The European Union and Kazakhstan have welcomed the setting up of a dialogue on visa facilitations under the EU Visa Code and have also discussed the next steps.

The next steps in the Schengen visa facilitation for citizens of Kazakhstan were discussed during the Cooperation Council between the EU and Kazakhstan meeting, which was held on October 23 in Luxembourg, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

While the Council of the EU did not reveal what the next steps will be, it is believed that the dialogue will include measures that can be introduced to facilitate the Schengen visa application for Kazakhstan citizens.

The Council confirmed that the EU and Kazakhstan are both committed to deepening and widening their cooperation. At the same time, the EU expressed strong support for the reform and modernisation process of Kazakhstan.

Marking the 30th anniversary of EU-Kazakhstan bilateral relations this year and reaching a record high in mutual trade, both parties confirmed their commitment to deepening and widening cooperation and to realising the full potential of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.EU Council

The authorities of Kazakhstan are actively pursuing negotiations with the EU to simplify Schengen visa requirements.

Earlier this month, the Interna Affairs Minister of Kazakhstan, Yerzhan Sadenov, discussed with the EU Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Johannes Luchner, the current Schengen visa rules and required the EU to relax some of them.

Providing detailed information on the reforms that Kazakhstan has made so far, Minister Sadenov said that there will not be any migration risk if the EU facilitates the Schengen visa rules for citizens of his country.

Minister Sadenov also confirmed the readiness of Kazakhstan to begin the process of simplifying the visa application rules, stressing that Kazakhstan has already identified some requirements that can be simplified.

While Luchner did not make any comment on whether the EU will take measures to simplify the visa application process for citizens of Kazakhstan, both parties agreed to undertake a joint analysis of the visa application process and then begin a dialogue on the matter.

The authorities said back then that once the analysis is completed, they will meet again and discuss steps that can be taken in this regard.

Similar to citizens of other countries who need a Schengen visa to be allowed entry into the Schengen Area, citizens of Kazakhstan need to submit several documents on their applications.

Kazakhstan citizens need to submit the fully completed and signed visa application form, proof of having secured a place to stay, and proof of having purchased travel health insurance, among others.

Source: Schengen Visa Info

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