Foreign ministry says nearly half of Kazakhstani applicants denied US visas

About 45-46% of Kazakhstani applicants are denied U.S. visas, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev reported.

Responding to journalists’ questions on how often Kazakhstani citizens face visa barriers, he said it is difficult to obtain accurate global data across all countries due to legal complexities.

«The decision to deny visas is a sovereign right of our partners. It is often related to access to private information and is not disclosed to us either. Therefore, it is difficult to speak about the exact number of such refusals. Some countries publish visa refusal rate data. In particular, around 45%-46% of U.S. visa applicants are denied visas,» Ashikbayev said.

He added that the global migration situation remains volatile and countries regularly revise or tighten entry requirements. As a result, the ministry urged citizens to strictly comply with migration rules abroad.

Japan visa situation

In addition to the U.S., journalists asked about progress on visa liberalization with Japan, which has been under discussion for a long time. Ashikbayev noted that the process is ongoing but will take time.

«This is a complex and lengthy process. Of course, we will continue working with our Japanese partners, as well as others, and will announce the results when they are ready for release,» he said.

The Foreign Ministry noted that visa liberalisation is always a two-way process, and that final decisions depend not only on Astana but also on the domestic agendas of partner countries.

In January, the U.S. Department of State announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Kazakhstan.