Visa Progress for Kazakhstan Citizens to EU Countries Simplified
Advancing Towards Signed Agreement: EU and Kazakhstan Approach Visa Simplification Deal
Capital city of Astana – the European Union (EU) member states have given the green light for the European Commission to hash out a deal on streamlining visa requirements with our mates from Kazakhstan.
To give you a heads up, these discussions will cover various measures to make the visa process smoother, such as speeding up application processing times, making the list of required docs easier to manage, reducing visa fees, providing opportunities for multiple-entry visas with longer validity periods, and offering preferential treatment for specific categories of applicants.
As for the exact date when the deal will be sealed, that'll depend on when the negotiations are finally wrapped up. However, it's crucial to remember that before the changes can kick off, both parties need to complete their respective internal procedures, as noted by Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry.
Once everything falls into place, this agreement will open doors for folks from Kazakhstan to travel more freely to EU countries – and we all know that increased business activity in trade, economics, culture, and humanitarian areas will follow suit.
In 2023, Kazakh citizens sent in around 159,000 Schengen visa applications, with about 90% of them getting the thumbs up, according to SchengenVisaInfo.
Now, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of the situation. Here's some enrichment data that can help you get the full picture:
Current Visa Requirements for Kazakhstan Citizens Traveling to EU Countries
At the moment, Kazakhstan citizens require a visa to step foot in the Schengen Area, home to most EU countries. The application process involves submitting paperwork, paying a fee, and going through the gauntlet of byzantine bureaucracy. In 2023, Kazakh citizens sent in over 159,000 Schengen visa applications, with around 90% of them being approved.
On the flip side, EU nationals can waltz into Kazakhstan without a visa for a select period.
Potential Changes After the EU-Kazakhstan Visa Facilitation Agreement
The EU-Kazakhstan visa facilitation agreement aims to make traveling between the two nations more of a breeze. Let's outline the changes expected once the agreement is in effect:
- Quicker Application Process: Application processing times are expected to drop, making it swifter for Kazakh citizens to secure visas.
- Simplified Documentation: The list of required documents for visa applications will be trimmed, making the process easier on applicants.
- Affordable Visa Fees: The price of applying for a visa is anticipated to decline, making it more wallet-friendly for Kazakhstan citizens to take their vacay in the EU.
- Multiple-Entry Visas: More opportunities will arise for multiple-entry visas with extended validity periods, enabling Kazakhs to travel more frequently and for longer durations.
- Preferential Categories: Preferential treatment will be provided for specific categories of applicants, such as students, business travelers, or those with familial ties.
Stay tuned for when the big day arrives and this agreement gets officially signed and ratified!
- The European Union (EU) is currently negotiating a deal to simplify visa requirements for Kazakhstan citizens, following the approval of the EU member states.
- The negotiations aim to implement measures such as quicker application processing, simplified documentation, reduced visa fees, multiple-entry visas with longer validity periods, and preferential treatment for specific categories of applicants.
- Before the changes can be implemented, both parties need to complete their respective internal procedures, as noted by Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry.
- Once the negotiations are finalized and both parties have completed their internal procedures, the agreement will potentially open doors for more frequent and lengthy travel for Kazakhstan citizens to EU countries, leading to increased business activity in areas such as trade, economics, culture, and humanitarian efforts.
