A Kazakhstan visa is not required of citizens of Azerbaijan and you may stay up to 90 days. That period was once 30 days and the old figure is still going around online; after the bilateral agreement was updated in 2019 the period tripled. There are direct flights from Baku to Almaty and Astana, and the flight is 3–4 hours.
But the 90 days has one condition: those staying longer than 30 days must go through migration registration. In this article we explain the conditions of the visa-free regime, the registration rule, the flight options and the practical points of a trip to Almaty and Astana.
Do you need a visa for Kazakhstan?
No. There is a bilateral agreement between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, and on an ordinary passport you may stay up to 90 days without a visa. On the list of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 90 days is written opposite Kazakhstan. Tourism, family visits and business meetings are inside that regime; for work and study a separate permit is needed. The official information can be checked on the page of Kazakhstan’s embassy in Baku.
| Is a visa required? | No |
| How long can you stay? | Up to 90 days |
| Registration | Not required up to 30 days, needed for 30–90 days |
| Passport | Must cover the length of the trip; 6 months is advisable |
| Direct flight | AZAL Baku–Almaty and Baku–Astana, 3–4 hours |
| Currency | Tenge |
Registration: the 30-day limit
Those staying in Kazakhstan up to 30 days do no registration at all; the electronic record at the border is enough. Those staying from 30 to 90 days must register with the migration service at their place of residence. For those in a hotel the hotel does it, and for those in a rented flat or at a relative’s house the owner can do it through the electronic government portal. Passing 30 days without registration means a fine on departure and trouble at the next entry. This rule is often forgotten, because most tourists stay less than 30 days.
How do you get from Baku to Kazakhstan?
AZAL flies direct from Baku to both Almaty and Astana; the flight to Almaty takes about 3.5 hours and to Astana 4. There are flights across the Caspian to Aktau and Atyrau as well, and those cities are the main destination for people working in the oil sector. Baku–Aktau ticket prices are cheaper than the Almaty flights, and the domestic flight from Aktau to Almaty is 2 hours.
There is also a sea route by ferry across the Caspian from Baku to the port of Aktau, but the timetable is irregular and it mostly carries freight; for a tourist that is an adventure, not transport.
Read next: Do you need a visa for Georgia? A year visa-free, the land border, the train and the Abkhazia rule
Why do people go to Kazakhstan without a visa?
There are three reasons. The first is business trips: Astana for conferences, Aktau and Atyrau for the oil and gas sector. The second is Almaty: the city at the foot of the Tian Shan has grown popular among those travelling from Azerbaijan, with the Shymbulak ski resort in winter and mountain lakes in summer. The third is transit: Kazakhstan is the gateway for crossing overland to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and both are visa-free for citizens of Azerbaijan.
Around Almaty, Big Almaty Lake, the Charyn canyon and the Kolsai lakes are enough for a week-long programme; Kazakhstan tour packages usually combine that route with Shymbulak or Charyn.
Points to know before the trip
- Money. The tenge. Dollars are changed everywhere, cards work in the cities, and Kaspi mobile payment is everywhere, but it is hard for a tourist to set up.
- Language. Russian works everywhere, and Kazakh is close to Azerbaijani, so a lot is understood.
- Season. May–June and September for Almaty, December–March for skiing. In Astana the winter is very harsh and minus 30 degrees is normal.
- Insurance. Not required, but advisable for mountain and ski trips.
Frequently asked questions about the Kazakhstan visa
Can you stay longer than 90 days without a Kazakhstan visa?
No. To stay longer than 90 days, to work or to study you need a visa in advance and a temporary residence permit inside the country.
Can you cross overland from Kazakhstan into Uzbekistan?
Yes, the Shymkent–Tashkent crossing is the most used route, and Uzbekistan admits citizens of Azerbaijan without a visa too. There is an Almaty–Tashkent train as well.
Are extra documents needed for children?
The child must have their own passport. If travelling with one parent, the other parent’s notarised consent may be required on leaving Azerbaijan.
In closing
No visa is needed for Kazakhstan, you may stay 90 days and there is a direct flight from Baku. The only rule to remember is registration after 30 days. The Viza.az team helps with ticket and hotel booking and with organising Almaty mountain tours and combined Central Asia routes.
You can read more about the Kazakhstan destination or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The registration rules can change, so look at the official sources once more before the trip.
