Visa-free travel pilot-program in Kazakhstan

On July 15, 2014, Kazakhstan implemented a one-year pilot program that will allow all short-term U.S. citizen travelers to visit Kazakhstan without a visa for up to two weeks for all purposes of travel excluding employment and missionary work. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, there is no limit to the number of times U.S. citizen short-term travelers can visit Kazakhstan without a visa for stays of up to two weeks during the pilot-program’s duration.

During this period, business travelers may extend their stays for one month and investors may extend their stays for up to three years  without leaving Kazakhstan under certain circumstances. U.S. citizens wishing to visit Kazakhstan for longer than two weeks will be required to obtain a visa. U.S. citizens applying for business, tourist, and private visas are no longer required to obtain letters of invitation. U.S. citizens on tourist visas may stay in Kazakhstan for up to 30 days per visit, while the maximum period of stay on a private visa is 90 days per year (regardless of number of visits). U.S. citizens should contact the nearest Kazakhstani diplomatic mission for additional information about the visa-free travel pilot-program.

For additional details about travel to Kazakhstan and general information on this country, please visit the Country Specific Page for Kazakhstan on the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs.