The agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Vietnam on the exemption from visa requirements for holders of national passports, signed on August 21, 2023, in Hanoi, will enter into force on May 25, 2024.
Under the new regulations, citizens of both Kazakhstan and Vietnam can now enjoy the the benefit of staying for 30 calendar days from the date of entry into the territory and a total of 90 calendar days during each six months, VisaGuide.World reports.
As reported by local media, the visa-free agreement was signed during the official visit of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to Vietnam last year. This agreement, along with 12 other important cooperation documents, including a memorandum of understanding between Khabar Agency and Vietnam Television, signifies the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Kazakhstan Welcomed Over 1000 Visitors From Vietnam in 2022
It has also been discussed that four flights will operate between Kazakhstan and Vietnam, with plans to increase to seven, further enhancing the connectivity and mutual understanding between the two nations.
At that time, the President of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, revealed that in 2023, trade between countries exceeded $500mn and is expected to reach $1bn by year-end.
In 2022, over 26,000 residents of Kazakhstan and six million tourists from around the world visited Vietnam. At the same time, over 1,000 Vietnamese alone citizens visited Kazakhstan due to their admiration for our natural wonders, such as mountains, lakes, and the Caspian Sea.
Vietnamese authorities have recently announced their commitment to facilitating travel with several countries. Talks are underway with 15 countries for visa-free travel and 80 countries for reciprocal visa waivers for diplomatic passport holders. This proactive approach by Vietnam demonstrates its dedication to fostering international relations and promoting global travel.
As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son, explained, 13 countries are currently unilaterally exempted from the requirement to obtain visas to enter Vietnam, including the following countries:
- South Korea
- Japan
- Russia
- Denmark
- Norway
- Sweden
- Finland
- France
- Belarus
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- Italy
Vietnam Requires Introduction of Visas on Arrival & Extension of Multiple-Entry Stays to 36 Months
In February this year, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính asked relevant agencies to prioritize measures to facilitate tourism growth in Vietnam.
As a result, he considered introducing visas on arrival and extending the duration of multiple-entry residence visas to 36 months.
Last month, in an effort to increase tourism, Thailand and Kazakhstan also reached a visa-free travel agreement. Thus, the citizens of the two countries mentioned above can travel to each other’s countries without visas, with a limit of 30 days per visit and a maximum of 90 days within each 180 days.