Kazakhstan Student Visa - Definitive Guide

To be able to pursue an education in the country, there are certain formalities that are to be fulfilled and one of them is obtaining a student visa to Kazakhstan. The holder of this permit is allowed to pursue the required education in the country and is also allowed to tour the country. This visa is a kind of temporary residence permit that is issued by the Kazakh Government.

It is also essential to note that having a visa does not guarantee you an entry into the country. If the officials find an issue with your permit or yourself, there are chances that you will be asked to return to your native country.

The process of application of a student visa to Kazakhstan is mainly offline. However, it is important to ensure that you are an eligible candidate for obtaining the visa. This can be done by going through the eligibility criteria that had been put forth by the Embassy. The process of Kazakhstan student visa application is given as follows:

1. You can start by downloading the visa application form from the Kazakh Embassy website.
2. Print the application form and fill it by hand in block letters.
3. Collect all the documents that are required to get a student visa to Kazakhstan.
4. Pay the required fee for the processing of your visa application.
5. Once you have paid the fees, submit the Kazakhstan student visa application form and all the needed documents.

A Kazakhstan student permit is a long term permit and the processes involved in obtaining one are quite complicated. It is also important to make sure that the application form is filled properly and the information provided matched with the details in the passport and other travel documents that are provided. If any of the information is found to be false or untraceable, there are chances that the application may get rejected. A visa rejection can affect your future applications for getting a student visa to Kazakhstan or for any other country.

To be able to apply for a Kazakhstan student permit, it is essential to first make sure that you are an eligible candidate for obtaining the same. Given below are a few criteria that are to be fulfilled at the time of obtaining a student visa to Kazakhstan:

• You must have confirmed admission in Kazakhstan
1. You must have applied to the institution or the university you are looking forward to acquiring the course.
2. Your admission must be confirmed and you must have the necessary documentary proof of the same.
3. Other valid documents, educational and others should be made available.
4. The educational documents must be verifiable.
5. You should have proof of your previous highest education degree.

• You must meet the health requirements
1. You must be healthy enough to travel to Kazakhstan.
2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide relevant documentary proof.

• You must meet the character requirements
1. You must be visiting with education as your primary purpose.
2. You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind studying in Kazakhstan.
3. You need to provide relevant documentary proof for the same as well in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

• You must have sufficient funds
1. You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Kazakhstan.
2. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.
3. If you have a sponsor, evidence of their financial stability must be made available and should be sufficient to support your education.
4. The guarantor documents should also be legitimate and submitted at the time of application.

The list of documents required to obtain a student visa to Kazakhstan is quite long. There may still be some documents that will be asked to submit. The list is as follows:

• A valid passport.
• Visa application form.
• National ID copy.
• Fee payment receipt.
• Travel Insurance.
• Proof of purpose of visit - admission application, etc.
• Proof of confirmation of admission - admission fee receipt, letter of confirmation etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement for the last six months, etc.

• Two copies must be provided
• Dimensions:  35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured 
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be recently captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 70-80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription are permitted
• Headgears are allowed only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The validity of the student permit will depend on the kind of course that you are acquiring. Generally, the visa is initially valid for about 6 months to 1 year, which can later be extended by obtaining approval from the respective institution.

The fees for the issuance of the student visa to Kazakhstan is to be paid before the submission of the documents and the application form. The fee must be deposited in the Embassy respective bank account and the receipt is to be presented to the consular.

The processing time required to obtain a student visa to Kazakhstan is 20 to 30 working days. The workload at the embassy, holidays that may come in between, the officials available for the procedure, are some of the things that can affect the processing time if Kazakhstan student permit.

When the documents have been submitted, there are a few things that you need to note -

• The applicant must be present at the time of document submission personally except when applying for the student permit.
• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application. The visa is fee is non-refundable.
• When the form is submitted along with the fees, the visa will be mailed to you on your registered address or can be collected by yourself from the embassy or the respective Consular section.

In order to check the status of your student visa to Kazakhstan, you can contact the embassy. Else, if you have applied through a visa agency, you can also check the status on their website or by calling them.

After you have received the visa, there are a few things that you need to note. Some of the pointers are as follows:

• Before you travel
1. Note the visa expiry date as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
2. You should travel to Kazakhstan within the validity of your visa.
3. Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
4. Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.

• At the Border
1. Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
2. Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
3. Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
4. Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.

• When you enter Kazakhstan
1. Ensure not to get involved in any kind of activities that are not permitted to a non-Kazakh resident. You may get into trouble otherwise.
2. You can study, work as well as tour the country on this visa.
3. The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
4. Apply for an extension within the validity of the permit.