Kazakhstan operates three international airports handling most foreign arrivals. Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in Astana processed 6.4 million passengers in 2019 before pandemic reductions. Almaty International Airport remains the busiest with 6.8 million passengers in the same year, serving as the primary entry point for travelers from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Shymkent International Airport opened its new terminal in 2018 with capacity for 750 passengers per hour, focusing on connections to Turkey and Russia. Air Astana and FlyArystan handle most domestic routes, while international carriers including Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, Lufthansa, and Emirates operate regular services to Almaty. China Southern connects Almaty to Urumqi four times weekly. The government completed a 450 million dollar expansion of Almaty airport in 2019, adding 12 boarding bridges and expanding terminal capacity to 8.8 million annual passengers.
Visa procedures changed substantially in 2017 when Kazakhstan introduced visa-free entry for 54 countries including European Union members, United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Korea for stays up to 30 days. Citizens of India, China, and other nations require electronic visas processed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at mfa.gov.kz, with approval typically delivered within five business days. The electronic visa costs approximately 60 dollars for single entry. Pakistan, Afghanistan, and several African nations require traditional visa applications through embassies. Transit passengers continuing to third countries within 24 hours remain airside without visa requirements regardless of nationality. Kazakhstan eliminated its registration requirement for stays under 30 days in 2017, removing a longstanding administrative burden for short-term visitors.
Currency exchange operates in arrival halls at all three major airports, though rates typically run 3 to 5 percent below market. The Kazakhstani tenge floats against major currencies, trading at approximately 450 tenge per US dollar as of early 2024, following significant volatility in 2022. ATMs in arrival areas accept Visa and Mastercard, dispensing tenge in denominations up to 20,000 notes. Eurasian Bank and Halyk Bank machines in Almaty airport charge 500 tenge flat fees for international card withdrawals. Banks in both Almaty and Astana airports open from 0800 to 2000 daily. Credit cards see limited acceptance outside major hotels and international chains, with cash dominating transactions in markets, taxis, and smaller restaurants. Travelers should withdraw sufficient tenge upon arrival for immediate needs including transportation.
Almaty airport lies 15 kilometers northeast of city center with three transportation options. Bus 79 departs every 20 minutes from 0700 to 2300, stopping at Dostyk Avenue and Republic Square, charging 150 tenge for the 45-minute journey. Bus 92 follows a longer route through residential areas for the same fare. Marshrutka minibus 86 runs a similar path for 150 tenge. Official airport taxis operate from designated stands outside arrivals, charging fixed rates of 3,000 to 4,000 tenge to central Almaty depending on destination district. Yandex Taxi and InDriver operate at Almaty airport with fares of 1,500 to 2,000 tenge for the same routes, though pickup requires walking to the short-term parking area 200 meters from terminals. The airport rail link promised since 2015 remains unbuilt as of 2024.
Astana airport sits 17 kilometers south of the capital with more limited public transport. Bus 10 connects to Respublika Avenue and the railway station every 30 minutes from 0630 to 2200, taking 50 minutes and costing 150 tenge. Most travelers use taxis given the bus schedule gaps and cold winters where temperatures reach minus 35 Celsius. Official airport taxis charge 3,500 tenge to the city center. Yandex Taxi quotes 2,000 to 2,500 tenge for rides to Bayterek Tower or Khan Shatyr, though surge pricing applies during morning and evening peaks. The airport added a dedicated rideshare pickup zone in 2022 after disputes over unauthorized taxi operations. Drivers expecting airport pickups must show passenger contact on phones to access the zone.
Shymkent airport lies 12 kilometers northwest of the city center, primarily serving domestic traffic to Almaty and Astana plus international flights to Istanbul, Moscow, and Tashkent. Bus 18 runs hourly from 0700 to 2000 for 100 tenge to the central bazaar area. Taxis charge 1,500 to 2,000 tenge to downtown hotels. The airport handles approximately one million passengers annually, making it significantly quieter than the two primary hubs. Travelers connecting through Shymkent for visits to Turkistan or the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi find limited ground transportation after evening arrivals, with most hotels arranging pickup directly.
SIM cards sold in airport arrival halls provide immediate connectivity. Kcell, Beeline, and Tele2 operate kiosks in Almaty and Astana airports open from 0700 to 2300. A starter package with 10 gigabytes of data and 500 minutes of domestic calls costs 2,500 to 3,000 tenge. Passport presentation is mandatory for registration under telecommunications regulations. Kcell offers the widest 4G coverage across the Kazakh Steppe, though all three carriers maintain similar service in Almaty and Astana. Data packages operate on 30-day cycles with automatic deactivation unless renewed. Tourist packages advertised in English at airport kiosks typically include international SMS capability for verification codes. Coverage drops substantially between cities when crossing steppe regions, particularly on the M32 highway between Karaganda and Astana where gaps reach 80 kilometers.
Customs declarations require completion for travelers carrying more than 10,000 US dollars equivalent, professional photography equipment, or drones. Kazakhstan banned recreational drone flights in most areas following 2016 security regulations, with penalties of 100,000 to 500,000 tenge for violations. Customs officers routinely inspect bags containing camera equipment at all three airports. Prescription medications require original packaging with physician letters for quantities exceeding two weeks of supply. Kazakhstan maintains strict penalties for drug possession including cannabis, with no distinction for medical authorization from other countries. Customs processes average 10 to 15 minutes during off-peak arrivals but extend to 45 minutes when flights from Dubai or Istanbul arrive simultaneously.
Airport facilities in Almaty include luggage storage on the ground floor charging 500 tenge per item for the first six hours and 1,000 tenge per 24-hour period thereafter. Storage operates from 0600 to 2300 daily. The airport offers paid shower facilities for 2,500 tenge including towel and basic toiletries in the international departures area, inaccessible to arriving passengers. Astana airport renovated its terminal in 2021, adding prayer rooms, a business center with workstations at 1,500 tenge per hour, and expanded duty-free shopping. Neither Almaty nor Astana airports provide sleeping accommodations airside, with capsule hotels or rest areas absent as of 2024. The nearest hotels to Almaty airport sit 8 kilometers away in the Alatau district with shuttle services unavailable, requiring taxi transport.
Travelers arriving on overnight flights from European cities typically land in Almaty between 0600 and 0900, facing immediate decisions about baggage storage if hotel check-in remains hours away. Major hotels including the Intercontinental, Ritz-Carlton, and Rixos allow early bag storage for registered guests, though room access before 1400 incurs half-day charges of 25,000 to 40,000 tenge depending on category. Budget options cluster around Republic Square and Panfilov Park, where properties like the Kazakhstan Hotel permit bag holding for arriving guests. The Central State Museum opens at 0930, providing a first-day option within walking distance of these hotels.