Good news for travellers! New Kyrgyzstan visa types came into force on January 15, 2020. If you love mountaineering and are planning to explore this Central Asian country, this information is for you!
Mountain Tourism Visa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic introduced new visa types for citizens of foreign states, who are obliged to apply for a visa in order to enter Kyrgyzstan.
The new procedure of visa issuing came into force on January 15, 2020. The new procedure is supposed to facilitate the process of obtaining Kyrgyz visa and to improve the work of Electronic Visa system.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced “Mountain Tourism Visa” is one of the most promising and hopes that this visa will help to develop the tourism industry of Kyrgyzstan. It will be issued for three months and will allow multiple entries. This type of visa for Kyrgyzstan will be appreciated by those who are fond of mountaineering and are willing to explore this beautiful country that gives you an opportunity to challenge your skills climbing up the highest Tian-Shan peaks Pobeda (7439 m), Lenin (7134 m) or Khan Tengri (6995 m) or just trek through stunning gorges, valleys, jailoos and ancient glaciers.
Other types of visa
Besides, the government of Kyrgyzstan announced several new visa types designed for the former citizens of Kyrgyzstan, who changed their citizenship and for the ethnic Kyrgyz:
- “Tuugandar visa” (Relatives visa) is issued for up to 1 year and allows to visit relatives or family reunion;
- “Meken visa” is issued free of charge for up to 1 year to ethnic Kyrgyz, as well as to the people born in the Kyrgyz Republic or Kyrgyz SSR for visiting or returning to the country (this visa subsequently allows you to obtain “Kayrylman” status and residence permit);
- “Meyman Visa” (“Guest visa”) is designed for private trips by an invitation of Kyrgyz citizens who are not related by kinship to the foreign citizen (also applies to visiting the country where the guest’s friends live, or for the purpose of obtaining medical services).
The Foreign Ministry noted that the feature of the new procedure permits to process all categories of short-term (from one to three months) and long-term (from three months to a year) applications using the Electronic Visa system, as well as in the consular offices of Kyrgyzstan abroad.
Source: Department of Consular Service
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