Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2009, this list was expanded to include oth-
er European and Asian countries (mostly OECD member states) and today
it includes 47 countries.
8
At the same time, the registration procedure for
28 selected countries was simplified. This had been a further unpleasant
(and in the view of developed countries unnecessary) barrier to access and
their citizens' ability to stay in Kazakhstan (see further). But for the time
being, Kazakhstan has taken no steps toward further simplification of its
visa policy for selected countries. Although a short-term visa may be ac-
quired today for a single access at the airport, an invitation is still required,
which means the visa policy has still not been simplified very much. In the
future, however, Kazakhstan intends to completely do away with short-
term visas for citizens of the most developed (OECD) countries.
9
But, so
far this trial has not been implemented into the practice.
Noteworthy and progressive for Central Asia is the agreement between
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for mutual recognition of visas within border
areas. In practice, this means that holders of a Kazakh visa may stay in
northern Kyrgyzstan and vice versa. This is complicated though by the
fact that an exit stamp was issued at the border, for single-entry visas,
which means the tourists cannot return to the country.
10
In spite of the fact
that the treaty has the inadequacies noted, overall it may be seen as a high-
ly positive step, which may strengthen tourism in border areas (a tourist
with a Kazakh visa may thus visit Bishkek, Issyk-Kul and other attractive
locations for tourists in Kyrgyzstan within the period of the visa's valid-
ity without further bureaucratic obstructions). However, introducing the
visa-free regime for developed countries in Kyrgyzstan, the rule became
useless as tourists need the visas for Kazakhstan anyway unless they have
Kyrgyz ones in their passports.
Tajikistan is in a similar situation to that of Kazakhstan. Since 2006,
the country has simplified its visa policy for approximately 67 countries,
for which it has become possible to issue a single-entry or double-entry
visa after arriving at the Dushanbe Airport. For a long period, the problem
8
A document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
9
Kazakhstanlive.com, July 19, 2011; Pavlovskaya, Olga: Kazakhstan courts tourists with visa-free
regime. Central Asia Online. July 11, 2012.
10
Author's experience, 2010. My single-entry Kazakh visa was marked as invalid for Kazakhstan at
the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border. I was let into Kyrgyzstan without problem (the visa was still valid)
but upon returning to Kazakhstan, I was forced to arrange a new visa.
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