Kazakhstan is calling on the European Union to make the Schengen visa application process more accessible for its citizens, with a focus on reducing fees and improving other aspects of the process. Among its requests, Kazakhstan has asked the EU to lower the current €90 visa fee, which was previously set at €80.
In addition to fee reductions, Kazakhstan is pushing for the EU to issue longer-term Schengen visas for its passport holders and to shorten the processing times. Kazakh authorities have emphasized that the country has implemented measures to prevent irregular migration, assuring the EU that relaxing visa rules will not lead to increased migration risks.
To further support its case, Kazakhstan has expressed its willingness to cooperate in the readmission of its nationals who may stay in the EU without authorization.
According to data from the Schengen Statistics Portal, Kazakh citizens submitted 159,072 Schengen visa applications in 2023, making Kazakhstan the 20th largest applicant group. Out of these applications, 143,970 were approved, while 14,285 were denied.
Kazakhstan’s appeal to the EU highlights its efforts to strengthen ties and facilitate easier travel for its citizens within the Schengen Zone.
