Negotiations between Kazakhstan and the EU on simplifying the visa regime have entered the final stage, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the EU and NATO, Roman Vassilenko, said.
«We are also on the verge of completing our negotiations of visa facilitation agreement and readmission agreement, which should provide in fact those passengers that all those airlines will need to be flying between Kazakhstan and the European Union,» Vassilenko said.
Both documents are part of a package, in line with the EU’s standard practice in agreements with third countries.
Visa facilitation, not visa exemption
It should be noted that visa-free travel between Kazakhstan and the European Union is not in question. A visa facilitation agreement aims to reduce administrative burdens in the visa application process, including a shorter list of required documents, lower consular fees, and simplified procedures for certain categories of applicants such as students, businesspeople, journalists and relatives of EU citizens.
A visa will still be required for entry, but the application process is expected to become simpler, faster and more accessible.
Aleška Simkić, the EU ambassador to Kazakhstan, expressed hope that the agreement would be concluded in the near future.
