AKIPRESS.COM - Government of Kazakhstan extends and expands the current pilot project of visa-free travel for citizens of a number of developed countries until 31 December 2017.

"This step is aimed at further improvement of a favorable visa and investment regime for citizens of these countries," said the foreign ministry of Kazakhstan.

As of July 16, 2015, the list will include 19 countries of Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Swiss Confederation, United Arab Emirates, UK, and the United States.

According to the government resolution, citizens of these countries may enter Kazakhstan with all types of valid passports on a visa-free basis starting from July 16, 2015 for a period of up to 15 (fifteen) days after the crossing of the border of Kazakhstan.

Registration of citizens from these countries will be made directly at the border crossings upon their entrance into the territory of Kazakhstan.

In July 2014, Kazakhstan launched the pilot project of visa-free regime for 10 countries. Later, one of these countries – the Republic of Korea – signed an agreement with Kazakhstan on mutual visa-free travel for a period of up to 30 days. A new decision of the government has added to this list another 10 countries.

It is expected that the project will help increase the inflow of foreign tourists to Kazakhstan, including those wishing to attend major international events scheduled in the next two years - EXPO 2017 International Specialized Exhibition in Astana and the 2017 Winter Universiade in Almaty.