Tengrinews.kz – Europe to simplify visa procedures for Kazakhstanis. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has shared the details.
Kazakhstan and the European Union are planning to sign an agreement on the mutual simplification of visa requirements. The mandate to conduct negotiations on the agreement has been approved by the EU member states and granted to the European Commission.
“Negotiations on this agreement include measures such as reducing application processing times, decreasing the list of required documents, lowering visa fees, expanding the issuance of multiple-entry visas with longer validity periods, and introducing preferential categories of applicants,” the Foreign Ministry stated in response to an official request from Tengrinews.kz.
The Ministry did not specify when the agreement will be signed. A concrete date will be determined after negotiations with the European side are completed. The changes will come into effect after the parties complete the necessary internal procedures.
The Ministry emphasized that the signing of this agreement will expand travel opportunities for Kazakhstanis to European countries and will contribute to increased business activity in the trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres.
As a reminder: during a recent meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas – announced the launch of the procedure for concluding an agreement to simplify the visa issuance process between the European Commission and Kazakhstan.
The head of state emphasized that this news is received very positively in Kazakhstan, as this step opens up wide opportunities for strengthening people-to-people contacts and business ties with European countries.