Kazakhstan and Armenia formalise visa-free travel

Kazakhstan has completed the ratification of a migration cooperation agreement with Armenia, marking a new phase in simplifying cross-border movement between the two nations.

The law has now been officially signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as confirmed by the presidential press service, Akorda.

Under the newly ratified agreement, citizens of both Kazakhstan and Armenia are now entitled to visa-free stays of up to 90 days on each other's territory.

A significant feature of the agreement is that Kazakh nationals no longer require an international passport to travel to Armenia; an internal ID card will suffice.

The same rule applies to Armenian citizens entering Kazakhstan, who will be able to present their national identification card at the border.

Previously, such travel arrangements without passports were limited to Russia and Kyrgyzstan, making the agreement with Armenia a notable extension of the simplified migration regime within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). While citizens of EAEU member states - Kazakhstan, Armenia, Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan - already benefit from facilitated travel, this bilateral agreement provides formal clarity and legal reinforcement for Kazakh-Armenian movement.

Kazakhstan and Armenia also agreed to share information about citizens residing in each other's territory, as well as about violations of migration laws.

Furthermore, the two sides have committed to jointly combating illegal migration and addressing issues related to dual citizenship, while also exchanging relevant legal and regulatory information.

The new arrangement introduces stricter controls over the length of stay. As explained by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Yerzhan Sadenov, although the 90-day visa-free rule remains in effect, foreign visitors will now be required to register with local authorities after 30 days in the country.

This measure is intended to strengthen migration oversight, particularly given that nearly 12 000 Armenian nationals have entered Kazakhstan since the start of the year.

Armenia's parliament ratified the agreement earlier, on 11 September 2025, allowing both countries to complete their respective internal legislative processes.

In Kazakhstan, the document passed through the Parliament before receiving final approval from the president.

It is worth noting that the 90-day visa-free period is not a new feature in Kazakhstan’s migration policy.

The country has similar agreements with several other states.

However, the agreement with Armenia formalises the framework and makes travel conditions more transparent and predictable for citizens of both nations.

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