To Ensure a Smooth Journey: How to Check for a Travel Ban from Kazakhstan

Travel requires thorough preparation, including ensuring all documents are collected. Equally important is verifying if there is a travel ban from Kazakhstan. If you find out at the border that you are prohibited from leaving, your vacation will be ruined, and your plans will have to change on the fly. It is better to find out in advance so you can resolve the situation before your departure and enjoy your vacation.

How can one be included in the list of "travel-restricted"? How is the travel ban from Kazakhstan checked? What should you do if you find yourself among the debtors? All these questions have simple answers.

Who is subject to the travel ban from the Republic of Kazakhstan?

There are three reasons that result in travel restrictions.

1. The citizen does not fulfill obligations prescribed by the court. For example, there are debts that the individual cannot pay off.
2. The person is involved in a criminal case. For instance, the court has imposed a prison sentence or mandatory work. A travel ban also applies during the investigation of criminal cases.
3. The citizen is serving or holding a position related to confidential information or state secrets.

Temporary restrictions are imposed in two cases:

1. The citizen has a debt that has not been settled within three months of receiving the notice.
2. The individual’s debt amounts to 40 MRP or more (in 2024, this is 147,680 tenge).

Features of the restrictions

The type of debt does not matter to the law. It can be a credit debt, unpaid alimony, an unpaid fine, or utility services.

To impose a temporary restriction on an individual, a decision from the executive body is sufficient. If the debtor is the head of a legal entity, a court session is held. The citizen receives a notice, and the ban comes into effect five working days after the notice is issued.

Note that the ban applies not only to flights but also to other methods of crossing the border, such as by car, bus, or on foot. The restrictions do not depend on where the person has decided to vacation

.

Can the ban be lifted temporarily? Yes, such a practice exists, but it is relevant in cases where the citizen requires medical treatment abroad. The court decides on the removal of the restrictions.

A ban can also be imposed on a foreigner—for example, if he is a debtor in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Usually, if a foreigner has debts, they face deportation and a ban on entering Kazakhstan.

What happens if you still manage to cross the border?

Some debtors manage to cross the border thanks to forged documents or database errors. In this case, according to Article 669 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the citizen may be subject to the following punishment:

• A fine of 5 MRP (amounting to 18,760 tenge) or arrest for up to 7 days for the first violation.
• Arrest for up to 10 days or a fine of 30 MRP (equivalent to 110,760 tenge) for a repeat violation. A fine is imposed when arrest cannot be applied to the debtor.

The citizen will have to pay both their main debt and the fine.

The punishment is determined by the court.

How to remove the ban?

The standard condition for obtaining permission to leave Kazakhstan is the payment of debts. Debts can be settled through "Kazpost" (terminal, website, or app) and bank apps, such as bcc.kz. It is important to make the payment as early as possible, as it takes several days to lift the restrictions. Generally, verification takes one working day, but for various reasons, the process can extend to three working days. This is the maximum allowed period. After the payment, it is necessary to notify the court bailiff.

The ban can also be lifted in other cases, such as through an amicable agreement between the parties or a change in management (if the debtor was the head of a legal entity).

How to find out if there is a travel ban from Kazakhstan?

In Kazakhstan, there are two registries of debtors—one concerns debtors with restrictions (for example, on loans or alimony) and the other concerns debtors under enforcement proceedings in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Therefore, the travel ban should be checked in these two registries. You need to provide your full name and IIN (for individuals) or BIN (for legal entities). The service is free.

You can also check the travel ban from the Republic of Kazakhstan through the electronic government portal eGov (on the website, via the mobile app, or Telegram bot). In this case, documents are signed using an electronic digital signature (EDS). There are other ways to check the travel restriction, such as on the website of the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan. For clarification on the arrest, the user, who is an individual, will also need the IIN.

Many travelers ignore the recommendation to check the travel restriction from Kazakhstan in advance and remember it just before the trip, for example, at the airport. If you have no debts, this is not a big deal. But if you do, you won’t be able to “close” the debts immediately—as we have already noted, it takes 1 to 3 days. Your vacation may be ruined, so it’s better to always clarify your status in advance.

This article has been translated from its original language using neural network-based translation technology.