp.gov.kz; approval e-mail normally arrives within 3 working days.
Cost: mid-range government fee.

Print the PDF barcode. Mobile display occasionally fails at the gate in Istanbul or Dubai transfer airports.

Visa Required
As stamped (usually 30 days).

Travelers whose countries are not on the visa-free or eVisa lists need a sticker visa issued in advance.

How to Apply: Apply at a Kazakh embassy or consulate. Residents in countries without a Kazakh mission often use the embassy in Berlin, Moscow or Beijing.

Invitations (LOI) are no longer required for tourists. Yet hotel vouchers and a day-by-day itinerary help speed processing.

Arrival Process

Astana's air terminal uses two queues: 'Kazakhstan passports' and 'All passports'. eGate kiosks exist but are switched off. Expect a manual interview.

1
Immigration Primary Inspection
Hand over passport, visa/ETA print-out, and completed migration card (given on board). Officer scans, takes photo, returns half of the card, keep it for hotel registration.
2
Baggage Claim & Customs Channel
Collect bags, then choose green (nothing to declare) or red channel. Random X-ray checks occur even in green.
3
Exit to Landside
Taxi counters and SIM-card kiosks sit 30 m after customs. Show migration card stub to operator for registration-free SIM activation.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport
valid 3 months beyond departure, checked at check-in overseas and again on arrival in Astana.
Printed eVisa or ETA barcode
requested by airline staff and immigration desk.
Migration card
handed out inflight. One half stays with you until exit from Kazakhstan.
Return/onward ticket
proof required for visa-free and eVisa nationals.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Ask the flight attendant for two migration cards if traveling with children. Each needs an individual card.
Officers rarely speak English beyond basics. Have your hotel name written in Cyrillic.
If transiting straight to regional trains, keep the migration card. Conductors collect it en-route.

Customs & Duty-Free

Customs inspections in Astana are usually quick. Yet narcotics and agricultural goods attract sniffer dogs.

Alcohol
3 litres of any strength.
Must be 21+; beer included in the total.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes or 250 g loose tobacco.
One open pack is ignored.
Currency
USD 10,000 equivalent or KZT equivalent must be declared.
Form available in red channel. Keep receipt for re-export.
Gifts/Goods
Personal items up to EUR 1,500 value.
Laptops and phones for personal use are duty-free; 2+ identical items may raise suspicion of resale.

Prohibited Items

  • Narcotics and vapes with THC, criminal penalty.
  • Fresh meat/dairy from outside EEU, plant-health ban.

Restricted Items

  • Satellite phones, need a license from the Ministry of Digital Development.
  • Antiques older than 100 years, export permit from the Ministry of Culture.

Health Requirements

No vaccinations are compulsory to enter Astana. Yet several are recommended.

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Hepatitis A (tap-water advisory outside hotels)
  • Hepatitis B (if visiting clinics or staying months)
  • Tick-borne encephalitis if planning day trips to forest parks north of Astana spring-autumn.

Health Insurance

Insurance is not mandatory at the border. Yet most Astana hotels request a policy number at check-in; medical evacuation to Western Europe is a splurge without coverage.

Current Health Requirements: As of June 2024, COVID-19 vaccination or PCR is not requested. Rules can tighten within days, check vmp.gov.kz before departure.

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Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Find your country's embassy or consulate.
Check your government's travel advisory website.
Immigration Authority
Committee of Migration Police (in Kazakh and Russian).
For visa applications and official information.
Emergency
Emergency services number.
Police 102, Ambulance 103, Fire 101.

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Birth certificate (translated to Kazakh or Russian) if only one parent is present. Notarised consent letter from absent parent recommended.

Traveling with Pets

Microchip, rabies certificate issued 30 days, 12 months before travel, and veterinary certificate form KV-1; pets arrive at a separate room left of the baggage belt.

Extended Stays

Apply at the Migration police office on Kunayev St for a 30-day tourist extension. Total stay must not exceed 60 days in any 180-day period. Bring passport, migration card, hotel confirmation, and a mid-range fee.

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