VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Kazakhstan
Entry of Russian citizens to Kazakhstan is visa-free. You must have a civil or foreign passport with you. Upon entry, you will be given an immigration card, which will be stamped with the date of entry into Kazakhstan. An immigration card allows tourists to stay in Kazakhstan for up to 90 days. When leaving the country, the card is withdrawn. It is worth remembering that foreign citizens temporarily staying in Kazakhstan are required to register within five calendar days from the date of crossing the state border at their place of residence. If you are staying at a hotel, check-in will be done by the hotel staff. In addition, tourists arriving in Kazakhstan through 12 international airports in Kazakhstan (including Alma-Ata and Astana), the international railway checkpoint Dostyk-Alashankou (with China), through the international road checkpoints Khorgos (with China), Dostyk (with China), Bakhty, Maykapchagai, Kordai (Kyrgyzstan), Kolzhat and the seaports of Aktau and Bautino, registration is issued right at the entrance. Violators of registration rules will be fined.
Import and export of foreign and local currency is not limited. Amounts exceeding the equivalent of US$3,000 must be declared. You can import duty-free up to 1,000 cigarettes or 1 kg of tobacco, 2 liters of alcoholic beverages and goods worth no more than 500 US dollars. Upon entry, passengers are required to fill out a customs declaration, which indicates information about goods, personal belongings, cash and goods restricted or prohibited from moving across the customs border (a list of such goods is available on stands in airport halls). Customs checks, both at the entrance and at the exit, can take a lot of time. To avoid additional problems when leaving the country, it is advisable to keep all receipts from the stores where the goods were purchased.
The import of weapons and ammunition, drugs and narcotic preparations, literature, photo and video products that are contrary to the norms of Islam or aimed at undermining and discrediting state authorities is prohibited. It is forbidden to export antiques (without a special permit), precious stones and rare minerals, rare species of animals and hunting birds.
Embassy in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, embassy in Moscow
Metro station Turgenevskaya or Chistye Prudy, Chistoprudny Boulevard, 3A.
Tel.: 627-17-01, 627-18-12.
Fax: 608-26-50.
Kazakhstan, Russian Embassy in the country:
Astana, st. Baraeva, d. 4.
Tel. (717-2) 22-24-83, 22-26-96, 22-15-92.
Fax (717-2) 22-38-49.
Communication in Kazakhstan
On the streets of large cities there are pay phones that work with cards, from which you can call abroad. Phone cards are sold at newsstands, tobacconists and post offices.
In order to call from Russia to Kazakhstan, you need to dial 8 – the area code – the subscriber’s number. The international code of Kazakhstan is 7, the same as in Russia, so when calling from Russia to Kazakhstan, you should not dial it. If you are calling from other countries, then before the city code, you must dial the code of Kazakhstan – 7. The code of Astana – 717-2, Alma-Ata – 727.
In order to call from Kazakhstan to Russia, you should also not dial the country code, so the scheme for such a call will be as follows: 8 – area code – subscriber number. If you are going to call to another country, then you should dial 8 – country code – area code – subscriber number.
Emergency Phones in Kazakhstan
Fire department – 01
Police – 02
Ambulance – 03
Unified assistance service – 112
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
January 1 – New Year
January 7 – Orthodox Christmas
March 8 – International Women’s Day
March 16 – Day of the Republican Guard
March 22 – Navruz (Islamic New Year)
May 1 – Holiday of the Unity of the People of Kazakhstan
May 7 – Defender of the Fatherland Day
May 9 – Victory Day
May 31 – Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions
August 30 – Constitution Day
October 25 – Republic Day
December 16 – Independence Day
In addition to public holidays, major religious holidays are celebrated on a large scale in Kazakhstan. Islamic holidays are observed according to the lunar calendar, so their dates vary from year to year. Only the Islamic New Year – Navruz – has the status of a public holiday and a fixed date – March 22. Navruz is the main religious holiday of the country, falling on the day of the spring equinox and dedicated to the renewal and revival of nature. On this day, colorful performances, performances by musical groups and horse races are organized throughout the country. Other important Muslim holidays include Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) (November-January) and Ramadan Bayram (the end of Ramadan) (September-November).
USEFUL THINGS
Kazakhstan is a safe country for tourism, but you should still follow basic safety rules: do not travel alone around the outskirts of cities at night, do not leave personal belongings unattended and do not carry large sums of money with you. You should always have a document confirming your registration on the territory of Kazakhstan with you, because law enforcement officers often carry out checks.
To avoid additional problems when leaving the country, it is advisable to keep all receipts from the stores where the goods were purchased.
STORES
According to ehuzhou, most shops operate on their own schedule.
To avoid additional problems when leaving the country, it is advisable to keep all receipts from the stores where the goods were purchased.
TIPS
Most often, in large hotels and restaurants, the amount for service is already included in the bill. If there is no such amount in the invoice, and you liked the service, then you can round the invoice amount up.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Kazakhs are very friendly and hospitable people. In the country, people of the older generation are especially revered, respect for the elderly is also required from tourists.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH CARE
Before traveling to the country, it is recommended to take out international health insurance. In Kazakhstan, there is a risk of infection with hepatitis A, B, C and E, diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid fever, rabies and tuberculosis. In the period from April to May in mountainous and forested areas there is a risk of infection with tick-borne encephalitis.
Only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking and making ice. Meat and fish should be consumed only after heat treatment, vegetables – well washed, and fruits – peeled.
