During the trial period from 1 November 2026 to 30 June 2027, obtaining the permit is advisory, and traveling without it does not constitute grounds for denial of entry. The permit becomes mandatory on 1 July 2027 (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 6, Adilet; message of the Kazakh Embassy in Oman, 24 October 2026). There is no official statement yet on whether this requirement applies to Chinese citizens.
Who Needs to Obtain a Kazakhstan Electronic Entry Permit?
On 10 October 2026, the Government of Kazakhstan adopted Resolution No. 890, which sets out how the electronic entry permit is issued (resolution text: adilet.zan.kz; message of the Kazakh Embassy in Oman, 24 October 2026).
Paragraph 6 of the resolution covers citizens of the countries listed in paragraph 24 of the Rules, citizens of Eurasian Economic Union member states (including Russia), and citizens of countries that have visa-free travel treaties with Kazakhstan (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 6). The Kazakh Embassy in Oman names foreign nationals entering visa-free, including citizens of Belarus (24 October 2026). The Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan states that the procedure applies to citizens of EAEU states (15 October 2026).
Do Chinese Citizens Need to Apply, and What Is the Official Position?
There is no official statement yet.
As of 3 November 2026, the people covered by paragraph 6 of the resolution include citizens of countries with visa-free travel treaties with Kazakhstan; the text does not name China (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 6, Adilet). Whether Chinese citizens are covered, and how the China–Kazakhstan visa-free arrangement fits with the new procedure, has not been addressed in any specific statement by the competent Kazakh authorities or by Chinese diplomatic missions in Kazakhstan. This article draws no conclusion and will be updated when official guidance appears.
What Is the Phased Rollout Schedule, Which Checkpoints Are Included, and What Happens Without a Permit?
| Date | Checkpoint / Airport | Consequence of Not Having a Permit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November 2026 | Aktau International Airport (Международный аэропорт Актау); road checkpoints: Urlyutobe (Урлютобе, Pavlodar Region), Aukhatty (Аухатты, Zhambyl Region), Atameken (Атамекен, Turkistan Region), Nurly Zhol (Нурлы Жол, Zhetysu Region) | Trial rollout; obtaining the permit is advisory |
| 1 January 2027 | Astana and Almaty International Airports (Международные аэропорты Астаны и Алматы) | Trial rollout; obtaining the permit is advisory |
| 1 March 2027 | All remaining checkpoints | Trial rollout; obtaining the permit is advisory |
| From 1 July 2027 | All applicable checkpoints | Mandatory; lack of a permit will serve as grounds for denial of entry |
Source: dates and checkpoint list — paragraph 6 of the resolution and the message of the Kazakh Embassy in Oman (24 October 2026); consequences once the permit is mandatory — paragraph 6 of the resolution and the message of the Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan (15 October 2026). During the trial period, paragraph 6 provides that entry is not refused on this ground and travelers are told they need to apply.
Which Checkpoints Are in the Initial Batch for Land Travel from China?
The initial batch includes four road checkpoints, with Nurly Zhol (Нурлы Жол) located in the Zhetysu Region (message of the Kazakh Embassy in Oman, 24 October 2026). The official notifications do not specify country-by-country implementation rules for individual checkpoints. Chinese citizens crossing through these checkpoints should follow on-site instructions at the border and official announcements from Kazakh authorities.
How Do You Apply for the Permit, What Are the Deadlines, and How Long Is It Valid?
- Portal: applications are submitted through the digital platform (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 8). The Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan says the application is filed on the qazeta.kz platform (15 October 2026). The Kazakh Embassy in Oman lists the official website https://qazeta.kz/ru/eta and the QazETA mobile app on the App Store and Google Play (24 October 2026). The Visa and Migration Portal (vmp.gov.kz) also shows the QazETA app; "Electronic Visa Application" and "Entry Authorization Application (ETA)" are two separate services.
- Submission deadline: at least 72 hours before the planned date of entry (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 8).
- Fee: free of charge; the fee is zero tenge (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 13; the Kazakh Embassy in Oman says "free of charge", 24 October 2026).
- Validity: 180 calendar days (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 9).
- Duration of stay: does not change the existing permitted stay (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 9; message of the Kazakh Embassy in Oman, 24 October 2026).
- Passport: at the border you present the same passport or identity document that was used for the application (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 10).
Who Is Exempt from Obtaining the Permit?
Paragraph 7 of the resolution lists 29 exempt categories; exemption applies when supporting documents are available (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 7; message of the Kazakh Embassy in Oman, section 4, 24 October 2026). The categories most relevant to businesses and business travel are below; the full list is in the resolution text.
| Exempt category | Condition | Basis (resolution, paragraph 7) |
|---|---|---|
| People under 16 | — | item 8 |
| People aged 65 and older | — | item 9 |
| Transit passengers in international airport transit zones | do not cross the state border | item 10 |
| Foreign citizens and stateless persons with a valid Kazakh visa | — | item 11 |
| Foreign citizens with a temporary residence permit (РВП) | — | item 12 |
| Foreign citizens with a residence permit (ВНЖ) | — | item 13 |
| Aircraft crew members | listed in the general declaration (flight assignment) | item 16 |
| Sea and river vessel crew members | listed in the crew list or an extract from it | item 17 |
| Train, refrigerated-unit and locomotive crews | per the formation sheet for each trip | item 18 |
| Drivers of trucks in international freight transport | permitted gross weight with trailer above 6 tonnes, or permitted payload with trailer above 3.5 tonnes; including transit | item 28 |
| Drivers of buses in international passenger transport | more than 12 seats, not counting the driver's seat; including transit | item 28 |
Rules related to this news
When Can an Electronic Entry Permit Be Refused or Revoked?
Holding an electronic entry permit does not rule out a refusal of entry under Article 48 of the Law on Population Migration (original title «О миграции населения») (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 10). A permit is refused on the same Article 48 grounds (paragraph 12).
A permit is revoked in four cases: on Article 48 grounds; when a decision is made to shorten the temporary stay; when administrative expulsion is ordered; or when the permit was issued in breach of the established procedure (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 11). The notice of refusal or revocation is sent to the applicant through the digital platform (paragraph 12).
How Can Businesses and Employers Prepare Now?
- Add a step to corporate travel workflows: verify the latest official announcements before travel and submit applications well within the required deadline.
- Ensure that the passport used for the application is identical to the passport presented at the border checkpoint.
- Check fleets and accompanying staff separately: drivers in international freight transport are exempt if the vehicle meets the weight conditions, and aircraft, vessel and train crews are also exempt, in each case with supporting documents (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 7, items 16–18 and 28). Item 28 mentions drivers only; for other people travelling with the vehicle, check the resolution text and new Kazakh notices.
- Use only the official website qazeta.kz and the official app; avoid third-party intermediary websites.
Related reading: Phased Rollout Schedule Under Resolution No. 890; Legal Background of the Pilot Phase; Business Visa Services; Visa Services for Long-Term Relocated Employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
### Will Travelers Be Denied Entry for Not Having a Permit During the Trial Period?
Not those the procedure covers. Paragraph 6 of the resolution provides that, during the phase-in, entry is not refused and travelers are told they need to apply; the trial period runs to 30 June 2027 (message of the Kazakh Embassy in Oman, 24 October 2026). There is no official statement yet on whether Chinese citizens are covered.
### Is the Electronic Entry Permit a Visa, and Can It Extend a Stay?
No. It is not a visa and does not extend a stay. The official portal lists electronic visa applications and entry permit applications as separate services, and paragraph 9 of the resolution and the Kazakh Embassy in Oman (24 October 2026) confirm that permitted stay periods do not change.
### Does the Application Cost Money?
No. The fee is zero tenge (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 13).
### Do Truck Drivers Need to Apply?
Not if they meet the conditions. Item 28 of paragraph 7 exempts drivers of trucks in international freight transport when the permitted gross weight with trailer is above 6 tonnes or the permitted payload with trailer is above 3.5 tonnes, including in transit, with supporting documents. Drivers of buses with more than 12 seats in international passenger transport are exempt in the same way (Resolution No. 890, paragraph 7; message of the Kazakh Embassy in Oman, section 4, 24 October 2026). If the conditions are not met, check the resolution text and new Kazakh notices.
### Where Can Travelers Check Their Permit Status?
The official documents do not name a separate status-check page. Paragraph 12 of the resolution says only that the notice of refusal or revocation reaches the applicant through the digital platform.
Sources
- Resolution No. 890 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 10 October 2026 (Adilet): https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/P2600000890
- Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Oman, "On the Electronic Entry Permit" (memleket.kz, 24 October 2026): https://memleket.kz/ru/news/125892-ob-elektronnom-razresenii-na-vieezd-v-respubliku-kazaxstan
- Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan (15 October 2026): https://kazakhstan.mid.ru/ru/press-centre/news/ob_elektronnom_razreshenii_na_vezd_v_respubliku_kazakhstan/
- QazETA official platform: https://qazeta.kz/ru/eta
- Visa and Migration Portal of the Republic of Kazakhstan: https://vmp.gov.kz/old
Update Log
Last checked: 3 November 2026. This page will be updated when new official announcements are issued.
Illustration: AI-generated, not a real photograph. For illustration only; does not depict the actual location.
Cover image generated by AI.