Kazakhstan to expand visa-free regime to 100 countries
Kazakhstan plans to expand its visa-free travel policy to citizens of 100 countries, aiming to boost tourism and diversify its economy as announced at the September tourism forum.
Kazakhstan is moving to expand its visa-free travel regime to citizens of 100 countries in an effort to further promote the country’s tourism sector. The announcement was made at the Kazakhstan Tourism Development Forum held on September 15 in Aktau.
New ambitions for Kazakhstan’s tourism industry
The forum brought together senior Kazakh government officials, tourism sector representatives, and other high-level participants to discuss ways of enhancing the local tourism industry. In particular, Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports, Ermek Marzhikpayev, emphasized that tourism should be treated as one of the key drivers of the economy.
Referring to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s address on September 1, Marzhikpayev highlighted the Head of State’s strong emphasis on advancing the tourism sector.
Visitor statistics for Kazakhstan
According to data presented during the forum, Kazakhstan welcomed more than 3.2 million domestic tourists and over 500,000 foreign visitors in the first half of this year.
Efforts to support tourism development include visa facilitation and the expansion of direct flight options. Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko also noted that Kazakhstan ranked 66th out of 117 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Travel & Tourism Development Index.
Expanding the visa-free country list
As of now, passport holders from 45 countries—including all OECD members, EU nations, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore, and Monaco—can enter Kazakhstan without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, a policy in place since 2017.
In 2019, the list was expanded to include Vietnam, Indonesia, and Qatar, bringing the total to 80 eligible countries.
Kazakhstan’s open-skies policy, allowing unlimited foreign airline operations on certain routes, has been extended through to 2027.
Diversifying Kazakhstan’s economy
The new economic vision under President Tokayev focuses on diversifying the economy and boosting manufacturing. Alongside tourism, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a major transit hub in Eurasia by developing transport infrastructures, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.
Why Kazakhstan is a must-visit destination
Beyond its dramatic landscapes, Kazakhstan offers millennia of rich cultural history and some of the warmest hospitality in Central Asia. The planned extension of visa-free access is expected to draw even more visitors to this rapidly emerging destination.
