Kazakhstan Visa for UAE Residents: Visa-Free Passports and the e-Visa

The short answer: Kazakhstan decides on your passport, not your UAE residence. Emiratis and Filipinos can visit without a visa for up to 30 days, and Indians for up to 14 days. Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan passport holders need Kazakhstan's e-visa, which starts with an invitation from a Kazakh travel company and takes at least a week. Pakistani passport holders should check with a Kazakh embassy, because the e-visa rules for them are unclear.

Almaty sits under the snow peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau, with Big Almaty Lake, the Charyn Canyon and the Shymbulak ski resort within reach, and it is about four and a half hours from the UAE. For many Dubai residents it is also one of the few mountain trips they can take at short notice.

Kazakhstan visa for UAE residents at a glance

Passport	What you need (October 2026)	Stay
UAE (Emirati)	No visa	Up to 30 days, 90 in any 180
Philippines	No visa	Up to 30 days, 90 in any 180
India	No visa	Up to 14 days, 42 in any 180
Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka	e-Visa with an invitation	Tourist e-visa up to 30 days
Pakistan	Visa needed; check e-visa eligibility with the embassy	As granted

Why your UAE residence does not matter

Some countries, like Armenia, Bahrain or Kuwait, give UAE residents easier entry. Kazakhstan does not. Its visa-free rules, last rewritten by Government Resolution No. 678 of 25 August 2025, are written entirely by citizenship. An Indian living in Dubai gets exactly the same terms as an Indian living in Mumbai.

Who can visit Kazakhstan without a visa

Resolution No. 678 set three groups:

• 56 countries, including the UAE and the Philippines: up to 30 days per visit, and no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
• India and Iran: up to 14 days per visit, and no more than 42 days in any 180-day period, for tourism, private visits or business.
• Turkey: up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Fourteen days is enough for Almaty, Big Almaty Lake, Charyn Canyon and a couple of nights in Astana. For a longer trip, Indian nationals need a visa.

A new travel authorisation is coming

A law signed in June 2026 created an electronic travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, called QazETA. As of October 2026 it was running as a voluntary pilot, and reports expected it to become mandatory later in 2026, starting with air arrivals, but Kazakhstan had not confirmed a date. If you are travelling visa-free, check for it before you fly.

The Kazakhstan e-visa

If your passport is not visa-free, you apply on Kazakhstan's Visa and Migration Portal, vmp.gov.kz. The e-visa is not a simple online form: it starts in Kazakhstan.

1. Get an invitation. A Kazakh host, for tourists usually a licensed travel company, applies to the Migration Service for an invitation and sends you its reference number.
2. Apply on vmp.gov.kz with the reference number, your passport scan and a photo.
3. Pay the fee by card. Kazakhstan's 2023 notice gave USD 60 for a single-entry tourist e-visa; check the current amount when you apply.
4. Print the e-visa and fly into an international airport, such as Almaty or Astana.

Invitation approval usually takes about five working days, but the Migration Service can take up to a month. The tourist e-visa is single entry, for up to 30 days, and cannot be extended in Kazakhstan. Egypt, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka appear on published e-visa country lists; Pakistan does not appear on the list we found, so Pakistani passport holders should ask the Kazakh embassy before booking.

Registration and arrival

For stays of 30 days or less, you do not register yourself: your hotel or host notifies the migration authorities within three working days. Longer stays on a visa have their own registration rules, which your host or travel company will handle with you. If you are given a migration card at the border, keep it until you leave.

Getting from the UAE to Kazakhstan

Flights take about 4 to 5 hours. flydubai flies from Dubai to Almaty and Astana, Air Arabia from Sharjah to Almaty, and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi from Abu Dhabi to Almaty. Air Astana suspended its Dubai flights earlier in 2026 and announced a restart in October. Schedules have changed often this year because of regional airspace closures, so check with the airline before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Kazakhstan?

It depends on your passport, not your residence. Emiratis and Filipinos can stay 30 days without a visa, and Indians 14 days. Most other expat passports need the e-visa.

Can Indians in Dubai visit Kazakhstan without a visa?

Yes, for up to 14 days per visit and no more than 42 days in any 180-day period.

Do Emiratis need a visa for Kazakhstan?

No. Emirati citizens can stay up to 30 days per visit, and no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

How much is the Kazakhstan e-visa?

Kazakhstan's last published figure was USD 60 for a single-entry tourist e-visa. Check the amount on vmp.gov.kz when you apply.

How long does the Kazakhstan e-visa take?

Allow at least a week. The invitation usually takes about five working days, and can take up to a month.

Do I need an invitation for a Kazakhstan tourist e-visa?

Yes. Every e-visa, including tourist, needs an invitation from a host in Kazakhstan, usually a licensed travel company for holidays.

Planning a trip to Kazakhstan

Four or five days in Almaty covers the city, Kok-Tobe, Big Almaty Lake and Charyn Canyon. See our visa services for help with an e-visa invitation, browse holiday packages, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Uzbekistan visa for UAE residents
• Azerbaijan visa from Dubai
• Georgia visa from Dubai
• Armenia visa for UAE residents

Last checked 8 October 2026 against Kazakhstan Government Resolution No. 678 (2025), Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry notices and Kazinform reporting. The e-visa fee, the QazETA start date and airline schedules may change; this guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the rules for your passport with a Kazakh embassy before you travel.