Changes set for entry, visa regulations

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The Kazakhstan government has passed a number of amendments to the country’s migration procedures and regulations.

What does the change mean? They include changes to visa application procedures, entry policies and company notifications of foreign nationals’ arrivals.

• Implementation time frame: Ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: Work and business visas and invitation applications.
• Who is affected: Foreign nationals traveling to Kazakhstan on a visa and companies inviting and hosting foreign nationals in Kazakhstan, including those working in Kazakhstan and those on business trips.

Key changes:

• Foreign nationals may now submit applications for a visa to Kazakhstan in a country other than their country of citizenship if they are in that country on a long-term business, investor or work visa.
• Visa renewal applications may be submitted 30 business days before the visa is set to expire.
• Visa holders, including those traveling on work and business visas, no longer need to complete migration cards at the airport upon arrival in Kazakhstan. Migration cards are still available to citizens of countries with visa-free agreements with Kazakhstan.
• Invitation applications must be submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs no later than five business days before the foreign national plans to arrive in Kazakhstan.
• Invitation application forms now include a place for foreign nationals to enter their residential address in Kazakhstan. When arriving on a visa, foreign nationals will be registered at the border checkpoint upon entry using the address indicated on the invitation letter. Inviting companies no longer need to submit an application for passport registration to the Migration Police Department.
• When hosting a foreign national, organizations are required to submit a written notification to the migration service within three business days after the foreign national’s arrival and if there are changes to the person’s residential address in Kazakhstan. Failing to do so will result in a fine ranging from 24,050 Kazakhstani tenge to 48,100 tenge (about US$66 to $133.).

BAL Analysis: Companies that host foreign nationals in Kazakhstan are encouraged to review internal procedures to make sure they align with the changes above and that they regularly report the arrival of foreign nationals within three business days.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Kazakhstan. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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