Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There have been human cases of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) reported in Kazakhstan (source: Kazakh Chief Public Health Prosecutor). All international airports now operate heat sensors (to detect abnormal body temperatures) on arrival. Passengers arriving on flights from designated high-risk countries, of which the United Kingdom is one, are automatically screened. Any passengers displaying symptoms of (A) H1N1 may be held in quarantine facilities located at international airports for up to 24 hours before being taken to a local hospital under the supervision of the Kazakh Sanitary-Epidemiological Centre for further tests and treatment. If quarantined, or isolated for health reasons British nationals are advised to contact the British Embassy.
  
  
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its pandemic threat alert phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any further developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu is available on the UK Department of Health website.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• You may travel to most places in Kazakhstan, but travel to any 'closed territories' or secure areas require advance permission from the relevant authorities. Some military/restricted areas are not clearly marked so care should be taken when travelling away from normal routes. See the entry requirements section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• With the exception of Air Astana Airlines, all Kazakh airlines are refused permission to operate services to the EU because they do not comply with internationally accepted safety requirements. We recommend that you avoid flying with the airlines subject to the EU operating ban. See the air travel section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• You should obtain your visa in advance of your visit and ensure it covers the entire duration of your stay. See the entry requirements section of this travel advice for more details.
  
  
• Most visits to Kazakhstan are trouble-free. However, you should be aware that there have been a number of criminal incidents involving expatriates in Kazakhstan. 34 British nationals required consular assistance in Kazakhstan in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident, deaths (3 cases), hospitalisations (0 cases). and arrests, for a variety of offences (18 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (10 cases). Local regulations require you to carry your original passport at all times. See the Crime section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the general (insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details. Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.
  

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. In addition, you should also be alert to any security-related announcements by the Kazakh authorities, and if in any doubt, keep in touch with the British Embassy in Almaty. 

For further information see terrorism abroad.

Crime

Most visits are trouble-free. However, mugging, sometimes violent, and theft regularly occur in both cities and rural areas and foreigners are a particular target.

There has been an increase in the number of violent attacks and muggings on the expatriate community in Atyrau and Aktau in western Kazakhstan.  There have been at least 10 such reported instances to the British Embassy in Kazakhstan. There was a report of a British national being held up at gunpoint in Almaty in November 2008. There have also been assaults reported in Astana and Almaty involving western nationals. These attacks have largely taken place at night, in and around local nightclubs and bars or when coming home late at night as the majority of apartment buildings have dark stairwells and no lifts. Avoid walking alone and where possible pre-arrange transport with friends, colleagues or official taxi firms. Keep valuables in a safe place and out of public view. Avoid travelling in unofficial taxis, particularly at night and alone, or if there is another passenger already in the car.

Robberies have also occurred on trains, so always lock railway compartments on overnight trains. Passenger lists on aircraft are not always kept confidential. There have been instances of people being met from an aircraft by someone using their name and subsequently being robbed especially travelling to provincial airports.

As in many major cities, other incidents of crime (involving both foreign and local people) have included theft from vehicles waiting at traffic lights or parked cars, copying of cash or credit cards at fraudulent ATM machines, and spiking of drinks in bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Keep personal belongings, especially your passport, safe and out of sight, as several incidents of passport theft have been reported in the last year.

For more general information see  victims of crime abroad.

Political situation

Kazakhstan country profile

Parliamentary elections were held peacefully in August 2007.

Local travel

You may travel to most places in Kazakhstan, but travel to any 'closed territories' or secure areas requires advance permission from the relevant authorities. Some military/restricted areas are not clearly marked so care should be taken when travelling away from normal routes.

Do not cross the border into or out of Kazakhstan illegally as the absence of entry/exit stamps will cause problems (e.g. possible detention, fines) when leaving or re-entering the country.

Some border points are closed on certain days of the week e.g. Sundays and you should check with the Kazakh local authorities prior to travel to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Travellers are advised to check before travelling on certain train routes as trains between Kazakhstan cities sometimes cross through neighbouring countries requiring extra visas, and multi-entry visas for Kazakhstan (e.g Aktobe to Uralsk).

Road Travel

International driving licences are valid in Kazakhstan. However if you are resident in Kazakhstan you are advised to obtain a Kazakh driving license after six months residency.

Service stations and petrol/water access can be limited outside the main cities. Make sure you take all you need for your journey. You should ensure that your vehicle is properly maintained and in good condition for lengthy journeys across Kazakhstan. A significant proportion of cars are not safely maintained and do not have rear seatbelts. In some remote parts of Kazakhstan animals can be seen regularly on the roads and can be especially difficult to see in the dark. We advise against using local buses or mini-buses as maintenance of these vehicles is generally poor. Driving can be erratic and care should be taken crossing roads. Pedestrian crossings are rarely respected.

Many roads are poorly maintained and road works or damaged roads are often not clearly signposted. During the winter, roads are often hazardous due to snow and ice.

Local Traffic Police only have the right to stop vehicles if an offence has been committed. Travellers should note that a Traffic Police Official should start immediately to complete official papers relating to any alleged offence.

For further information see driving abroad.

Air Travel

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. With the exception of Air Astana Airlines, all Kazakh airlines are refused permission to operate services to the EU because they do not comply with internationally accepted safety requirements. We recommend that you avoid flying with the airlines subject to the EU operating ban. If you already have a flight booked with any of them and it is part of a journey, which commenced in the EU you should consult your travel agent. You should check the European Commission website  to see whether this will affect your travel.

It is not known whether maintenance procedures on aircraft used for internal or regional flights are always properly observed or whether passengers are covered by insurance. However, the situation is constantly changing. We therefore advise in-country and regional travellers to check these issues with the carrier in addition to the EU website noted above.

Local Airlines do not always adhere to schedules and you are advised to check your actual departure or arrival time in advance. You are also advised to keep hold of your baggage tags, as you will be required to show them when you leave the destination airport. Travellers should also be aware that photography of airport facilities is prohibited.

Local laws and customs

Kazakhstan has a secular constitution. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs.

Possession and use of drugs is illegal and, if found guilty, you could face a lengthy prison sentence in basic conditions.

Although homosexuality is not illegal, it is often not tolerated, especially outside the major cities.

Local regulations require you to carry photo ID at all times.

Some restrictions exist on photography near military establishments, border areas and some official buildings. Notices about these restrictions are sometimes, but not always, indicated so some caution is advised.

For more general information for different types of travellers see your trip.

Entry requirements

Visa Requirements

All British passport holders must have a valid visa prior to travel. Travellers should ensure they hold the appropriate visa for the purpose of their travel especially for business visas or work permits. Kazakhstan authorities have very strict policy on visa non-compliance, which could be a ban on entry to Kazakhstan for up to five years.

A visa for Kazakhstan is normally valid for 30 days from the date of issue and should be obtained from your nearest Kazakh Embassy before travelling. There is also a consulate based in Aberdeen where visas for Kazakhstan can now be obtained. Please check the validity dates of your visa and any associated restrictions for Kazakhstan carefully before travelling and similarly, if necessary, for the country for your onward destination.

Passport validity

You should ensure that your passport is valid for at least three months after your proposed date of leaving Kazakhstan.

Visits of up to 90 days

For most visits British passport holders travelling to Kazakhstan do not need to register with the local authorities (OVIR -The Department for Visas and Registration under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA)) providing you arrive at one of the 12 Kazakhstan International Airports. However, British travellers are advised to check with local oblast authorities as some oblasts still insist upon the registration requirement for visitors even for short stays.

In cases where British passport holders do not need to register with the local OVIR offices, they must ensure that they keep their white immigration card stamped by Kazakhstani Immigration throughout their journey and ready for inspection upon departure. Failure to do so could result in you having to register with the local authorities. If you intend to travel through any of Kazakhstan's border points you should check with the nearest Kazakhstan Embassy to see whether registration with OVIR is required.

Visits for more than 90 days and long-term visitors

If you intend staying for longer than 90 days you will need to register with the local authorities. In such circumstances you may be registered through the organisation that invited you to Kazakhstan or the tourist agency organising your visit. As your registration includes details of where you work or study and your residence in Kazakhstan the MIA should be informed in writing of any changes to these details.

For long-term visitors (including work permit holders), you should check with your prospective employer in Kazakhstan whether you must provide an original HIV/Aids-free certificate as sometimes this is needed by the local authorities where you live/work. You should ensure you have the original with you, as copies are not accepted.

Caspian Sea ferry services

If you intend to take one of the Caspian Sea ferry services from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan you should be aware that you need a valid visa for that country before you travel. You may find that if you arrive at your destination without a valid visa you will be returned back to Kazakhstan.

Transiting Kazakhstan

There is no agreement allowing visas issued in one Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be used to transit Kazakhstan. If you intend to visit two or more CIS countries you should contact the relevant embassies for advice before travelling.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Kazakh Embassy in London.

Travelling to restricted areas

Foreigners may only enter the following territories of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which are closed to foreign travellers until 2015, if prior permission has been received from the Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry, with an agreement with the Kazakh National Security Committee:

• The Gvardeyskiy urban-type village in Almaty Region (south eastern Kazakhstan)
• The town of Baykonur
• The districts of Karmakchi and Kazalinsk in (southern) Kyzylorda Region
  

Health

The medical facilities in Kazakhstan are not as advanced as those in the UK. You should ensure that your medical insurance includes evacuation by air ambulance.

(A) H1N1 flu (swine flu)

There have been human cases of the H1N1 virus reported in Kazakhstan (source: Kazakh Chief Public Health Prosecutor). All international airports now operate heat sensors (to detect abnormal body temperatures) on arrival. Passengers arriving on flights from designated high-risk countries, of which the United Kingdom is one, are automatically screened. Any passengers displaying symptoms of (A) H1N1 may be held in quarantine facilities located at international airports for up to 24 hours before being taken to a local hospital under the supervision of the Kazakh Sanitary-Epidemiological Centre for further tests and treatment. If quarantined, or isolated for health reasons British nationals are advised to contact the British Embassy.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) pandemic threat alert phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any further developments and advice. There is a dedicated the swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu is available on the UK Department of Health website.

Avian influenza (bird flu)

There were reports of outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) around Northern Kazakhstan in July and August 2005 and in the Caspian Sea region in January 2006. The Kazakh authorities believe that the situation is now under control and preventive measures are in place. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with avian and pandemic influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.

Tick-borne encephalitis is common to Kazakhstan, especially in mountains and forests, particularly from April to June.

Cases of TB have been reported in the Aral Sea and Semipalatinsk regions, as well as in prisons. There have also been recent outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever (a tick-borne disease) with renal syndrome in southern Kazakhstan. There have been 7 fatalities from 17 confirmed cases so far in 2009 in this region. In rural areas there are occasional cases of brucellosis picked up from infected meat.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 12,800 adults aged 15 or over in Kazakhstan were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Kazakhstan and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should check the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see travel health.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There were reports of outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) around Northern Kazakhstan in July and August 2005 and in the Caspian Sea region in January 2006. The Kazakh authorities believe that the situation is now under control and preventive measures are in place. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with avian and pandemic influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.

Natural disasters

Almaty is in an active seismic zone, but the last major earthquake involving loss of life was in 1927.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you have comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. If you are planning an adventure holiday (including skiing or climbing in the mountains near Almaty) you must ensure that your medical insurance includes air ambulance evacuation. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See travel insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

Registering with the British Embassy

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Replacing a lost or stolen passport

If you lose your passport you must report this immediately to the police and obtain a police report.

The British Embassy Office in Almaty, at 97 Zholdasbekova Street Samal Towers, 9th Floor, Almaty (Tel: (00 7 3272 506191) does not issue full passports and, before setting off, you should ensure that your passport has sufficient validity and a good number of unused pages. However the Embassy is able to accept applications for new passports, which will be forwarded to the British Embassy in Moscow for processing. Please be aware that this may take between 4-6 weeks. Temporary passports, valid for one year, are available in Almaty and can usually be produced within 24 hours.

You should ensure that you have entered your next of kin details into the back of your passport.

Money

You should bring enough money for your trip. Travellers' cheques are not normally accepted. US$ are the most widely accepted foreign currency. However cash dispensers are now available in most towns. If you are bringing more than 3,000US$ into Kazakhstan you should declare these amounts on arrival into the country and when exiting.