The short answer: as of October 12, Kazakhstan's QazETA electronic travel authorization is still in a pilot phase. In a September reply to an official query from BES.media, the Interior Ministry said travelers from visa-free countries do not have to apply yet, no fee is charged, and arriving without one is not a reason to be turned away. Border-crossing rules are unchanged. The widely shared timeline of a mandatory ETA "from November 1" comes from a travel advisory published by Serbia's foreign ministry; Kazakhstan has not confirmed those dates. Chinese executives, engineers and international truck drivers entering under the China–Kazakhstan visa waiver can travel as before, but should watch for official notices.
The legal basis is in place. Law No. 326-VIII of June 24, 2026, a broad package on digitalization, personal data and transport, added the concept of an "electronic permit for entry into the Republic of Kazakhstan" to the Law on Migration of the Population. It is an electronic document recording the authorities' decision to let a foreign national or stateless person enter or transit the country. Internal affairs bodies issue it in agreement with the national security body. The law took effect 60 calendar days after its first official publication; EY and Kazakh media put the effective date of these provisions at August 25, the same day the QazETA platform began its pilot.
A fee is written into the law, but no amount has been set. The text leaves the size and procedure of the fee to the government. The ministry said the start date of mandatory use, the list of countries, the application procedure and the fee will be announced later, with advance notice. Figures circulating in the press do not match one another, so we do not repeat them.
The provision that actually changes who gets in is new subparagraph 10-3) of Article 48 of the migration law, which lists grounds for refusing entry. It allows refusal when a foreign national from a country designated by the government arrives without an electronic entry permit. In other words, the scope of the requirement depends on a government list that has not been published. Whether China will be on it cannot be said yet.
The same article gained a second ground that matters more to employers. Under subparagraph 10-2), entry may be refused if the inviting party gave false information in its invitation request or failed to file the required documents on time. Chinese companies that regularly bring engineers or managers to Kazakhstan should treat invitation paperwork as a compliance item, not an admin chore.
How the pilot works. According to Kazakhstan's embassy in Greece, as reported by Kazinform, and to EY's alert, applications go through the QazETA mobile app no later than 72 hours before travel. An approved authorization is expected to be valid for 180 days and allow multiple entries. It is not a visa. It does not change how long a visitor may stay, and border officers still make the final call at the checkpoint.
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Visa-free stay rules for Chinese citizens are unchanged. The China–Kazakhstan mutual visa exemption agreement has been in force since November 10, 2023. It covers private visits, business, tourism, medical treatment, international transport and transit, with stays of up to 30 days per entry and no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. Employment, including selling goods at markets, still requires a visa obtained in advance.
What companies can do now:
1. Plan business trips and driver rotations under current rules rather than around unconfirmed dates.
2. If you have many Chinese staff in Kazakhstan or drivers who cross often, give one person the job of tracking the Interior Ministry, the government's draft-regulation portal and Chinese consular notices.
3. While the pilot lasts, apply once voluntarily to learn the process and see what personal data is requested.
4. Prepare invitation documents for foreign staff carefully and file them on time, so the new refusal ground never comes into play.
This piece relies on the text of the law and on official statements published through September. Once the government approves the mandatory rollout, dates and the list of countries should be checked against the official documents.
Sources:
Adilet legal information system (Law No. 326-VIII), https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z2600000326
Adilet legal information system (Law on Migration of the Population), https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z1100000477
BES.media (Interior Ministry reply to an official query, September 7, 2026), https://bes.media/news/obyazatelnoe-oformlenie-qazeta-v-kazahstane-poka-ne-vveli-mvd/
Kazinform (citing Kazakhstan's embassy in Greece, September 1, 2026), https://qazinform.com/news/kazakhstan-pilots-qazeta-travel-authorization-for-visa-free-visitors-5e1c72
EY Kazakhstan alert (August 2026), https://www.ey.com/en_kz/technical/tax-alerts/2026/08/kazakhstan-electronic-travel-authorization-eta-2026-migration-law-changes
FinMonitor.kz (Interior Ministry statement), https://finmonitor.kz/qazeta-platnyy-vyezd-kazahstan-1-noyabrya/
Consulate General of China in Almaty (visa-free entry guidance), https://almaty.china-consulate.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/lqgk/202507/t20250708_11667427.htm
China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism website (notice on the visa exemption agreement taking effect), https://www.mct.gov.cn/zxbs/cxts/202311/t20231109_949613.htm
The cover is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph, and does not depict the events described.
Key facts
- As of October 12, Kazakhstan's QazETA electronic entry permit remains in the pilot phase.
- In its September response, the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs said that citizens of visa-free countries may currently apply for QazETA voluntarily and free of charge, and that not having a permit does not affect entry.
- Law No. 326-VIII has introduced the concept of an electronic entry permit and stipulates that a fee must be paid for its issuance, with the fee rate to be determined separately by the Government of Kazakhstan.
- Article 48 of Kazakhstan's Law on Population Migration has added new grounds for denial of entry, while the scope of the mandatory requirement depends on the list of countries that the government will announce in the future.
- The China-Kazakhstan Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption entered into force on November 10, 2023. For visa-free business entry, each stay is limited to 30 days, with a cumulative limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.
- If the inviting party provides false information when applying for an invitation for a foreign national or fails to submit the documents by the required deadline, the invited person may be denied entry.
FAQ
Do I need to apply for a QazETA permit for business travel to Kazakhstan at present?
According to the September response from the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs, citizens of visa-free countries may currently apply for the permit voluntarily and free of charge; not having a permit does not affect entry, and the transit rules remain unchanged.
When will QazETA become mandatory?
The Kazakh authorities have not confirmed this. The claim circulating online that QazETA will become mandatory in phases starting November 1 comes from a travel advisory issued by the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the mandatory date, the list of countries covered, and other details will be announced later.
How long can Chinese citizens stay in Kazakhstan without a visa?
The China-Kazakhstan Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption, which entered into force on November 10, 2023, permits visa-free entry for personal matters, business activities, tourism, medical treatment, international transportation, and transit, with each stay limited to 30 days and a cumulative limit of 90 days in any 180-day period; employment and other purposes are not covered by the visa exemption, and a visa must still be obtained in advance.
What new risks are involved in inviting foreign employees to Kazakhstan?
If the inviting party provides false information in its invitation application or fails to submit a complete set of documents within the prescribed period, the invited person may be denied entry.
How do I apply for QazETA, and how long is it valid?
Applications must be submitted through the QazETA mobile app at least 72 hours before travel; an approved permit is expected to have a validity period of 180 days and to permit multiple entries during that period. The permit is not a visa and does not alter the permitted length of stay; whether entry is granted remains subject to the on-site decision of border control officers.