Kazakhstan proposes paid electronic entry permits for foreigners

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Interior has put forward a plan to implement a system of paid electronic entry permits for foreign citizens. This proposal is part of a new digital migration management framework and is projected to be rolled out between August and December of 2026.

The proposed regulation has been made public on Kazakhstan's Open Regulatory Legal Acts portal, inviting public commentary. The Interior Ministry states that varying fees for these electronic permits would contribute to funding the upkeep of the digital infrastructure and safeguarding personal information. Nevertheless, the draft document does not specify the exact cost applicants would incur.

Furthermore, the proposal does not delineate which groups of foreign nationals would be mandated to acquire these electronic permits, implying that the system might not encompass all international visitors. The public consultation period for this draft will conclude on August 17.

This initiative aligns with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's broader agenda to update and digitize migration oversight. In June, President Tokayev enacted changes to Kazakhstan's migration laws, thereby establishing the legal groundwork for the introduction of electronic entry permits.

The anticipated launch of this system is set for the period between August and December 2026. The draft is currently undergoing public scrutiny and has not yet been formally adopted. Additional specifics regarding permit costs, eligibility criteria, and operational procedures may be finalized subsequent to the consultation phase.

Previously, Kazakhstan implemented a policy restricting foreign vehicles to one border crossing entry per day. This measure was part of a larger strategy to combat fuel smuggling and enhance border security.