Kazakhstan Expands Visa-Free Access to 41 Countries, Enhancing Global Mobility
Kazakhstan has broadened its international access, now allowing its citizens visa-free entry to 41 countries.
Kazakhstan has broadened its international access, now allowing its citizens visa-free entry to 41 countries. This expansion places Kazakhstan 54th out of 199 countries in the Global Passport Power Rank, with a mobility score of 94—on par with China and close to Russia, which ranks 40th with access to 127 destinations. Other Central Asian nations, including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan, rank lower at 76th and 72nd, respectively.
Over the last decade, Kazakhstan has secured visa-free access to over 30 additional destinations, enabling greater global mobility for its citizens. Currently, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports lists 81 countries accessible without a visa or with a visa-on-arrival option, and negotiations for six additional agreements are ongoing.
Notable visa-free allowances include year-long stays in Georgia and 180-day stays in Armenia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Other countries, including Russia, Türkiye, Mongolia, Albania, and Moldova, allow for 90-day stays visa-free.
Key Visa-Free Destinations for Kazakhstan
Europe: Albania (90 days), Belarus (unlimited stay), Russia (90 days), and Georgia (up to one year).
Asia: Armenia (180 days), Azerbaijan (90 days), China (30 days), Kyrgyzstan (unlimited), and Türkiye (90 days).
Americas: Argentina (30 days), Brazil (30 days), and Ecuador (90 days).
Oceania: Cook Islands (31 days) and Micronesia (30 days).
Africa: Namibia (90 days) and Seychelles (30 days).
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively working to improve the Kazakh passport’s status, with ongoing efforts to expand visa-free access further. Economist Kuanysh Zhaikov, head of the DESHT Institutional Transformation Group, highlighted the long-term benefits of accumulating visa-free agreements, suggesting that they could eventually facilitate access to larger, economically significant countries.
In 2023, Kazakhstan added several new visa-free destinations, including Bangladesh, Seychelles, San Marino, China, and Vietnam. Discussions are also underway with the European Union to streamline visa processes, aiming to reduce fees and increase the validity of multiple-entry visas for Kazakh citizens. During the recent 21st EU-Kazakhstan meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing travel accessibility.
Rise in Inbound Tourism
Kazakhstan's visa-free policies have spurred inbound tourism, with 9.2 million foreign tourists visiting in 2023—nearly nine million from visa-exempt countries. Notable increases include a twentyfold rise in visitors from China, from 18,000 in 2022 to 367,000 in 2023, and a more than threefold increase in Indian visitors, from 28,000 to 78,000 during the same period.
With continued expansions in visa-free agreements and strategic partnerships, Kazakhstan is actively strengthening its role in global connectivity and fostering growth in international tourism.
