EU visa process set to become easier for Kazakhstanis

Official representative of Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, Aibek Smadiyarov, elaborated on how the visa regime with the EU is set to be facilitated for Kazakhstan. According to him, entry will be cheaper, and the list of required documents will be shorter.

The official recalled that Kazakhstan and the EU have been in talks on facilitating the regime, with the first round of negotiations taking place on Dec. 2. The next round is planned for 2026 in Astana.

«First of all, this step will make travel, business and cultural exchange easier for citizens. In addition, ties between Kazakhstan and the European Union will reach a new level,» Smadiyarov said at a briefing.

The official specified that the number of documents required for a visa is planned to be reduced. The visa fee is also expected to be lowered.

«As of today, to my knowledge, applicants need to submit between 20 and 30 types of documents to obtain a visa for one of the European countries. That’s why we are working to significantly reduce that number, as well as to lower the visa fee. There will also be other forms of easing to make it beneficial for our citizens,» Smadiyarov said.

He also added that the fee is non-refundable in case of rejection. According to Smadiyarov, this is a standard practice worldwide. The official noted that consular officers are always entitled to request additional documents, since this is a normal part of the procedure.

The EU visa regime easing with Kazakhstan has been on the agenda since the beginning of the year. Smadiyarov explained the complexity of the process by noting that the EU consists of several nations, and negotiations are required with each one.