Open doors to Europe: cheaper, longer-term visas for Kazakhstanis

Kazakhstan ranks 20th in the number of submitted Schengen visa applications / Photo: Unsplash

Kazakhstan and European Union officials recently held their 21st meeting to discuss initiating negotiations on visa facilitation, according to Schengen.news.

Kazakhstan proposed several changes, including:

Reducing the current visa fee of €90
Extending the validity of Schengen visas for Kazakhstanis
Shortening application processing times.

Kazakhstan assured the EU that these adjustments would not result in increased illegal migration and that Kazakhstan is committed to cooperating with European authorities to readmit citizens who remain in the EU illegally.

David O’Sullivan, the EU’s sanctions envoy, noted that relations between the EU and Kazakhstan are improving, and the proposed visa talks will further strengthen their partnership.

According to Schengen statistics, Kazakhstan submitted 159,000 Schengen visa applications in 2023, ranking 20th globally. Of these, 143,900 were approved, while 14,200 were denied.