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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Except for citizens of visa-free countries, visitors to Vietnam must get a visa before entering the country. Before entering the nation, make sure you know whether you are exempt from the Vietnam visa requirement or whether you need to apply for one. Citizens of Bangladesh are able to apply for a Vietnam E-visa (Electronic visa). Citizens of 80 countries, including Bangladesh, can obtain e-visas to Vietnam. Bangladesh passport holders are eligible to apply for a one-month single entry E-visa for a range of reasons, including tourist, business, job, and study. In as little as ten minutes, Bangladesh nationals can apply for a visa to Vietnam online. Applicants must submit information on their passport page, including personal information, contact information (email and address), and employment information.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR BANGLADESH CITIZENS

• Possess a passport valid for 180 days on their arrival date in Vietnam
• Share digital copies of their passport’s biographical page and a recently taken ID photo
• Supply a debit or credit card to pay the processing fee for their electronic visa
• Have their travel itinerary ready.
• A valid Email address where notifications and the approved e-Visa will be sent.

VIETNAM VISA FROM BOLIVIA

Except for citizens of visa-free countries, visitors to Vietnam must get a visa before entering the country. Before entering the nation, make sure you know whether you are exempt from the Vietnam visa requirement or whether you need to apply for one. Bolivian citizens can apply for a Vietnam E-visa (Electronic visa). Citizens of 80 countries, including Bolivia, can obtain e-visas to Vietnam. Bolivia passport holders are eligible to apply for a one-month single entry E-visa for a variety of reasons, including tourist, business, job, and study. Bolivian citizens can apply for a visa to Vietnam online in under ten minutes. Applicants must submit information on their passport page, including personal information, contact information (email and address), and employment information.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR BOLIVIA CITIZENS

• Possess a passport valid for 180 days on their arrival date in Vietnam
• Share digital copies of their passport’s biographical page and a recently taken ID photo
• Supply a debit or credit card to pay the processing fee for their electronic visa
• Have their travel itinerary ready.
• A valid Email address where notifications and the approved e-Visa will be sent.

VIETNAM TRANSIT VISA

A transit is a pause at an international border gate before traveling to a third country when flying from one country to another. Passengers might take a nap on the plane or go to the transit area to wait for the next flight. Foreigners must get a transit visa for Vietnam depending on their circumstances. In almost all cases, tourists traveling in Vietnam for less than 24 hours will not require a transit visa. Those arriving at an airport for a connecting flight should simply follow the “transfer” signs to the international transfer area. If you intend to transit through Vietnam and stay for longer than 24 hours, you must get a visa. All eligible passport holders can apply for a transit visa to Vietnam online using a simple electronic form that takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Once the application has been reviewed and approved, a copy of the transit visa is emailed to the traveler, eliminating the need for the passenger to visit an embassy to obtain a paper document.

Required Documents For The Vietnam Transit Visa

• Passport with over 6 months validity remaining
• Proof of onward travel
• Valid authorization for your eventual destination

VIETNAM URGENT EMERGENCY VISA

If you are in a scenario where you require an urgent Vietnam visa. Flexibility and adaptation have become critical in the ever-changing scene of international travel. Whether it’s a last-minute business meeting, an unexpected family reunion, or a surprise trip to Vietnam, the necessity for a quick and fast visa solution is apparent. The usual visa application process, on the other hand, takes a long time. If you are in an emergency situation and need your Vietnam visa immediately or if you need to enter Vietnam on short notice, you can use the expedited visa service to expedite your pending or new visa application.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR VIETNAM EMERGENCY VISA

• Possess a passport valid for 180 days on their arrival date in Vietnam
• Share digital copies of their passport’s biographical page and a recently taken ID photo
• Supply a debit or credit card to pay the processing fee for their electronic visa
• Have their travel itinerary ready.
• A valid Email address where notifications and the approved e-Visa will be sent.

VIETNAM VISA FROM UZBEKISTAN

Except for citizens of visa-free countries, visitors to Vietnam must get a visa before entering the country. Before entering the nation, make sure you know whether you are exempt from the Vietnam visa requirement or whether you need to apply for one. Citizens of Uzbekistan are able to apply for a Vietnam E-visa (Electronic visa). Citizens of 80 countries, including Uzbekistan, can obtain e-visas to Vietnam. Uzbekistan passport holders are eligible to apply for a one-month single entry E-visa for a variety of reasons, including tourist, business, job, and study. Citizens of Uzbekistan can apply for a visa to Vietnam online in as little as ten minutes. Applicants must submit information on their passport page, including personal information, contact information (email and address), and employment information.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR UZBEKISTAN CITIZENS

• Possess a passport valid for 180 days on their arrival date in Vietnam
• Share digital copies of their passport’s biographical page and a recently taken ID photo
• Supply a debit or credit card to pay the processing fee for their electronic visa
• Have their travel itinerary ready.
• A valid Email address where notifications and the approved e-Visa will be sent.

Source: Digital Journal

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PHUKET: Tourists arriving from China and Kazakhstan today (Sept 25), the first day of ‘visa-free’ travel for people visiting from the two countries, were welcomed at Phuket International Airport with much fanfare, led by a delegation of officials and leading tourism figures.

The delegation at Phuket airport were present to ensure the tourists were made to feel welcome, with Phuket just one of four airports in the country where similar events were held to welcome the visitors, including at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and Chiang Mai International Airport.

Tourists arriving from the two countries today were treated to a welcoming ceremony, garlands and gift bags of souvenirs as well as cultural performances “to welcome and impress and show

Thailand’s readiness to be an important tourism destination”, reported the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket).

The aim of the events today was “to support the government’s policy to urgently accelerate the facilitation of travelling to Thailand though the visa exemption measure for tourism [extended] to Chinese and Kazakhstan tourists from 25 September 2023 – 29 February 2024 in order to build faith [sic],” the PR Phuket report said.

Leading the welcome delegation in Phuket were:

• Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Deputy Governor for European, African, Middle Eastern and American Markets
• Emil Kuliiev, Advisor to the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Phuket Province
• Monchai Tanode, General Manager of Phuket International Airport
• Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, Director of the TAT Phuket Office Thanet Tantipiriyakit, President of the Phuket Tourist Association
• Wirintra Paphakityotphat, head of the Tourism Council of
  Thailand (TCT) Region 11 branch (which represents Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi)
  Urachat Panyawut, Air Astana Airlines Sales and Marketing Manager for Thailand,

The delegation was on hand, joined by a host of support staff, to welcome tourists arriving on Air Astana Flight KC 563 direct from Almaty, Kazakhstan, which landed at Phuket Airport at 9:25am.

PR Phuket noted that the flight’s passenger capacity was 166 seats, but omitted clarifying exactly how many tourists were on board.

One of the passengers to arrive was Chatchawan Sakornsin, the Thai Ambassador in Astana, traveling along with the group. Including media from Kazakhstan joining the trip.

The Kazakh tourist market is considered a remote market with potential and a large market in Central Asia. The number of visitors from the central Asia country already so far this year has reached 109,865 people (as of Sept 17), compared with 56,529 people throughout all of 2019.

The average stay is 14.03 days, with the average spending at B4,365.25 per person per day. Most from Kazakhstan travel in family groups, most notably during the winter months of December through March, PR Phuket noted in its report.

Air Astana is now operating four flights a week from Almaty, and will increase that to seven flights a week, starting Oct 29 and continuing through April 2024, the report added.
The goal is to attract 150,000 tourists from Kazakhstan this year. The five months of visa exemption is expected to attract 129,485 tourists from Kazakhstan, generating some B7.93 billion for the economy, the report added.

A similar welcome was rolled out for Chinese visitors arriving in Phuket under the visa-free scheme today.

Arrivals to Phuket on three flights in particular were singled out for the warm welcome: Air China flight CA717 from Hangzhou (capacity 158 passengers), which landed at Phuket airport at 3pm; Spring Airlines Flight 9C8667 from Shanghai (capacity 180 passengers), which landed at 4:15pm; and Air China Flight CA 821 (capacity 237 passengers) from Beijing, scheduled to arrive at 5:45pm.

A total of 2,341,080 visitors had arrived from China from Jan 1 to Sept 17. On average tourists from China stay 7.8 days and spend B50,766 per person per trip, PR Phuket noted.
Phuket is the second most popular tourist destination in Thailand for Chinese tourists, after Bangkok.

Extending the visa-free scheme to Chinese nationals is expected to boost revenue from Chinese tourists to B257.5bn in 2023.
The visa-free scheme is hoped to help push the number of foreign tourists to Thailand to reach the announced goal of “25 – 30 million people in 2023”, PR Phuket concluded.

Source: The Phuket News

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The president highlighted the dynamic regional cooperation and the global role of the Central Asian countries, which create new opportunities to expand cooperation

Jeddah: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan stated that his country has adopted a visa-free entry system for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in order to ensure sustainable growth and prosperity.

The Kazakh president indicated that the tourism industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the region’s economy, expressing his readiness to develop the mutual promotion of cultural, educational, environmental, sports, and commercial tourism.

His remarks came while delivering his speech at the GCC-Central Asia Summit, which was hosted in Jeddah today.

President Tokayev expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for hosting the summit.

He also expressed his pride in participating in the summit, which highlights the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship between the GCC and Central Asian countries through unity and mutual support.

President Tokayev praised the excellent organization of the summit, with the participation of royal and presidential highnesses, and highlighted the advancement of multi-dimensional cooperation and strong, harmonious relationships.

He commended the support of active political dialogue and the development of trade and economic cooperation.

President Tokayev emphasized the importance of strengthening cultural and human ties that align with the countries’ views on sustainable development issues and ensuring global security and peace. He noted that the historical ties, shared spiritual values, bonds of friendship, and brotherhood form a solid foundation for these relationships.

He stated that Kazakhstan places exceptional importance on today’s meeting and that the Arab Gulf countries, with their significant political influence and important economic and investment potential, are among its most important partners in many key areas.

The president highlighted the dynamic regional cooperation and the global role of the Central Asian countries, which create new opportunities to expand cooperation.

He commended the effective and active growth of trade between Central Asian countries and the GCC member states in recent years and looked forward to increasing mutual trade and activating investment cooperation.

Kazakhstan can increase its exports to the Gulf countries by approximately 100 products worth around $350 million, he said.

Source: Zawya News

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The decision is included in a decree issued on Tuesday and took effect immediately.

The agreement states that Kazkhstani citizens and Vietnamese citizens holding passports that are valid for at least six months will be exempt from visa requirements to enter, exit, transit and temporary stay in Vietnam and Kazakhstan for a maximum of 30 days from the date of entry.

The duration of their stay should not exceed 90 days for a three-month period. They will have to apply for a visa if they want to stay longer.

The signing of the agreement is expected to help strengthen relations between the two countries.

Source: VN Express

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