Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed it is working to ease visa procedures with Great Britain, a move that comes as the Kazakh Senate examines ratification of the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov addressed the matter during Senate proceedings, acknowledging the current imbalance in travel conditions between the two countries. According to Senator Saken Arubayev, British nationals currently benefit from visa-free stays of up to 30 days in Kazakhstan, whereas Kazakh citizens must obtain a UK visa—a process he characterized as often more demanding than comparable Schengen visa applications.
Issetov recognized that the United Kingdom has recently implemented stricter migration policies, complicating efforts to achieve reciprocal arrangements. Despite these challenges, he emphasized that Kazakhstan continues to raise the visa issue through bilateral negotiations, targeting incremental progress rather than immediate comprehensive reform.
The Deputy Minister indicated that ratification of the new Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement would establish a more robust framework for advancing dialogue on the matter. Initial visa liberalization measures are expected to prioritize specific categories, including students, academic professionals, official government delegations, and business representatives—sectors viewed as crucial for strengthening commercial and institutional ties between the two nations.
The Senate's consideration of the UK partnership agreement follows an earlier vote in which deputies ratified the Treaty on Allied Relations between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, reflecting Astana's broader diplomatic efforts to formalize strategic engagements with key international partners.