EU & Kazakhstan Advance Discussions on Schengen Visa Facilitation

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Kazakhstan wants to begin the second round of consultations on visa facilitation with the EU.
• Kazakhstan is requiring the EU to apply simplified visa rules to its citizens.
• The country currently permits visa-free entry to all EU citizens.

The European Union and the Kazakhstan authorities have advanced their discussion of visa facilitation for citizens of the latter.

As part of the country’s move to facilitate travel to the bloc for its citizens, Kazakhstan authorities have already required the EU to hold the second round of consultations about the simplification of the Schengen visa application process.

During a meeting that the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Alibek Bakayev, and the EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Kestutis Jankauskas, had, it was discussed holding the second round of consultations on Schengen visa facilitation, the Astana Times explains.

While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the topic of holding the consultations was brought up during this meeting, the authority did not reveal when the second round of talks would begin.

Through these talks with the EU, Kazakhstan wants to reach an agreement with the bloc that would permit citizens of Kazakhstan to undergo facilitated rules when applying for a visa in one of the Schengen Member States.

Kazakhstan wants the EU to apply reduced consular fees for its citizens. The same wants the EU to start issuing Schengen visas with longer validity periods to its citizens as well as reduce the visa processing time, among others.

Earlier in December of last year, the authorities of Kazakhstan said that the country had already made improvements in several fields. The authorities further stressed that there should not be any fear of irregular migration and, at the same time, said that Kazakhstan would cooperate in the readmission of its citizens who remain irregularly in the EU.

In addition to the above-mentioned, the authorities of Kazakhstan have reminded the EU several times now that the country has been permitting visa-free entry for EU citizens since 2017.

They further have repeatedly highlighted that they are not asking for a visa-free travel agreement. For now, Kazakhstan only requires that its citizens be able to obtain Schengen visas through simplified procedures.

In October 2023, the EU Council said it was committed to deepening and widening the cooperation with Kazakhstan.

The Council further expressed its strong support for the reforms that Kazakhstan has been making in different fields.

Similar to citizens of other countries who need a visa to enter the Schengen Area, citizens of Kazakhstan are also required to submit several documents.

Among many others, Kazakhstan citizens applying for a Schengen visa need to submit proof of accommodation, a roundtrip itinerary, proof of having purchased travel health insurance, and proof of sufficient financial means.