Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ermek Marzhikpaev, announced during a government meeting on May 14th the plans to introduce a visa for modern nomads.
Ermek Marzhikpaev emphasized the need to improve the visa and migration regime through digitalization and simplification of visa procedures. The proposed visa for modern nomads, tentatively named Neo Nomad Visa, aims to grant foreign citizens the right to long-term stay in the country. The expected economic impact of implementing this measure is estimated to be over 3 billion tenge annually. A mechanism for the introduction of the Neo Nomad Visa has been developed and submitted to relevant government bodies.
During a briefing at the government, Ermek Marzhikpaev mentioned that the new visa could be implemented by the end of the year. He highlighted that similar visas exist in 50 countries, with an anticipated influx of around 500 tourists. The focus is on countries in Europe that have already introduced such visas, where the number of tourists ranges from 500 to 2000. The Neo Nomad Visa entails certain requirements, including valid medical insurance within the country, proof of employment with a minimum income of $3000 per month. Initially, the visa will be introduced in the 82 countries with visa-free relations with Kazakhstan. The key criterion is that the visa holders should not seek employment in the country, particularly targeting individuals in IT, journalism, and those capable of remote work. The visa will be valid for one year.
Overall, in 2023, Kazakhstan welcomed 9.2 million foreign visitors, doubling the 2022 figures. Additionally, over 9.6 million Kazakhstanis traveled within the country, surpassing the 2022 numbers by 1 million. Accommodation services generated over 229 billion tenge, a 1.3-fold increase from 2022. Tax revenues from the tourism sector amounted to 450 billion tenge, exceeding the 2022 figures by 64 billion tenge.
During the same meeting, Marzhikpaev also discussed plans to introduce an SOS button for tourists.
