QazETA: Kazakhstan Introduces an Electronic Travel Authorization for Visa-Exempt Visitors

Foreign colleagues and partners visiting you in Kazakhstan without a visa will gradually be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization in advance via the QazETA app. For now this is a recommendation, but it is set to become a mandatory requirement — and a new item on every travel manager’s checklist.

What it is. ETA (electronic travel authorization) is a pre-trip digital screening of travelers from countries whose citizens currently enter Kazakhstan visa-free. It is issued through the QazETA mobile app, launched in 2025. The app combines three services at once: electronic visa (e-Visa), ETA, and electronic residency (e-Residency).

How it works in practice:

1. The application is submitted in the app no later than 72 hours before departure.
2. The authorization is valid for 180 days; the actual length of stay is governed by Kazakhstan’s general migration rules.
3. ETA is currently issued free of charge. The authorities plan to introduce paid options — a “standard” one for 10 US dollars and an expedited “express” one.
4. An ETA does not guarantee entry: the final decision always rests with the border control officer at the point of crossing.

Current status. During the pilot period, obtaining an ETA is recommended but not mandatory for citizens of visa-exempt countries. Once the pilot ends, the requirement will be rolled out in stages — and will become mandatory for the relevant categories of visitors.

What this means for travel managers. If you host foreign visitors — clients, auditors, colleagues from headquarters — build ETA processing into your instructions for incoming guests. The minimum lead time is 72 hours before departure, but it is better to allow a buffer. This is especially critical for trips with fixed dates: a delay or a refusal during screening can derail a meeting.

And one more thing: the regime is evolving, and the rules depend on each visitor’s citizenship. Before every trip, check the current status (recommended or already mandatory) for that specific country rather than relying on past experience.

Hosting foreign guests in Kazakhstan? Save this post as a reference and forward it to whoever is responsible for welcoming delegations.