Kazakhstan visa options for Ireland passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Visa-free · up to 30 days
Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Kazakhstan
Rules are written for third-country foreign nationals (non-CIS / non-visa-exempt passport holders); many nationalities enjoy 14–90 day visa-free entry, so confirm your own passport's terms first.
- Most nomadsTourist
Tourist Visa (F1) / Visa-Free Short Stay
Visa-free stay capped at approx. 42 days within any 180-day period for most exempt nationalities; F1 tourist visa typically up to 90 days (single-entry), extendable on multi-entry up to ~180 days. Verify per nationality.
- Insurance
- Recommended. No government health-insurance mandate was found in official sources for short stays, but travel medical cover is strongly advised. Verify.
- Good for
- Leisure travellers and visitors. Note: nationals of 80+ countries (incl. EU, UK, US) can enter visa-free for short stays without an F1 visa at all.
- Requirement
- Valid passport; for the F1 visa, an application supported by a Kazakh travel agency. Visa-free travellers just need a passport and onward/return ticket.
- Business
Business Visa (D-series, D1–D8)
Short-term; varies by sub-category and single/multi-entry. Verify exact duration with the issuing consulate.
- Insurance
- Recommended. No specific government insurance requirement found in official sources for business visas. Verify.
- Good for
- Foreigners visiting for negotiations, forums, conferences, market research and other non-employment business activities.
- Requirement
- Invitation/application from a legal entity (company) registered in Kazakhstan.
- Work
Work Visa (C3 employment; M-series labour)
Single-entry up to ~90 days for entry; multi-entry tied to the work permit, typically up to 1 year (sometimes up to 3), renewable annually in-country.
- Insurance
- Required/verify. No explicit government health-insurance mandate surfaced for the work visa itself, but long-term residents are required to hold medical insurance (see residence permit). Confirm with employer/consulate.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals employed in Kazakhstan under a local contract (skilled workers, managers, intra-company transferees). C5 covers business immigrants/company founders.
- Requirement
- Employer must first obtain a Permit to Engage Foreign Labour (work permit) plus an invitation; from 1 Sept 2025 a labour-market test applies. C5 founder route requires an LLP/company stake.
- Study
Student Visa (L1 / L2)
Tied to the course of study; issued on application of the institution, with immigration-police approval. Verify duration.
- Insurance
- Recommended/verify. Not confirmed as a stated government requirement in the sources found; many universities require it. Confirm with the institution.
- Good for
- Foreign students enrolled at accredited Kazakh educational institutions.
- Requirement
- Admission/invitation from a Kazakh educational institution and immigration-police clearance.
- Most nomadsDigital nomad
Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1) — Digital Nomad
Valid 1 year, renewable up to 3 times (up to ~4 years total).
- Insurance
- Recommended/verify. Health insurance not cited as a stated requirement in the sources found; long-term residency rules generally expect medical cover, so carry private health insurance. Verify.
- Good for
- Remote workers and online entrepreneurs earning income from foreign employers/clients (local employment prohibited). Dependents can join but cannot work.
- Requirement
- Proof of remote work for a non-Kazakh employer plus minimum monthly income of approx. USD 3,000 (verify exact threshold and eligible-country list); tax reports and police clearance required.
- Digital nomad
Digital Nomad Residency (B9-1) — IT specialists
Up to 1 year per visit; programme positioned as a long-horizon residency route (reported up to ~10 years). Verify current terms.
- Insurance
- Recommended/verify. Not cited as a stated requirement in the sources found. Verify.
- Good for
- In-demand foreign IT/tech professionals relocating to Kazakhstan, with a path toward longer-term/permanent residence. No dependents sponsored; local work prohibited.
- Requirement
- Authorisation via the Astana Hub platform / Kazakhstan's IT-sector agency. Notably, no minimum income or savings threshold reported.
- Residence
Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) / Permanent Residence
TRP typically valid 1 year and renewable; permanent residence (indefinite) after approx. 5 years of lawful temporary stay (3 if married to a Kazakh citizen). 2026 pilot adds a points/language test and a financial threshold — verify.
- Insurance
- Required. Long-term residents must maintain medical insurance for themselves and dependents (per immigration advisories); a medical certificate is also required. Verify current rules.
- Good for
- Foreigners staying long-term: workers, students, entrepreneurs, financially independent persons and family members. PR available after several years of lawful stay.
- Requirement
- Proof of income/financial capacity, accommodation (property or rental), clean criminal record; 2026 rules add digital screening and language proficiency.
- Transit
Transit Visa (H1) / Visa-Free Transit
Up to ~5 days transit.
- Insurance
- Recommended. No government insurance mandate found for transit. Verify.
- Good for
- Travellers passing through Kazakhstan en route to a third country.
- Requirement
- Onward ticket and (where applicable) a visa for the destination country. Some nationalities qualify for visa-free transit.
Visa rules and figures change often and vary by nationality; verify with a Kazakh embassy/consulate or the official visa-migration portal (vmp.gov.kz) before travelling. Last checked: 2026-06.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Kazakhstan, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
Ireland → Kazakhstan: frequently asked
- Do Ireland passport holders need a visa to visit Kazakhstan?
- Visa-free · up to 30 days. Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a Ireland passport holder live or work long-term in Kazakhstan?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Kazakhstan has 8 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Kazakhstan?
- Entry to Kazakhstan never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Kazakhstan visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.