Kazakhstan Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

The Kazakhstan visa is an endorsement that lets people visit the country for a wide variety of reasons. They can be issued as single-entry or even multiple-entry depending on the requirements. Although a number of countries have a visa-free arrangement with Kazakhstan, India is not among them. As a result, a Kazakhstan visa for Indian citizens is mandatory to enter the country.

The application for the Kazakhstan visa for Indians is made offline. The ministry may implement a Kazakhstan visa on arrival for Indian passport holders in the future. Before starting the application, ensure that you are eligible for the particular category. After that, you can proceed to make the application as follows - 

1. Acquire all the documents as per the Kazakhstan visa requirements for Indian citizens. Note that each category has specific documents that you will need to provide.
2. Download the Kazakhstan visa application form from the website of the Kazakh embassy. Note that there is no Kazakhstan online visa application form as of 2019. 
3. Take a print out of it and fill in the Kazakhstan visa form with all the relevant details.  Ensure that you write it clearly and in block letters. Providing wrong or incorrect information can lead to visa rejection. 
4. Proceed to deposit the application fee at the registered bank account of the embassy of Kazakhstan. 
5. With the fee receipt, complete application form and the documents, visit the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in India and submit the application. 

Note:- You must visit the embassy in person unless you are applying for service/diplomatic visas.

Based on the purpose of the stay and the duration permitted, the Kazakhstan permits can be classified into a number of types. The following section lists out the most common types - 

• Short term visit -  These are the permits issued for a short term stay duration. Based on the purpose of the visit, these can further be classified into the following - 

• Business (B1, B2, B3) - These are issued for people travelling to the country for the purpose of engaging in business-related activities. 
• Religious event (B6) - This is issued for individuals travelling to attend religious events. 
•  Internship (B7) - These are issued for the purpose of taking par tin internship in the country. 
• Private visit (B10) - This is granted if you are visiting the country for private reasons, mostly related to family or friends. 
• Tourist (B12) - This common category is issued for visits that are tourism based. 
• Transit (B13) - This is issued in cases where the traveller has to transit through a Kazakhstani airport. 

• Long term visit - These visas are issued where the applicant is travelling to stay for a long duration. Based on the purpose, these can be classified as - 

• Family reunification (C2) - This is issued where the visitor is looking to stay with their family members living in the country.
• Work visa (C3, C4, C5, C6) - These are issued for people planning to do different categories of work in the country. 
• Missionary (C7) - This is issued for travelling as a part of missionary activity. 
• Study (C9) - This is granted for students entering to take part in academic courses.

Based on the Kazakhstan visa application requirements, you must submit certain documents along with your application. The individual visa categories will have their own list of documents, However, the general set of documents required are as follows - 

• A passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel. 
• 1 photo as per the specifications. 
• A completed application form.
• Invitation letter approved by the ministry of internal affairs of Kazakhstan. 
• National ID copy.
• Fee payment receipt.

• 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 time taken to process the permit depends on the exact category of the visa, the number of entries, the volume of applications at the embassy, as well as on your application. Normally, they are processed within 5 working days. However, in certain cases, this may take longer. As a result, ensure that you apply well in advance.

The fees for the process depends on the exact type of the visa as well as the number of entries. It can also vary slightly depending on the foreign exchange rates. Apart from this, there may be additional services charges if you are applying through a travel agency. As a result, check the exact amount before starting the application.

Due to the process being offline, there is no method to track it online. However, you can contact the embassy via email to know the status. You may also contact your travel agency to have them track it for you.

The Kazakhstan permits are issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in New Delhi. As a result, the application also has to be made to them. You can either apply directly or through a reputed visa agency. 

While submitting the application, ensure that you submit it during the allocated hours for it (09:30 am to11:30 am) on any working day (except Wednesdays and Kazakhstan public holidays). Once it has been approved, you can pick up the application between the respective hours (11:30 am to 01:00 pm).