The visa for education (C9) is issued to people traveling to the Republic of Kazakhstan for the purpose of admission to educational organizations implementing educational curricula of secondary, technical and vocational, post-secondary, higher and postgraduate education; people studying in educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan implementing educational curricula of secondary, technical and vocational, post-secondary, higher and postgraduate education, including organized exchange programs of students and preparatory courses, as well as their family members; ethnic Kazakhs who temporarily arrived in the Republic of Kazakhstan and enrolled in educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, visa-free arrivals, as well as their family members. A single-entry visa is issued for up to 90 days, a multiple-entry visa for up to 1 year.

2 categories of foreign students come to the Republic of Kazakhstan to study:

1. Students who need a study visa to enter Kazakhstan

2. Students who don’t need a study visa to enter Kazakhstan, but registration is required during the study period.

A foreign student can request visa support ONLY after receiving an admission letter.

In accordance with Article 83 of Government Order №175 dated from March 5, 2013 year, an invitation letter with an incoming number for obtaining a study visa is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The University assists foreign students in obtaining a study visa and sends an invitation letter to the student and to the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Embassy/The Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan will not accept your visa application without an invitation letter with an incoming number.

Step 1. Check the validity period of the passport: your passport must be valid for 6 months after the expiration of the study visa.

Step 2. Find out the address of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the country where you will apply for a visa.

Step 3. Send the documents by email

• Fill out the visa form in *doc format
• Scan your passport

Step 4. Invitation Letter: The Visa Department of the University will send a request to the Migration Department of Almaty to receive an invitation letter. Each time you apply for a study visa, you need to provide an invitation letter. The invitation letter is sent to your email address, as well as to the address of the Embassy within 7 working days.

Step 5. Visa validity period: The study visa is valid for one semester or one academic year. Please apply for a visa for a specific period.

Application for a study visa for the Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Note: Your first study visa is obtained at the Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in your country of residence. If you are in Kazakhstan, your second or third study visa can be extended in Almaty. If you are applying for a visa for the second or third time outside of Kazakhstan, you need to apply in your country of residence or in the country in which you have a residence permit.

Step 1: Submit to the Embassy/The Consulate has the following documents:

1. Scanned copy of the invitation letter from the University indicating the incoming number;

2. 1 passport photo;

3. Original passport;

4. Payment for a visa;

5. Filling out a visa application (you can fill out the form either at the Embassy or download the form from the Embassy's website).

Step 2. Check the type of study visa (C-9) and the visa dates in your passport. In accordance with the rules for issuing visas of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Embassy/The Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan can process your application within 5 working days. When you receive your passport, be sure to check the type of visa and the dates. If you have any questions, please contact the Embassy staff/Consulates.

Rules for International students upon arrival in Kazakhstan

Upon arrival in Kazakhstan and passing through customs control, foreign students will receive a stamp in their passport. Sometimes a migration card is issued.

In accordance with the rules of migration of the republic of Kazakhstan, all foreign students must register at the local migration department within 2 working days upon arrival in Kazakhstan. On the day of arrival (working day), or on the next working day (after weekends or holidays) submit the following documents to the visa department of the university:

• Passport (original) + 2 copies
• Migration card (if available)
• Photo with size 3x4 (passport photo)
• Address of residence in Almaty (a certificate from the Hostel, if you live in a hostel, or a notarized copy of the rental agreement).

Students who have received an invitation letter from the University must pay 1412.5 tenge to the University's cash desk.

In the event of a change in your residence address in Almaty, you must immediately notify the visa manager to change the registration.

Extension of the study visa and registration. Loss of the passport

If the student wishes to continue his studies in the next academic period, or if the student loses his passport, he must go through the same visa application procedure and pay the visa fee. Payment of the fee must be made 30 days before the expiration date of the current visa and no later than 14 days after the expiration:

1. Student's application. Select the option "Extract from the order of admission". Get the document the next day at the Reception;

2. Passport + 2 copies;

3. Photo with size of passport;

4. Address of residence in Almaty (a certificate from the Hostel, if you live in a hostel, or a notarized copy of the rental agreement);

5. Completed visa application – for those receiving a study visa;

6. Bank receipt for payment of the fee (for 2019; the Migration Department reserves the right to change the amount of the fee; the receipt is issued by the visa manager) – for visa recipients;

• Multiple—entry visa (30 Monthly calculation index - MCI) - 76,886.25 tenge (the requested period of study is one semester);
• Single—entry visa (7 MCI) - 18,811.25 tenge (the requested period of study is less than three months).

Exit Visa

If students wish to interrupt their studies and leave Kazakhstan earlier than the expiration date of the visa (earlier by 2 months), it is necessary to obtain an exit visa and pay a fee (0.5 MCI) — 1412.5 tenge.

In accordance with the rules of migration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, all foreign students must:

1. Check the type of visa available (single-entry or multiple-entry);

2. Notify the visa manager one week before the planned trip (in person or by e-mail). It is necessary to inform the departure/arrival dates;

3. Inform your mentor and coordinator;

4. According to the rules for obtaining a visa of the Republic of Kazakhstan, customs control withdraws your migration card at the border (at the airport, at the railway or bus station, at customs points at the border, etc.) when leaving Kazakhstan;

5. When you return to Kazakhstan, you will receive a stamp in your passport. Sometimes you are issued a new migration card. Upon arrival in the country, notify the visa manager immediately – either in person or via WhatsApp, email or SMS.

While staying in Almaty and Kazakhstan, all foreigners should have a copy of their passport with the seal of the International Department in order to avoid problems with the migration police. Make a copy of your passport and ask the coordinator of international students to put a stamp on it.

Foreign students who don’t comply with the visa regime of the Republic of Kazakhstan pay a fine of 166,580 tenge (the amount can be changed by the migration police).