US/Canada to Kazakhstan 40–80% OFF
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Yes, the visa-free regime remains in full effect as of late 2025. US and Canadian passport holders can enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days for tourism or business without a visa. This policy applies to entry via all international airports (Almaty, Astana) and land borders. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you must apply for a B3 business visa or the new Neo Nomad visa before traveling. Do not overstay, as fines are strictly enforced at departure control.

Yes, the new international terminal at Almaty Airport (ALA) is now fully handling international flights as of late 2025. This modern facility has significantly reduced immigration queues compared to the old Soviet-era terminal, though baggage claim can still take 30-45 minutes during the peak morning arrival bank (4 AM – 6 AM). The new terminal also features improved e-gate facilities for faster processing. Pickup zones for Yandex Go taxis have been relocated to the lower level curb, so follow the new signage carefully upon exit.

Yes, Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in cities, but the local ecosystem is dominated by “Kaspi QR,” which requires a local bank account. While supermarkets, malls, and nice restaurants accept foreign cards and Apple Pay, smaller shops, bazaars, and some taxi drivers only take Kaspi transfers or cash. You absolutely need to carry some Tenge cash (about 20,000-40,000 KZT) for these situations. American Express and Discover are virtually useless here—leave them at home.

Most restaurants in major cities automatically add a 10% “service charge” to the bill. Check your receipt for “Obsluzhivanie” (Service). If this is included, you don’t strictly need to tip more, but adding an extra few hundred Tenge or rounding up is polite for good service. If no service charge is added, a 10% tip is standard. Tipping taxi drivers is not expected, but rounding up the fare on the app is appreciated.

Generally yes, Kazakhstan is one of the safer countries in Central Asia for solo women. Street harassment is relatively rare compared to other regions, though staring is common. The main safety tips are to avoid unlit parks at night and never take unofficial “gypsy” taxis—always use the Yandex Go app so your ride is tracked. Dress is secular and modern in cities; you’ll see everything from miniskirts to hijabs, so there’s no strict dress code, though modesty is appreciated in rural areas and mosques.

Police document checks are less common now but still happen, especially at metro stations or train terminals. Always carry your original passport and the migration card (if issued) or e-Qonaq registration screenshot. Be polite, show your documents, and do not offer money—bribes can get you in serious trouble. If they try to fine you for a made-up infraction, pretend not to understand Russian and politely ask to call your embassy. They will usually wave you on rather than deal with the paperwork.

Kazakh cuisine is extremely meat-centric (horse meat, lamb, beef), but Almaty and Astana have a growing scene of modern cafes with vegetarian options. In traditional restaurants, you may struggle; “salad” often implies meat or heavy mayonnaise. Your best bets are Georgian restaurants (order Khachapuri cheese bread, eggplant rolls, and mushroom dumplings) or Lagman places where you can request “vegetarianski” versions, though cross-contamination is common. In rural areas, bring protein bars.

We use AI to monitor fare buckets on major carriers like Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Lufthansa 24/7. Central Asia is a high-fare region, but pricing anomalies occur when airlines adjust capacity or compete for transit traffic. For example, we recently detected roundtrip fares from New York to Almaty for $750 (normally $1,300) due to a temporary price drop by Qatar Airways. Our experts verify these deals to ensure connections are reasonable, then alert our free newsletter subscribers immediately so they can book directly with the airline.