Is it possible to travel to Kazakhstan with a Russian passport in 2021?

Attention!
As of May 2021, departure of Russians is possible only to the following countries: Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Great Britain, Vietnam, Greece, Georgia, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Maldives, UAE, Seychelles, Serbia, Singapore, Tanzania, Turkey, Finland, Switzerland, Ethiopia, South Korea, Japan. More details can be found on the website of the Federal Tourism Agency. Additionally, check the relevance of the information at the office. websites of consulates and embassies.
Next - about the standard procedure for entry and/or obtaining a visa.

A visa-free regime has been established between Russia and Kazakhstan. This means that citizens of these countries do not need special permits to visit their territories. In 2021, entry into Kazakhstan by Russians is carried out on the basis of both an internal and a foreign passport . The choice of the document to be presented (they are equivalent) is entirely up to the traveler.

Visa-free entry

Traveling to Kazakhstan for Russians will take place without bureaucratic delays: citizens of the Russian Federation can enter the republic multiple times or transit to another country without the obligatory issuance of visas, but observing the entry rules:

The trip will last no more than 90 days;
A valid Russian or foreign passport is required;
At the border, a migration card and (if necessary) a customs declaration are filled out.

When entering Kazakhstan from Russia, a foreigner provides documents to a border service officer, who marks the border crossing on the migration card.

The completed migration card is kept by the foreigner throughout the entire trip; upon departure, it is collected by the border guard. If a card is lost or accidentally damaged, a foreigner is obliged to report this fact to the police and receive a duplicate.

Some nuances

If a trip to Kazakhstan is carried out using a foreign passport and the trip will last less than 30 days, then you do not need to fill out a migration card. The corresponding mark is placed in the passport. If the trip takes more than a month, then Russians are not exempt from filling out a migration card.

The website of the Russian Embassy (consular.rfembassy.ru/lm/konsulskie_voprosy/poseshenie_rk/) strongly recommends paying attention to the validity period of the internal passport , especially for those Russians who will soon turn 20 or 45 years old. It is at this age that you need to exchange your Russian passport. If the document expires during a trip to Kazakhstan, then difficulties and additional costs will arise with leaving the country, since the passport will become invalid. Therefore, it is better to postpone your visit to the republic until you receive a new passport or go on a trip using a foreign passport.

Border crossing by students

For a long time, students from Kazakhstan could only get to Russia by plane; land borders were closed to them. Kazakhstan released its citizens to study in other countries, but Russia did not let students in. However, from March 20, 2021, students can return to the Russian Federation and continue their studies.

To do this, they need to notify their university of arrival at least 10 days in advance and take a COVID-19 test before crossing the border and upon arrival. And you can go to school!

A citizen of the Russian Federation can leave Russia to study once. You need to take with you documents confirming that you are studying at a university in Kazakhstan, or a document from a Russian educational organization about sending you to study at a foreign educational institution.

Many students from Kazakhstan cannot get to Russia by plane because of expensive tickets. Photo: unsplash.com

Migration card

Each guest visiting Kazakhstan without a visa fills out a migration card indicating:

Own full name;
Purpose of visiting the country;
Receiving party data;
Number of children under 16 years old.

The MK form can be obtained at the border (it is issued by border guards) or taken at the counters located in front of the passport control area. Forms are also issued on planes, trains or buses while en route.

How to fill it out?

In the MK you need to indicate your full name strictly according to your passport in Latin or Cyrillic. Erasures and corrections should be avoided. All information is entered in Russian, Kazakh or English.

In the “Purpose of arrival” column you must indicate:

“Tourism” - for a tourist trip;
“Private” - in case of a visit to relatives or friends;
“Study” - for studying in educational institutions;
“Work” - if the trip is related to employment;
“Official” - business trip, business meetings.

In the “Receiving Party” section - the surname of a private person or the name of a legal entity. In the section “Children traveling together,” the number of children traveling with the foreigner is indicated in words (for example, “two”).

When the card is not needed

You do not need to issue a migration card:

Children under 16 years old;
Foreigners who have received a Kazakh visa;
Drivers of vehicles engaged in international road transport;
Holders of a residence permit in Kazakhstan;
Passengers of transit trains;
Crew members of sea, river and aircraft vessels.

After checking the documents, the MK puts an entry mark. Registration information is also entered here if the traveler stays in the republic for longer than 30 days. When returning to Russia, a corresponding mark is made on the card, and the document itself is taken by the border guard.

Do you need a foreign passport to Kazakhstan in 2021?

If you are planning a trip to another country, and the route lies through Kazakhstan with a transfer here, there is no need to apply for a special visa, since a transit visa to Kazakhstan is issued automatically.

Having the appropriate tickets confirming the date of departure and entry from the country, the tourist can stay in the territory for 5 days using a transit visa issued directly at the airport. Often this time is quite enough, since transfers occur within a maximum of 72 hours.

To visit Kazakhstan, it is not necessary to apply for a visa several months in advance. If you are planning a short trip, you can go with only a domestic Russian passport. This will allow you to travel or visit family at any free time. But there are cases when a visa is required: training, employment in Kazakhstan, long-term residence.

There are generally no problems when crossing the Russian-Kazakh border. This can be done at any checkpoint. If a guest of the country travels without a visa using an internal passport and plans to stay in Kazakhstan for no more than a month, he must fill out a special migration card. If you have a foreign passport, filling it out is not required. Those who have a visa, truck drivers representing transport companies, and people who have a residence permit in Kazakhstan do not need to make an entry on the migration card. It is not necessary to have a migration card for those who work on river, air, or sea vessels.

When filling out the card, you must indicate your full name, purpose of visit and time of stay in the country. If minors are traveling with the passenger, their information must be indicated. If the purpose of the visit is to perform work, then the relevant data must be indicated on the form. Let us remind you that Russian citizens do not require a work permit in Kazakhstan.

You should not exceed the applicant’s permitted stay in the country. This could result in future fines, deportation, or a ban on visiting.

Without a visa, a Russian citizen can stay on the territory of Kazakhstan for 90 days a year, 30 of them without registration with the competent authorities, and another 60 after contacting the unit of the Migration Service Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and registering.

Russians wishing to visit Kazakhstan should take into account several situations in which a foreign passport is required:

In case of a business visit that will last more than 3 months.
If you are transiting to another state.
In situations where a tourist has citizenship of another state, and it does not have diplomatic ties with Kazakhstan.

If a minor resident of Russia plans to visit any of the populated areas of Kazakhstan together with adults, he should not be issued a foreign passport (provided that the visa-free stay period is not exceeded).

What documents do parents need to take care of when crossing the Russian-Kazakh border with a child under 14 years old:

Birth certificate (an insert or stamp confirming the child’s Russian citizenship is required).
Permission to travel from the second parent if the minor will travel only with mom or dad. If the child is accompanied by a third party, then permission to cross the border is required from both parents.
If a minor has only one parent, it is mandatory to provide a document indicating the reason for the absence of the other (death, considered missing, etc.).

When crossing the border with children, you will need to cross both the Kazakh and Russian borders. At the Russian border, a stamp is placed indicating that the border has been crossed; at the Kazakh border, it is necessary to fill out a migration card (provided that the territory is crossed by land). The card cannot be filled out by minors (under 16 years of age).

The border crossing stamp is placed on both the adult and children's documents. It will be used to control the time spent in Kazakhstan.

From September 20, 2021, Russia and Kazakhstan resumed flights between their borders. But the number of flights at the moment is only 1 Aeroflot flight per week, arriving in Nur-Sultan. In addition to the Russian Federation, direct flights have been established with Ukraine, Belarus, the UAE - with a total of 11 countries.

Citizens of neighboring countries are eagerly awaiting the opening of land border posts, as land travel remains a priority for many.

Upon arrival in Kazakhstan, as in most other open countries of the world, you must have the result of a PCR test for COVID-19 no older than 72 hours upon arrival at the airport. If this certificate is missing, foreign travelers or business persons will be denied entry into the country. In addition to the analysis, a temperature check and filling out a health questionnaire are required.

If a citizen is a resident of Kazakhstan, then if he does not have the appropriate certificate, he is required to observe a two-week quarantine in a hospital in order to take the test. If the result is positive, then the citizen is immediately transferred to the infectious diseases department of the hospital.

In recent years, the republic has been in demand among foreign tourists. The sights of Kazakhstan attract travelers not only from the CIS, but also from distant countries.

At the moment, hotels, resorts and tourist centers are allowed to operate. Cultural facilities operate in compliance with the necessary measures required during a pandemic.

Catering places accept a limited number of visitors at a time, but are open as usual. Beauty salons work on the same principle.

There is no ban on visiting parks, squares and outdoor attractions; they are open for walks.

Despite the closed borders, transit movement through Kazakh territory is allowed. Russians who flew to Nur-Sultan from permitted countries can go home by car. Transit means entering and leaving a country without delays on its territory for more than 24 hours.

Crossing the border on foot or by road is only permitted in exceptional cases authorized by the government.

Traveling with children

The set of documents for traveling with minors is minimal. Children under 14 years of age travel on a birth certificate with a citizenship supplement or an appropriate stamp. Older minors travel to Kazakhstan using an internal or foreign passport.

If only one parent accompanies a child on a trip, then a consent to leave the Russian Federation with notarization should be prepared from the other. If a third party is responsible for the child during the trip, he must have consent from both parents.

Restrictions on entry and exit from the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan due to the introduction of a state of emergency were explained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nur-Sultan. March 16. KazTAG

— Restrictions on entry and exit from the territory of Kazakhstan due to the declaration of a state of emergency (state of emergency) were clarified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the agency’s correspondent reports.

“In connection with the introduction of a state of emergency in the Republic of Kazakhstan from 08.00 on March 16, 2021, during its validity the following measures will be taken:

1. During the period of emergency, restrictions will be introduced on the entry and exit across the state border of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and foreigners, with the exception of

— citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan who previously traveled to the territory of a foreign state upon their return to the Republic of Kazakhstan;

— citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan traveling abroad for treatment, upon presentation of supporting documents from health care institutions;

10 million at stake 05/21/2021 07:003239

— foreigners who previously entered the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan for their departure from the country;

— personnel of the diplomatic service of the country and foreign states and members of their families, as well as members of delegations of foreign states and international organizations traveling to Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

— members of train and locomotive crews, air and sea crews;

— service personnel of foreign transboundary structures on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and service personnel of Kazakh transboundary structures on the territory of neighboring states;

- foreigners traveling on transit passenger trains who departed and were en route before the introduction of restrictions (until 08.00 March 16, 2021);

Belarus: memories of the future 05/25/2021 07:001336

— foreigners (stateless persons), holders of residence permits on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

- foreigners who are family members of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan (subject to confirmation of the fact of family ties - spouse, their parents and children).

2. Suspend the passage of local residents through crossing points on the Kazakh-Russian state border, operating in accordance with the agreement between the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the government of the Russian Federation on the procedure for crossing the Kazakh-Russian state border by residents of the border territories of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, except for cases of applying for assistance emergency medical assistance to citizens of the parties

", the message says.

Cross-border structures – railways, highways, pipelines, power lines, cables, bridges, dams, locks, water canal structures and other structures crossing the state border, as well as facilities of one of the parties located within the border territory (border zone), on territory of the state of the other party.

Let us recall that at the end of December 2021, an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology was recorded in China, later called COVID-19 (a type of coronavirus). According to the latest data, more than 162 thousand cases have been registered in several countries and more than 6.4 thousand deaths.

It's time for "Dinosaurs" to retire 05/19/2021 09:006583

On January 30, 2021, it became known that Kazakhstan is suspending bus transportation (from January 29), passenger trains (from February 1) and air traffic (from February 3) with China. On February 6, Kazpost suspended postal communications with China. From March 1, Kazakhstan is reducing flights to South Korea and Iran.

According to the latest data, nine cases of coronavirus have been officially confirmed in Kazakhstan (seven in Almaty, two in Nur-Sultan).

On March 15, President Tokayev ordered the introduction of a state of emergency in Kazakhstan from March 16, which came into force on March 16.

Registration

Russians are exempt from registration, provided that the period of residence in the country is less than 30 days. If it is not possible to limit your travel to this period, registration is required.

Registration actions are carried out by the police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence of the foreigner. Registration issues are dealt with by the receiving party, which can be either an individual or a legal entity. These are relatives, friends - in the case of a private trip, or an organization - in the case of a business trip. If a traveler checks into a hotel, the administration handles registration. If a foreigner has his own home in Kazakhstan, he registers himself (documents for real estate will be required).

Required documentation:

Passport and migration card;
Application for registration. For individuals - on a letterhead issued by the police, for legal entities - on the organization’s letterhead.

If the trip lasts more than 6 months, in addition to the specified documents, the following are provided:

One photo measuring 3.5x4.5 cm;
Arrival address sheet with coupon.

The processing time usually takes no more than one business day. Registration is a free procedure.

Penalties

Violation of registration deadlines is punishable by a fine of 10 MCI (about 5,100 rubles). In 2021, the MCI is 2917 tenge. In the event of a repeated violation, this amount increases to 40 MCI, or the foreigner will face arrest for 15 days followed by deportation.

It is worth keeping in mind that in addition to fines, foreigners are often subject to extortion by officials, especially in the southern regions of Kazakhstan. The police or border guards intimidate travelers and threaten to confiscate property and arrest them. This often happens to foreigners who are exempt from registration.

Rules of stay and presence on the territory of Kazakhstan for Russians

According to international law, citizens of other countries located on the territory of a foreign state are obliged to comply with its laws. There are some features that citizens of the Russian Federation should take into account when planning their stay on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Let's look at them in more detail.

There are no customs borders between the two countries. When entering the country, border control is carried out. At the same time, crossing the border of Kazakhstan is possible using various documents proving the identity of the visitor;

birth certificate (for children under 14 years of age);
internal acting Russian;
a valid passport (regardless of age).

In addition to the second point, it should be recalled that the internal passport becomes invalid on the day of the corresponding age - 20 and 45 years - and it will not be possible to cross the border using it. The monthly period stipulated by law for its exchange on the territory of Russia does not play a role for entry/exit to Kazakhstan. In this case, experts advise carrying out the border procedure using a foreign passport.

A valid international passport in Kazakhstan serves as an identity document.

Trip to Kazakhstan by car

On the Russian side, travelers undergo customs and vehicle inspection. The car is also checked at the Kazakh checkpoint. The driver provides:

Internal or foreign passport;
Driver's license;
Vehicle registration certificate;
A power of attorney with notarization if the owner of the car is another person.

A mandatory requirement is to purchase insurance when entering Kazakhstan. Russian compulsory motor liability insurance does not apply in this country, nor does the Green Card , since Kazakhstan is not part of the international insurance system. Kazakh compulsory motor liability insurance can be issued at the border; the cost of car insurance is about 500 rubles; in the absence of it, the fines will be much higher.

The requirements for providing a migration card remain the same. The document is filled out by the driver of the car and all passengers over 16 years of age.

Rules for entry into Kazakhstan for Russians from September 16, 2021 due to coronavirus

The rules for entry into Kazakhstan in 2021 due to the coronavirus have become different.

Basic rules on the mandatory passing of a PCR test confirming the absence of coronavirus to enter Kazakhstan for Russian citizens, which were published on the official page of the Kazakh embassy on VKontakte.

PCR test confirming the absence of coronavirus for entry into Kazakhstan

From September 16, 2021, all Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and other foreigners arriving in Kazakhstan must provide a PCR test confirming the absence of coronavirus, which must be done no later than 5 days before arrival. If you don’t have one, you will need to take the test in Kazakhstan and provide the results within 48 hours after entering the country. This was reported on the official website of the Embassy of Kazakhstan.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will need to fill out a special form; tourists will also have their temperature measured.
Russians do not need a foreign passport; you can fly to Kazakhstan using an internal Russian passport.

When entering Russia, citizens of Kazakhstan must have a PCR test confirming the absence of coronavirus.

Medical insurance

While in Kazakhstan, foreigners can count on free medical care in the event of diseases dangerous to others. These include tuberculosis, ARVI, influenza, malaria, rubella, measles and others. Ambulance and emergency care are provided free of charge, but after the threat to life has been eliminated, all medical activities (for example, treatment in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor), purchasing medications, taking tests, etc. are paid for. For calling a doctor, inpatient and outpatient treatment, you will have to pay according to the current tariffs in Kazakhstan.

To ensure that your carefree holiday is not overshadowed by additional financial expenses, it makes sense to take out a medical policy in advance while in Russia. Insurance will be a guarantee and support in an unforeseen situation. In this case, the insurance company will cover the costs of treatment.

Who doesn't need a visa yet?

Citizens of neighboring countries (including Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia) visit the republic without a visa. The period of stay for CIS citizens, as well as for Russians, in most cases is 90 days. Residents of most European and a number of developed countries also do not need a visa to Kazakhstan.

Citizens of countries that do not have a visa-free regime with Kazakhstan draw up the appropriate documents. A Kazakh visa can be business, investor, tourist, private, for study, for treatment, work, transit. If necessary, you can obtain an entry document both in Kazakhstan (authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs) and in diplomatic missions outside its borders.