Kazakhstan Visit Visa - Definitive Guide

Officially known as the private visit B10 visa, this endorsement lets individuals enter the country for private reasons such as visiting family members living in Kazakhstan, attending a funeral, accompanying family, etc. The Kazakhstan visit visa for Indians is issued as a single-entry for a duration of 30 days or as a multiple-entry valid for 90 days with a maximum stay duration of 30 days per entry. 

The application for the Kazakhstan visit visa from India must be made offline. Before starting the application, ensure that you are eligible to travel to the country on a private visit visa. After that, you can proceed to make the application as follows - 

1. Acquire all the documents as per the requirements.
2. Download the visa application form from the website of the Kazakh embassy. 
3. Take a print out of it and fill in the with all the relevant details.  Ensure that you write it clearly and in block letters. Providing false or incomplete 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 for the visit visa, visit the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in India in person and submit the application.

In order to apply for the visit visa, you must meet the following eligibility criteria - 

• You must be a resident of India if you are applying from India. If you are residing in a residence permit in a foreign nation, you may apply it to the concerning authority over there. 
• You must possess a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel, as well as submit any old passports.
• Your primary purpose of the visit must be to visit your family. 
• You will need to possess an invitation letter approved by the ministry of internal affairs in Kazakhstan.
• You will need to prove the relationship between you and the family member you are visiting. 

As per the Kazakhstan visit visa requirements, the following are the documents required for a visit visa application - 

 A passport with a minimum of 2 blank pages and valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel. 

• 1 photo as per the photo specifications. 
• A completed and signed visa application form.
• Invitation letter approved by the ministry of internal affairs of Kazakhstan. 
• The national ID card of the applicant. 
• Receipt of payment of the fees.
• Proof of relationship such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.

The following are the Kazakhstan visit visa photo requirements - 

• 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 visit permit depends on the number of entries, the volume of applications at the embassy, as well as on the authenticity of the supporting documents. 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 application process depends mainly on the number of entries. It can also vary slightly depending on the foreign exchange rates as the fees as per the embassy is mentioned in USD. Apart from this, there may be additional services charges while you are applying through a travel agency. As a result, you must check the exact amount before starting the application.

Once you have submitted your visit visa application, the embassy will begin processing it. During this short period, you will not be able to modify or withdraw your application. As a result, ensure that you fill in the application with great care. Once the visa has been processed, you can collect your passport from the embassy directly during the allocated hours (11:30 am to 01:00 pm) on the embassy working days.

Since the visitor visa application process is done offline, there is no online method to track it. However, you may contact the embassy via email to know the status. You can also contact your travel agency to have them check the status for you.

Once you have received your visit visa for Kazakhstan, you must keep in mind a few points as it is essential in order to ensure that you do not face any difficulties during your journey.

Before you travel - 

• Note the visa expiry date and the number of entries mentioned on the visa sticker. You must not stay in the country beyond this period. If you are planning on staying longer, you must apply for the Family Reunion visa instead. 
• Carry all your travel documents before travelling. 

At the border

• The visa alone does not guarantee you entry into the country. The entry is dependent on the decision of the border control officers in Kazakhstan.
• You may have to show a copy of supporting documents you have submitted during your visa application, at the border control. 

In Kazakhstan

• While on a visitor permit, you cannot take part in any work. However, you are free to take part in tourism.
• You cannot extend the visa in normal circumstances.
• You must strictly abide by the rules and regulations in the country, as well as respect their culture and traditions.