China visa for Kazakhstan citizens

Current status (verified July 2026)

Kazakh ordinary passport holders are covered by the mutual visa-waiver agreement signed between Astana and Beijing in 2023, which allows visa-free entry to mainland China for up to 30 days per visit. The arrangement is reciprocal — Chinese ordinary passport holders receive the same 30-day allowance on entry to Kazakhstan. Entry is granted on arrival at any open port; no advance visa sticker, approval or e-visa is required for stays within the 30-day window.

Unlike China's unilateral visa-free lists, which Beijing can vary at short notice, the Kazakh arrangement is bilateral and rests on the 2023 treaty. It has continued into 2026 without material change, though the specific terms — including the day count and the categories of travel covered — should be reconfirmed with the Chinese Embassy in Astana or the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly before travel.

Diplomatic, service and official passport holders travel under separate provisions and should confirm entry conditions in advance.

What visa-free covers

Tourism — independent and group travel, sightseeing, family holidays
Business — meetings, trade fairs, contract negotiations, site inspections
Family visits — seeing Kazakh relatives resident in China or Chinese in-laws
Transit — onward travel through mainland China to a third country

Movement within mainland China is otherwise unrestricted, subject to the standard exceptions. The Tibet Autonomous Region requires a Tibet Travel Permit arranged through a licensed agency, and some border zones in Xinjiang and elsewhere require additional documentation regardless of visa status.

What visa-free does not cover

Paid employment in China — requires a Z visa arranged by the Chinese employer
Study on programmes longer than 180 days — requires an X1 visa and the JW202 form
Journalism and reporting — requires a J visa
Any single stay expected to exceed 30 days

The 30-day count runs from the day after entry. Overstaying carries fines and can affect future Chinese visa applications, so plan the exit date carefully and keep the entry stamp accessible.

Land border crossings

Kazakhstan and China share a long land border with several open crossings used by both freight and passenger traffic:

Khorgos / Horgos — the main road and rail crossing on the Almaty–Urumqi corridor, with a dedicated International Centre of Boundary Cooperation on the border. Used heavily by traders and increasingly by tourists on overland itineraries.
Alashankou / Dostyk — the older rail and road crossing further north, connecting the Kazakh town of Dostyk with Alashankou in Xinjiang. Passenger trains between Almaty and Urumqi use this route.

Both crossings are open to third-country nationals as well as Kazakh and Chinese citizens, though opening hours vary and can be affected by holidays on either side. Kazakh passport holders using the visa-free arrangement can enter and exit at these ports on the same basis as at Beijing or Shanghai airports.

On arrival

Border officers typically ask to see:

A Kazakh passport valid at least six months beyond the intended stay, with at least one blank page
A return or onward ticket out of mainland China within 30 days
Proof of accommodation — hotel bookings, host address or itinerary
The completed arrival card and health-and-customs declaration, usually via a QR code at airports

Fingerprints are captured on first entry for travellers aged 14 to 70. Land crossings can involve longer processing than airports, particularly at peak freight hours.

If you plan to stay longer than 30 days

Travel plans exceeding 30 days require an L visa (tourism) or M visa (business), applied for in advance through the China Visa Application Service Centre in Astana. Standard requirements include:

Completed online application form and appointment booking
Passport valid at least six months, with blank pages
One recent passport-style photograph meeting Chinese specifications
Return flight booking and hotel reservations covering the requested stay
For M visas — an invitation letter from a Chinese business partner

Standard processing typically takes four working days. Express and same-day options are usually available at additional cost. Fees are set by CVASC and change periodically — check the current schedule when booking.

Chinese diplomatic missions in Kazakhstan

The Chinese Embassy in Astana handles consular affairs for Kazakhstan, and a Chinese Consulate-General operates in Almaty covering the southern regions. Visa applications for stays beyond the 30-day window are lodged through the CVASC rather than at the embassy directly. Supporting documents issued in Kazakh or Russian are generally accepted by CVASC Astana for straightforward tourist and business files; more complex categories, including Q visas for family reunion and X visas for study, may require certified translations into Chinese or English.

Regular direct flights link Astana and Almaty with Beijing, Shanghai, Urumqi and several other Chinese cities, which makes the 30-day window practical for most leisure and short business itineraries.

Things to confirm before travelling

Even under a bilateral treaty, individual entry conditions can be adjusted. Verify current eligibility on the Chinese Embassy in Astana website or through the official CVASC portal shortly before travel, particularly before booking non-refundable flights, long overland itineraries or connections through the land crossings.

Related resources

[Visa decision tree](/tools/visa-decision-tree)
[30-day visa-free entry](/plan/visa-free-entry)
[Standard L visa route](/plan/visa)