Photo: gov.kz.
Kazakhstan and the European Union on 2 December began negotiations on easing visa requirements and on readmission—the return of individuals who violate migration rules. The announcement was made at a meeting of the Kazakhstan–European Union Cooperation Council.
The talks are taking place in Brussels and are chaired by Kazakhstan’s foreign minister, Yerzhan Kosherbayev, and EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Yozef Síkela.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said the move “will make a significant contribution to strengthening humanitarian ties, expanding opportunities for students, researchers, and professionals, and increasing overall mobility.”
Easier visa procedures for Kazakh citizens would include reducing the number of required documents and extending the duration and number of entries for visas. Consultations between Kazakhstan and the EU have been ongoing since May 2023. The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Aibek Smadiyarov, previously noted that the process is complex because the EU includes multiple countries, each requiring separate negotiations.
In 2017, Kazakhstan unilaterally introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of all EU member states to support business cooperation and tourism.
