Kazakhstan introduces electronic entry permit for Ukrainians from November 1

One of the countries introduces an electronic entry permit for Ukrainians

According to Radiotrek — Світ: As of November 1, 2026, Kazakhstan will implement a mandatory electronic entry permit for foreigners, which also applies to Ukrainian citizens. The visa-free regime for Ukrainians will be complemented by prior online authorization, which can be processed on the state digital platform QazETA.

Procedure for implementing the electronic permit

The procedure for implementing the electronic permit will take place in stages. From January 1, 2026, the QazETA platform, which stands for Kazakhstan Electronic Travel Authorisation, will operate in test mode. Foreigners will already be able to download the QazETA application on their smartphones and obtain the electronic permit. It is important to note that until November 1, 2026, the absence of an electronic permit will not be grounds for refusing entry to Kazakhstan.

• From November 1, 2026, mandatory verification of the electronic permit will begin for those arriving on international flights.
• From November 15, 2026, the border service will check the permit of foreigners entering by car from outside the EAEU countries.
• From November 30, 2026, the requirement will cover all border car checkpoints of Kazakhstan.
• From December 15, 2026, changes will affect rail and sea transport.

The entry application must be submitted no later than 72 hours before the trip. The obtained electronic permit will be valid for 180 days and can be used for multiple trips. However, the electronic authorization is not a visa and does not guarantee automatic border crossing, as the final decision on entry is made by the border service of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan. Permits must also be obtained by citizens of other countries planning to visit Kazakhstan.

The introduction of the electronic entry permit for Ukrainians in Kazakhstan is an important step towards modernizing border control and simplifying procedures for travelers. The emergence of the online platform QazETA will reduce queues at borders and simplify the process of obtaining entry permits. These changes also highlight a general trend in many countries towards the digitalization of administrative procedures, which may positively impact tourist flows and international relations.

The introduction of the electronic entry permit to Kazakhstan for Ukrainians is just one example of the changes in border crossing rules occurring worldwide. At the end of 2026, Ukrainians will also need an ETIAS permit for entry into EU countries. This indicates global trends toward modernizing entry control systems, which may affect travelers from Ukraine.