Moscow, 21 October. Russia expects additional explanations from the Kazakh side regarding Kazakhstan's new entry rules, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.
The rules in question were approved by the Kazakh government's resolution of 10 October. Foreigners from countries that have a visa-free regime with Kazakhstan, including citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union states and of countries with bilateral visa-free agreements, will have to obtain an electronic entry permit in advance. It is issued free of charge by the internal affairs bodies in coordination with the national security bodies through the QazETA digital platform; an application must be filed at least 72 hours before the trip, and the permit is valid for 180 calendar days.
The system will be introduced in stages. From 1 November the permit will be checked at Aktau airport and at four road checkpoints: Urlyutobe in Pavlodar region, Aukhatty in Zhambyl region, Atameken in Turkestan region and Nur Zholy in Zhetysu region, one each on the borders with Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and China; from 1 January 2027 at Astana and Almaty airports, and from 1 March at all other checkpoints. Until 1 July 2027 border guards will explain to arrivals that the document is required but will not refuse entry; after that date the absence of a permit will be grounds for refusal.
The permit is not needed by holders of Kazakh visas, temporary residence permits and residence permits, heads of state and government and members of official delegations, transit air passengers who do not leave the transit zone, crews of aircraft, ships and trains, and drivers of lorries and buses engaged in international transport. The electronic permit, as the platform operator has said, does not change the existing visa-free stay rules: citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union can stay in Kazakhstan without a visa for up to 90 days within six months.
The original plan was different. In September the QazETA platform operator said the permit would be paid for, and the Serbian Foreign Ministry cited a standard fee of about 3,900 tenge and a phased introduction starting with air passengers on 1 November. The resolution of 10 October provides for free registration and postpones the permit becoming mandatory until summer 2027.
What it means: Kazakhstan is introducing a mandatory electronic entry permit for all visa-free foreigners, including citizens of Russia and other Eurasian Economic Union countries. Until 1 July 2027 people will still be let in without it, but Moscow is already publicly asking Astana to explain the new rules.
Who benefits: The rules concern above all citizens of Russia and other Eurasian Economic Union countries who travel to Kazakhstan without visas; they do not affect drivers of lorries and buses in international transport. Zakharova did not specify what questions Moscow has, and the sources do not yet give a reply from the Kazakh side.
Background: In June 2025, when Russia was preparing to tighten entry rules for foreigners, Kazakhstan's Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov said that Kazakhstan was ready to introduce similar measures.
List of sources used: TASS, BES.media, Spot, RTVI, Bizmedia.kz, Bizmedia.kz, Government of Kazakhstan
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
