Kazakhstan's ETA will be mandatory from 1 July 2027, and free: phase-in dates airlines and OTAs need
Kazakhstan Resolution 890 phases in a free ETA from 1 Nov 2026 and makes it mandatory on 1 July 2027. Dates, exemptions and what airlines and OTAs should change.
Kazakhstan has set the dates for its electronic entry permit. Government Resolution No. 890 of 10 October 2026 rewrites the country's rules on the entry and stay of foreigners. Visa-exempt visitors will need an ETA, issued free through Kazakhstan's digital platform (qazeta.kz). Border posts will start asking for it on 1 November 2026, but nobody can be refused entry for not having one until 1 July 2027.
This replaces the earlier reported schedule (air passengers from 1 November 2026, then land, rail and sea by December). That schedule was never in an official text.
This note is for airlines and OTAs. It is not legal advice.
The phase-in dates
DateWhereWhat happens without an ETA
1 Nov 2026Aktau international airport; road crossings Urlyutobe (Pavlodar), Aukhatty (Jambyl), Atameken (Turkestan), Nurly Zhol (Zhetysu)Entry allowed. The border officer explains that an ETA is needed
1 Jan 2027Astana and Almaty international airportsEntry allowed, with the same explanation
1 Mar 2027All other border crossingsEntry allowed, with the same explanation
1 Jul 2027EverywhereMandatory. Not having an ETA is grounds for refusing entry
The resolution takes effect ten calendar days after its first official publication (reported for 24 October 2026).
Who needs it
Nationals of the countries on Kazakhstan's visa-free list in point 24 of the rules. They include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, the six Gulf states, Israel, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco and all 27 EU countries. India and Iran (14 days visa-free) and Türkiye (90 days) are also covered by point 24.
Citizens of Eurasian Economic Union countries (Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan).
Nationals of countries with a bilateral visa-free agreement with Kazakhstan.
The rule also covers transit through Kazakh territory. Airside transit without crossing the border is exempt.
Who is exempt
The resolution lists 29 exemptions, each backed by supporting documents. The ones that matter most for leisure and business bookings:
children under 16 and travellers aged 65 or over;
airside transit passengers who do not cross the border;
holders of a valid Kazakh visa, temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit;
refugees recognised in Kazakhstan and asylum seekers;
aircraft crew listed on the general declaration, and ship and train crews;
drivers of heavy goods vehicles and of buses with more than 12 seats on international routes;
heads of state and government, official delegations, accredited diplomats and other listed official visitors;
passengers of aircraft that make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan.
How it works
PointWhat Resolution 890 says
Where to applyKazakhstan's digital platform for foreigners (the Russian Embassy notice names qazeta.kz), with identification or authentication. Issued by the internal affairs bodies in agreement with the national security bodies
WhenAt least 72 hours before the planned date of entry
FeeZero tenge
Validity180 calendar days
StayUnchanged. Point 24 nationals keep 30 days per visit and 90 days in any 180 (India and Iran: 14 days, 42 in 180; Türkiye: 90 days in 180). EAEU citizens: 90 days in any 180
At the borderShow the same passport used to apply. The Border Service checks the ETA in its "Berkut" system
RefusalThe ETA can be refused or cancelled on the grounds in Article 48 of the Migration Law; notice comes through the platform
What airlines and OTAs should do
01
Do not deny boarding for a missing ETA before 1 July 2027. The resolution says entry is not refused until then. Keep "recommended" wording until the mandatory date.
02
Start with Aktau. From 1 November, travellers landing in Aktau or crossing the four listed road posts will be told they need an ETA. Add a pre-trip prompt for those routes first, then Astana and Almaty from 1 January.
03
Build the 72-hour rule into lead times. Last-minute bookings fail first once the ETA is mandatory. Flag bookings made less than three days before departure.
04
Check passports per traveller. The ETA is tied to the passport used to apply. A renewed passport needs a new ETA.
05
Apply the age exemptions. Under-16s and over-65s do not need one. Do not sell them a service they do not need.
06
Show it as free. The government fee is zero. If you charge a service fee for handling it, label it as yours, and steer customers away from look-alike sites that charge for the permit.
07
Watch the official text, not trade calendars. The earlier "air passengers from 1 November" calendar was wrong. Re-check before each phase date.
Dates
10 Oct 2026: Resolution No. 890 adopted.
About 24 Oct 2026: resolution in force (ten days after first official publication).
1 Nov 2026 / 1 Jan 2027 / 1 Mar 2027: soft phases, no refusals.
Coverage alerts send one email per rule change for the destinations you pick, from the partner console. Systems can take the same events as webhooks; the shape is in the developer docs. The live requirement for any passport is always in the requirements checker.
Loris Mazloum founded SimpleVisa and writes the coverage notes on this blog for airlines, OTAs, and other travel companies. Each note is checked against the government source named at the bottom before it publishes. SimpleVisa keeps requirement data for 190+ destinations and files applications where a government channel exists.
