Kazakhstani citizens may eventually be able to travel to Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan using their national identity cards, without requiring an international passport. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is developing a mechanism for visa-free travel using national identity documents among five member states, El.kz reports citing APA.
The new rules are not yet in effect. OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev said that preparatory work is ongoing, although no specific launch date for the initiative has been announced.
Where Kazakhstanis may be able to travel without a passport
The initiative covers Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. A similar arrangement is already in place between two OTS member states: citizens of Azerbaijan and Türkiye may travel between the two countries using their national identity cards.
The OTS is now considering extending this mechanism to three additional states: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
“We are also working to make this possible with other Turkic states. We are referring to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. We can implement this not only with one country, but jointly,” Kubanychbek Omuraliev said.
When could passport tequirements for travel be lifted?
According to the OTS Secretary General, the issue is already on the organization’s agenda. The parties are currently carrying out the preparatory work required to implement the arrangement among all participating states.
“This issue is on our agenda. We are talking about five countries: Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Preparatory work is ongoing so that the project can be completed as soon as possible.”
At the same time, no official date has yet been announced for the transition to the new travel arrangement. Therefore, Kazakhstani citizens still require a passport when travelling to Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Where Kazakhstanis can already travel using their national identity cards
Kazakhstan already has agreements in place allowing its citizens to cross certain international borders using a national identity document. According to the e-government portal, a national identity card is sufficient for travel to Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
Additional requirements have been introduced in certain cases for travel to Russia in 2026. As of July, 1 Kazakhstani citizens entering Russia for employment or study are required to use the “Gosuslugi RuID” application and submit an electronic application in advance.
Kazakhstani citizens may also enter Armenia using their national identity cards. According to the current guidance issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the national identity card is included among the documents permitted for crossing the Armenian border, alongside a passport.
Kazakhstani citizens may stay in Armenia visa-free for up to 90 days. If a citizen remains in the country for more than 30 calendar days, registration at the place of stay may be required in accordance with the legislation of the host country.
If the OTS initiative is implemented, Kazakhstani citizens will only need to carry their national identity cards when travelling to Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Obtaining a passport solely for such travel will no longer be necessary.
