PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Kazakhstan

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans need to apply for a visa before travel to Kazakhstan.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    E-visa covers tourist (117 eligible countries incl. South Africa), business and medical treatment.

  • Passport validity

    At least 6 months with two blank pages (GSA).

  • How to apply

    E-visa via the Visa and Migration Portal www.vmp.gov.kz, only with a valid invitation from the Kazakh side considered by Ministry of Internal Affairs migration units; e-visa holders may enter/exit only via Astana or Almaty international airports. Alternatively paper visa at the Embassy: GSA cites ~5 working days, USD 60-90 tourist fee, hotel reservation approved by Kazakh immigration. Consular fees non-refundable.

  • Where South Africans apply

    Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Pretoria (mission exists; its gov.kz visa page redirected/timeout, not opened).

  • Accommodation or invitation

    Invitation from Kazakh host required for e-visa; hotel reservation approved by immigration for Embassy visa.

  • Arrival forms

    Migration card issued on arrival; keep it during stay.

  • Extending your stay and overstaying

    Foreigners must register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs migration office within 72 hours of arrival (or via hotel), or face fines (GSA). Note hotels usually register guests.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Astana International Financial Centre (state body), e-visa notice (Official, aifc.kz) https://aifc.kz/news/information-about-e-visa-of-the-republic-of-kazakhstan/
  2. 2. Kazakh Tourism (national tourism company) (Official, kazakh.travel) https://www.kazakh.travel/en/entry-rules
  3. 3. MFA Kazakhstan visa regime table (as reproduced by IFLA 2025 congress) (Reference, 2025.ifla.org) https://2025.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/VisaCountryOverview_Kazakhstan.pdf
  4. 4. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Kazakhstan
  5. 5. The GSA (SA travel visa agency), updated 2025-10-22 (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2688-kazakhstan-country-guide

From doineedavisa.co.za/kazakhstan. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.