Kazakhstan and EU Finalise Expert-Level Talks on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements – A Major Step Toward Easier Travel and Stronger Ties
- Xavi
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 29
Astana, 26 June 2026 — Kazakhstan and the European Union have successfully completed expert-level negotiations on draft Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, marking a significant milestone in their bilateral cooperation.
The announcement was made by Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yerlan Zhetybayev during a press briefing on June 25, shortly after President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s high-level visit to Brussels on June 23.
Key Highlights from the Negotiations
During his meetings with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President Tokayev and EU leaders welcomed the completion of the expert-level talks.
According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry:
Both sides are now carrying out the necessary domestic procedures required before the agreements can be formally signed.
Once in force, the Visa Facilitation Agreement is expected to:
Shorten visa processing times for Kazakh citizens
Expand access to multiple-entry visas
Ease documentary requirements
Facilitate business, educational, scientific, cultural, and humanitarian exchanges
The agreements are viewed as a practical outcome of Kazakhstan’s deepening partnership with the EU and a boost to people-to-people contacts.
Strong Denial of Migrant Relocation Rumours
The Foreign Ministry also used the briefing to firmly deny recent media reports suggesting that Kazakhstan and the EU had discussed relocating third-country migrants to Kazakhstan.
"Spokesperson Yerlan Zhetybayev stated that Kazakhstan has not engaged in negotiations with the EU or its member states regarding the establishment of centers in Kazakhstan for receiving, accommodating, transiting, or placing individuals who are not Kazakh citizens and are subject to return or deportation from European countries."
This clarification aims to put an end to speculation and reaffirm Kazakhstan’s position on migration matters.
What This Means for Kazakh Citizens and EU-Kazakhstan Relations
The future Visa Facilitation Agreement is expected to make travel to the Schengen Area significantly easier for Kazakh passport holders, supporting tourism, business, and academic mobility.
For the EU, the agreements represent an important tool to manage migration flows more effectively through improved readmission cooperation while strengthening ties with a key Central Asian partner.
For the latest Kazakhstan visa and immigration updates, EU-Kazakhstan relations news, and 2026 migration developments in Central Asia, visit: visasupdate.com/news
This development comes at a time of growing strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union. The completion of expert-level talks on visa facilitation and readmission is widely seen as a positive step that could lead to more convenient travel and deeper cooperation in the years ahead.
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