Kazakhstan visa-free for Indians: the 14-day rule and the new QazETA

Rule as of 29 October 2026 · Sources: Embassy of India, Astana: visa-free travel for Indians, Kazakh Tourism: documents for tourists, U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan: QazETA, QazETA portal, Zakon.kz on the Government Decree of 10 October 2026, Government of Kazakhstan on foreigner registration, Air Astana Delhi to Almaty fares

Indian citizens can visit Kazakhstan without a visa for up to 14 days per trip, with a cap of 42 days in any 180 days. The new part is QazETA, a free electronic entry permit that Kazakhstan starts checking at some borders from 1 November 2026 and makes compulsory on 1 July 2027.

The visa-free rule comes from Government Decree No. 464 of 7 July 2022, and the Embassy of India in Astana still lists it. QazETA comes from Government Decree No. 890 of 10 October 2026, which came into force on 24 October 2026. Indian citizens are on the list of nationalities that need it. Below is what each rule means for a short Almaty trip, and what to do before you fly.

The 14-day visa-free rule

• You can stay up to 14 days in a row on each visit.
• Your total visa-free time cannot go above 42 days within any 180-day period.
• There is no visa form, no visa fee and no visa sticker. You show your passport at immigration.
• If your plan is longer than 14 days, you need a visa arranged before you travel. Tell us your dates and we check the current route for your case.

When we plan a trip we count the arrival day and the departure day as days in the country. A 5-night Almaty trip uses 6 of your 14 days, which leaves room to add a few days somewhere else in Kazakhstan.

Do you need to register after you arrive?

Not for a 14-day trip. Kazakh Tourism's documents page says compulsory registration for foreigners staying up to 30 days was cancelled. Your host still has to notify the migration authorities within three working days of your border crossing. The Government of Kazakhstan says this notice goes through its E-Qonaq system, and the duty sits with the receiving party, which means the hotel for a hotel stay.

If you book a private flat online, ask the host in writing to confirm they have filed the arrival notice for you.

What QazETA is

QazETA is an electronic entry authorisation for people who enter Kazakhstan without a visa. It is not a visa, and it does not change the 14-day rule.

• Fee: zero. The decree sets the processing fee at zero tenge. If a website asks you to pay, you are not on the official portal.
• Apply at least 72 hours before you enter Kazakhstan.
• It is valid for 180 days from the date of issue and covers multiple entries.
• It does not add days to your stay. The 14 days per visit and 42 days in 180 limits stay the same.
• It does not guarantee entry. Border officers can still refuse entry on legal grounds.
• The official portal is qazeta.kz. The U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan sends travellers to the same portal.

Some travellers do not need it: children under 16, adults aged 65 and over, holders of a valid Kazakh visa or residence permit, diplomatic and service passport holders, and transit passengers who stay airside and do not cross the border.

When QazETA starts, by entry point

• 1 November 2026: Aktau International Airport and four road crossings: Urlyutobe (Pavlodar region), Aukhatty (Zhambyl region), Atameken (Turkistan region) and Nurly Zhol (Zhetisu region).
• 1 January 2027: Almaty and Astana international airports.
• 1 March 2027: every other border crossing.
• 1 July 2027: compulsory everywhere. Without QazETA you can be refused entry.

Until 1 July 2027, a missing QazETA is not a reason to refuse you. At the entry points already in the scheme, officers explain the requirement and tell you to get one. If you fly from Delhi into Almaty, you meet the check from 1 January 2027.

We suggest applying for any trip from now on, even before your airport is in the scheme. It is free, one approval lasts six months, and it removes a question at the immigration desk.

How to apply for QazETA

• Step 1: Open qazeta.kz. Avoid look-alike sites that charge a fee.
• Step 2: Create an account and complete the identity check the portal asks for.
• Step 3: Enter your passport details exactly as they are printed in your passport, and your trip details.
• Step 4: Submit at least 72 hours before you land. A week before is safer if you are travelling over a weekend or a holiday.
• Step 5: Save the approval as a PDF on your phone and carry one printed copy.

Each traveller needs their own QazETA, except the exempt groups listed above. For a family with a child under 16, the child travels on their passport without one.

A 5-day Almaty trip from Delhi: the cost lines

• Visa: ₹0.
• QazETA: ₹0.
• Flights: Air Astana flies Delhi to Almaty. On 29 October 2026 its fare page showed return fares from ₹40,054 for November 2026 dates. That figure comes from searches cached in the previous 48 hours, so it changes daily.
• Hotels, airport transfers, day trips and meals: these depend on your dates, hotel grade and group size, so we quote them for your trip rather than publish an average.

What 5 days in Almaty can look like

• Day 1: Arrive, check in, then an evening walk through Panfilov Park and past Zenkov Cathedral.
• Day 2: Medeu and Shymbulak by road and cable car. In winter Shymbulak runs as a ski resort, so check if you want to ski or only ride up for the view.
• Day 3: Green Bazaar in the morning, Kok-Tobe hill by cable car in the afternoon.
• Day 4: Charyn Canyon as a full-day trip with a driver. Leave early; it is a long road day.
• Day 5: Free morning, then the airport.

That plan uses 5 of your 14 visa-free days and needs no visa at all.

Combining Kazakhstan with another country

Kazakhstan sits close to other places Indians can now visit without a visa, so a two-country trip is easy to build. Our post on Uzbekistan's visa-free rule for Indians covers the Tashkent side. If you prefer the Caucasus, read Baku vs Tbilisi for a first trip, or look at our Georgia 5-night package.

For every other country Indian passport holders can enter without a visa, see our visa-free countries for Indians page and the dated 2026 visa-free list. If this is your first trip abroad, go through the first international trip checklist before you book.

Send us your dates, departure city and group size on WhatsApp at +91 97199 96838 (Mon to Sat, 10am to 8pm). We reply the same working day with flights, hotels and day trips for Almaty, and we check the QazETA status for your entry point before you pay.

FAQ

Do Indians need a visa for Kazakhstan?

No, not for stays of up to 14 days per visit, within a limit of 42 days in any 180 days. For a longer stay you need a visa arranged before you travel.

Is QazETA required for Indians right now?

It is being phased in. From 1 January 2027 it is checked at Almaty and Astana airports, and from 1 July 2027 you can be refused entry without it. Before that date a missing QazETA is not a reason for refusal, but it is free, so get it for any trip you book now.

How much does QazETA cost?

Nothing. The decree sets the fee at zero tenge. If a website asks you to pay, you are not on the official portal.

Can I visit Kazakhstan twice in six months?

Yes, if each visit is 14 days or less and your total stays within 42 days in any 180 days. One QazETA covers multiple entries for 180 days from the date of issue.