Commodities
Home›Commodities›Energy›Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan tighten rules for foreign vi…
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan tighten rules for foreign visitors amid Russian rumors
Kyrgyzstan’s decree calls for a tracking system tied to length-of-stay rules, while Kazakhstan is rolling out a digital entry permit that costs about 3,900 tenge, roughly $8.5.
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are introducing new procedures for foreign visitors, with some local observers linking the changes to a possible renewed influx of Russians amid rumors of a Kremlin general military mobilization, OilPrice reports.
In Kyrgyzstan, a government decree outlines plans to implement a tracking system to help ensure foreigners comply with migration rules. Those who violate length-of-stay requirements would be barred from returning for a set period, based on the number of days a citizen of a given country can stay visa-free.
Russians can currently travel to Kyrgyzstan for up to 90 days in a 180-day period without a visa. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, is introducing a visitor fee and a digital system, after testing it began in late August.
Under the planned approach, would-be visitors need a permit costing about 3,900 tenge, about $8.5, to enter. The system is expected to roll out in phases through November and early December, covering entries by air, land, rail, and sea, with Kazakhstan saying the permit framework is not a de facto visa regime, though a 72-hour advance application requirement could give authorities time to review and potentially deny permits.