Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs has provided clarification on the introduction of electronic entry permits

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan has explained the mechanics of the trial period for paid entry into the country. Starting August 25, foreigners eligible to visit Kazakhstan without a visa will be required to obtain an electronic permit; this new measure will be implemented in phases from August through December 2026.

Upon first entry, the absence of an electronic permit will not constitute “grounds for denying entry across the state border,” reports BES.media, citing a letter from the ministry. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that foreign nationals will be informed of the requirement to obtain an electronic permit upon their next entry. The ministry did not provide details regarding the cost of the permit or the administrative procedures involved.

Electronic permits are being introduced in accordance with the revised version of the Law “On Population Migration.” According to explanations provided to Oninvest.com by legal experts, this measure cannot be considered the introduction of a visa regime, since no grounds or supporting documents are required to obtain a permit.

The QazETA system was launched at the beginning of 2026 to issue permits; it is now used to issue paid electronic visas to foreign nationals who are not eligible for visa-free entry. According to information from the websites of Kazakhstan’s embassies, QazETA is a government digital platform created to provide “convenient, transparent, and secure access for foreigners to key migration and related services through a ‘one-stop shop’ approach.” The website states that the online payment service is provided in accordance with the rules of the Visa and MasterCard international payment systems. Applications for authorization must be submitted no later than 72 hours before arrival at the border.

The QazETA system is maintained by Kazdream Special Systems. The founder and CEO of the Kazdream holding company is Dauren Tulebaev, who is also known as the co-founder of Zakupki.kz and Kompra.kz.

According to the law, half of the funds collected will go toward “technical support, development, and modernization of the digital system for recording entry and exit, as well as the digital platform for foreign nationals and stateless persons.”

The other half should be allocated to the development of tourism. According to the National Statistics Bureau, 3 million foreigners entered Kazakhstan in the first quarter of 2026. The main influx comes from neighboring countries: Uzbekistan (1.1 million people), Kyrgyzstan (723,500 people), and Russia (564,700 people).

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor