Asia Travel Guides

Visas overview

Central Asia is notorious for its visa hassles, but the good news is that things are improving (if only a little) in Kazakhstan. With most Western passports it is normally possible to get a Kazakh visa from a Kazakh embassy in your own country with just a cover letter stating why you intend to go. A letter of invitation is no longer required if you apply at a Kazakh embassy. Visa prices in the West, however, are still pretty steep, eg. USD 125.00 for US citizens or GBP 33.00 for UK citizens. Invitation-free visas are good for a maximum of 30 days. Another option is to get a visa at the airport in Almaty (tourist visa USD 40.00 ), but for this you will need an LOI from a company or travel agent (which will charge about USD 30.00 - USD 40.00 . It is not usually possible to get a visa at any other airport in the country or at any land borders. Getting a visa at a Kazakh embassy elsewhere in Asia is possible, but the situation remains unpredictable and you may be required to show proof of hotel bookings. Getting a visa in a Central Asian capital like Bishkek, Dushanbe or Tashkent is easier and less expensive USD 40.00 .

If you need a transit visa, these are available to most western nationalities at the airport as long as you have a ticket out of Kazakhstan within five calendar days. Travellers are usually registered with OVIR when they enter the country, but it's a good idea to check whether this has been done or if you need to register with an OVIR office. When in doubt, register within five days of your arrival.