Starting August 25, Kazakhstan has enacted a new version of the law "On Migration of Population," which introduces a fee for foreign citizens entering the country. The cost of the QazETA entry permit will be approximately 3,900 tenge when obtained online and 7,600 tenge when paid at the border, according to infohub.kz.
The new measure will affect all foreigners, including citizens of EAEU countries. It is noted that the permits will be introduced gradually from August to December 2026. Meanwhile, Serbia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already warned its citizens about the need to pay: about 8 euros (3,900 tenge) when submitting an electronic application no later than 72 hours before arrival, and 16 euros (7,600 tenge) when paying directly at the border.
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs has not yet specified which countries' citizens will be required to obtain the permit, nor its final cost. It is expected that the measure will be phased in. From August 25 to November 1, the system will operate in a test mode, and the absence of QazETA will not be grounds for denying entry.
From November 1, the permit will become mandatory for entry through airports: passengers without it will not be allowed on flights to Kazakhstan. From November 15, the requirement will extend to automobile checkpoints on external land borders of the EAEU, including borders with China and Turkmenistan.
From December 30, the restriction will affect internal land borders with EAEU countries—Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan—as well as railway transport and ports. The permit will be valid for 180 days, during which the holder can stay in Kazakhstan for no more than 90 days.