Kazakhstan introduces paid electronic permits for foreigners. The requirement also applies to Uzbeks

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Kazakhstan is gradually introducing a paid electronic permit for entry into the country - Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for citizens of visa-free countries, including citizens of Uzbekistan.

This electronic permit, issued through the QazETA digital platform, is recommended to be submitted at least 72 hours before the trip and is valid for 180 days. QazETA also accepts Uzbek and Kyrgyz ID cards as documents.

The new system will operate in a trial mode from August 25 to November 1. During this period, foreigners who have not received an ETA will not be denied entry to Kazakhstan, but they will be warned that an electronic permit will be required on their next trip.

Starting November 1, ETA will be mandatory for those entering Kazakhstan by plane. It is stipulated that airlines will not allow passengers without an electronic permit to board a flight.

Starting November 15, this requirement will also apply to automobile crossing points on the external borders of the Eurasian Economic Union. This will also include Kazakhstan's borders with China, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. From this date, those entering Kazakhstan from Uzbekistan by car or bus will also need to obtain an ETA.

Starting November 30, the electronic permit requirement will be introduced at Kazakhstan's automobile borders with Russia and Kyrgyzstan, and starting December 15, it will also be introduced for those entering by rail and sea.

According to the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the cost of pre-issuing an ETA is expected to be approximately 3,900 tenge, while applying at the border will cost 7,800 tenge. The electronic permit will not cancel the current visa-free regime.

Earlier, it was reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan proposed introducing a paid electronic permit for citizens of countries with a visa-free regime. At that time, it was planned to launch the system in stages from August to December 2026, but the exact dates and amount of payment had not yet been announced.