Kazakhstanis are increasingly facing entry denials to Malaysia. The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhanbolat Ussenov, spoke about the reasons, reports the website infohub.kz.
According to Zhanbolat Ussenov, the increased cases of entry denials for Kazakh citizens to Malaysia are related to non-compliance with the visa-free regime conditions. He reminded that Kazakhstanis can stay in Malaysia without a visa for up to 30 days for tourist purposes.
“However, some citizens violate the conditions of this regime by entering the country for a longer period or for other purposes, including short-term study courses or medical treatment,” said the official representative of the MFA RK.
He added that to circumvent the 30-day limit, the so-called “visa run” is practiced — a short trip to a neighboring state followed by an immediate return to Malaysia to renew the 30-day period.
“We draw attention to the fact that this method of extending the stay in the country is a violation of the immigration legislation and does not guarantee re-entry. This year, Malaysian authorities have strengthened border control. The decision to admit a foreign citizen is made by Malaysian immigration authorities directly during passport control. When attempting a 'visa run', a citizen may be detained and placed in an immigration detention center at the airport, followed by deportation from Malaysia,” warned Ussenov.
The MFA RK urges citizens to strictly comply with the established terms and conditions of visa-free stay, to clarify immigration requirements in advance, and to consider the purpose of the trip.
“When undergoing immigration control, it is necessary to state the true purpose of the trip and to have pre-purchased airline tickets for onward departure within the legal stay period, as well as documents confirming the purpose, place, and intended period of stay,” added the representative of the ministry.
Zhanbolat Ussenov noted that special attention should be paid to citizens traveling abroad with children for language and other educational programs, which may require appropriate permits.