Kazakhstan is offering free 72-hr transit visa to Indians

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Dont miss to see Soviet-era architecture

Effective from 23 April till 31 December 2018 inclusive, citizens of the Republic of India, flying with Air Astana and transiting via international airports in Astana and Almaty to a third country or returning from a third country, can enjoy a 72-hour transit visa-free regime. The 72-hour transit visa-free regime is generally applicable to both individual passengers and tour groups.

It’s your unique chance to discover 2 countries in one go. A three-day visit may not be enough to dip into the Kazakh’s “unique” culture, but it’s enough to get a flavour. Astana, in particular, is a visually distinct city, with tall, geometric Soviet-era architecture, that may seem almost dystopian today. Almaty, meanwhile, is the buzzing cultural and commercial capital and an emerging tourist hub. The transit visa is the latest in a series of moves to make travel to Kazakhstan easier for Indians. Last year, Kazakhstan cut the visa processing time down from two weeks to just two days, with a lot less paperwork. There are also talks to provide more slots to Kazakh airlines at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

There are just a few things that would help you ensure smooth 72-hour visa-free transit in Kazakhstan:

  1. Let the Air Astana staff at the airport check-in desk in your departure city know that you plan to enjoy the visa-free transit.
  1. If you plan to stay in Astana or Almaty, book a hotel in advance (at least 4 days prior to arrival) and contact Air Astana representative office before departure to provide the name of the hotel where you are staying and its address information.
  1. To obtain a migration card make sure you have:

A valid air ticket or boarding pass to a third country where you are planning to go within 72 hours.
A boarding pass receipt of the previous flight.
A valid passport with at least one blank page in it and a visa for the final destination country (if the country requires a visa).