Kazakhstan is gradually introducing an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system for citizens of countries that currently have visa-free access to the country, including Uzbekistan. The electronic permit will be issued through the QazETA digital platform and will be introduced in stages depending on the method of entry into Kazakhstan.
The ETA does not replace or cancel Kazakhstan’s existing visa-free regime. Instead, it will serve as an additional entry requirement for travelers from visa-exempt countries. According to information published by the QazETA platform, travelers are advised to submit an ETA application at least 72 hours before their planned trip.
Once issued, the electronic authorization will remain valid for 180 days. Uzbek and Kyrgyz national ID cards are specifically listed among the documents accepted for submitting applications through QazETA. Kazakhstan began testing the ETA system on August 25, with the pilot period scheduled to continue until November 1. During the test period, foreign nationals covered by the requirement will not be denied entry to Kazakhstan solely because they do not have an ETA.
Travelers arriving without an electronic authorization will instead be informed that they will need to obtain one for subsequent trips once the requirement becomes mandatory. The first mandatory stage is scheduled to take effect on November 1 and will apply to travelers entering Kazakhstan by air.
Under the new rules, airlines will be required to verify that passengers subject to the ETA requirement have a valid electronic authorization. Passengers without an ETA will not be permitted to board flights to Kazakhstan. The electronic authorization requirement will be expanded to road border crossings on the external borders of the Eurasian Economic Union from November 15.
This will include Kazakhstan’s land borders with Uzbekistan, China and Turkmenistan. As a result, Uzbek citizens traveling to Kazakhstan from Uzbekistan by car or bus will be required to obtain an ETA from November 15. A further expansion is scheduled for November 30, when the requirement will apply at Kazakhstan’s road borders with Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
From December 15, the ETA system is expected to cover travelers entering Kazakhstan by rail and sea. The electronic authorization will have a validity period of 180 days, while travelers are advised to apply at least three days before departure.
According to information from Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtaining an ETA in advance is expected to cost approximately KZT 3,900 (over $8). Applying for an electronic authorization at the border is expected to cost KZT 7,800 (over $17). The ETA requirement does not change the underlying visa-free arrangements between Kazakhstan and countries whose citizens currently qualify for visa-free entry.
For Uzbek citizens, the changes mean that visa-free travel to Kazakhstan will continue, but travelers will gradually be required to obtain electronic authorization before entering the country depending on their mode of transport. The requirement is scheduled to become mandatory for air travel from November 1, road travel from Uzbekistan from November 15, and rail travel from December 15.
