How to apply for a Schengen visa from Kazakhstan

The Schengen visa for citizens and residents of Kazakhstan is necessary for Kazakhs who are looking to travel to most places in Europe. Today’s blog will provide an overview of the Schengen visa application process for those looking to apply for the Schengen visa to Kazakhstan as citizens and residents. If you are approved for a Schengen visa from Kazakhstan, you will be able to spend 90 days in the Schengen area—a collection of countries which includes some of the most visited states in the world, including France, Germany, and Italy. See how to apply below.

How to apply for the Schengen visa for citizens and residents of Kazakhstan in 2023

• 1. Determine when to apply 
  • The Schengen visa application process can take a number of weeks, depending on how long it takes you to assemble your documents (and factoring in post-submission Schengen visa processing times, which can vary). Because of this, you should apply at least a couple of weeks in advance, in order to make sure that you have time to fulfill all of the requirements pertaining to the Schengen visa for citizens and residents of Kazakhstan. 
• 2. Choose your visa “type”
  • Applicants for the Schengen visa for citizens and residents of Kazakhstan are required to select their visa “type.” 
  • There are many different types of Schengen visas available to Kazakh citizens and residents. Some of the most frequently applied-for include “student,” “business,” and “tourism”; you should select the type that most completely describes your reason for traveling to the Schengen area. For example, if you are traveling to the zone as a tourist, you should apply for the “Schengen Tourist visa.” 
  • Explore all the Schengen visa types on-offer here.
• 3. Choose your visa “entry category” 
  • There are three entry categories for the Schengen visa. The category of entry visa that you hold will determine the number of times that you can enter and exit the zone. Depending on which you obtain, you will either be able to enter the zone one time (meaning that if you leave the zone you won’t be able to return, even if you still have time left on your visa) twice (meaning that you can return to the zone one time after exiting it, for a total of two entries during your visa validity period) or multiple times (meaning you can enter and exit the zone as many times as you want); these visa categories are, respectively, single entry, double entry, and multiple entry. 
• 4. Choose your primary destination 
  • Your primary destination in the Schengen area is the country in which you intend to spend the most time while on your trip. Once you have determined your primary destination in the Schengen area, you will apply for your visa from that country’s consular mission in Kazakhstan. 
  • There are 26 countries in the Schengen area; if you only intend to travel to one Schengen state, your primary destination in the zone will obviously be that one country. If you are traveling to more than one country, your primary destination will be the one you intend to spend the most time visiting. 
  • Figuring out your primary destination is a bit more complicated in the event that you are looking to spend an equal amount of time in more than one country. For example, if you are traveling to, and spending an equal amount of time in, both Italy and France, you may be wondering how to determine your primary Schengen destination. In this scenario, your primary destination would be the country that you entered first (therefore, if you flew from Almaty International Airport to Paris, your primary destination would be France, because you would have entered the Schengen area through France rather than Italy). 
• 5. Determine where to apply in Kazakhstan 
  • You will apply for the Kazakhstan Schengen visa as citizens and residents at the embassy, consulate, or visa application center of the Schengen country you are applying to. 
  • For example, if you are applying for a Schengen visa to France, you will apply through the French Embassy in Nour-Sultan. 
  • Some Schengen countries do not have a consular department in Kazakhstan; other Schengen countries often process visas on behalf of these countries. For example, the Austrian Embassy in Nur-Sultan is responsible for processing Schengen visa applications to Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Slovenia; if you need a Schengen visa to any of those countries, therefore, you will apply for them indirectly through the Austrian Embassy.   
• 6. Assemble your required documents 
  • A main component of the Schengen visa requirements for Kazakhstan citizens and residents is the submission of various required and supplemental documents and materials. All applicants therefore, must submit the following:
    • Kazakh passport (or other country passport) 
    • Passport photos (2 for identification purposes) 
    • Proof of finances
    • Proof of accommodation 
    • Proof of return
    • Proof of travel medical insurance
    • Basic Schengen visa application form 
    • Schengen visa fees for Kazakhstan citizens and residents
  • In addition to the above, applicants for the Schengen visa for citizens and residents of Kazakhstan must also submit a variety of supplemental documents, which depend on the specific type of visa they are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a “Visiting Family or Friends” visa, you will need to supply an invitation letter, inviting you to visit the Schengen area (from the person you are visiting). 
• 7. Submit your basic application form
  • Most countries will allow you to submit the universal Schengen visa application form, which is available here.
  • However, certain countries ask that you apply through a country specific online visa-portal (such as France, which directs applicants to this site).
• 8. Schedule your visa appointment
  • All applicants for the Schengen visa for citizens and residents of Kazakhstan in 2023 must schedule a visa appointment. If you applied online (i.e. through a country-specific visa portal) you will likely be able to schedule that appointment online, at some point during your application.
  • Alternatively, you may have to contact the embassy or consulate you are applying through for information on when and how to schedule an appointment.  
• 9. Attend your visa appointment
  • This is where you will fulfill the in-person Schengen visa requirements for Kazakhstan citizens and residents. These include the following:
    • Formal submission of paper copy of Schengen visa application (i.e. all your required and supplemental documents and materials, including your passport). 
    • Submission of biometric information (fingerprints and photos, which all Schengen applicants must provide for security purposes). 
    • Payment of your Schengen visa fees for Kazakhstan citizens and residents (most applicants pay 80 EUR, although students and other categories of persons can expect to pay less). For more information on how much your visa will cost, click here.
    • Attendance of visa interview (short, usually lasting no longer than 15 minutes).
• 10. Await your decision 
  • If you are rejected for a Schengen visa for citizens of Kazakhstan in 2023, you can either re-apply for a new visa or appeal your rejected application. 
  • For help contesting a rejected Schengen visa from Kazakhstan, follow these general guidelines here.