Kazakhstan's Top Health Official Endorses New Regulation in Medical Field
Kazakhstan Strengthens COVID-19 Measures at Borders
Effective October 23, 2020, Kazakhstan's chief sanitary doctor, Yerlan Kiiasov, issued Decree No.59 to bolster prevention efforts against COVID-19 at the country's border crossings. According to reports from Almaty.tv, referencing zakon.kz, the new policy aims to safeguard public health as travelers enter Kazakhstan.
All inbound air travelers are now required to present a PCR test certificate for COVID-19, dated within the preceding three days, prior to crossing the border. Exceptions apply to children under five years old. Adults accompanying uncertified minors must provide this documentation.
Although the Decree does not explicitly state it, the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee of the Ministry of Health has confirmed that Kazakhstani citizens without a PCR certificate will be barred from boarding outbound flights, with some exceptions made based on individual circumstances.
Temperature checks will be conducted upon arrival at Kazakhstani airports. Any passengers with elevated temperatures will be relocated to an infectious hospital for isolation.
Transit passengers will be prohibited from leaving the transit zone. Arriving Kazakhstani citizens and those with residency permits who are PCR certificate-free will undergo a 2-day quarantine in a hospital for further testing. Those testing negative will be briefed on COVID-19 symptoms and required to sign a corresponding document, while those testing positive will be hospitalized at an infectious facility.
Similar procedures for temperature checks, PCR testing, and isolation will apply to travelers entering by rail, sea, river, or road transport. All arriving drivers engaged in international cargo transportation must endure temperature checks and questioning. Drivers involved in cargo transit through Kazakhstan are expected to undergo temperature screening, questionnaires, and PCR testing, with positive results leading to a medical examination.
The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development has been tasked with restricting international passenger traffic. Airlines are prohibited from permitting boarding for non-Kazakhstani citizens without a PCR certificate. A safe distance of at least one meter and mask wearing are mandatory for air passengers during registration, boarding, and disembarking. Passenger movement and gatherings in flight have been restricted.
The Decree takes effect at midnight on October 27, 2020, for more details, please refer to [here].
According to recent information from 2025, Kazakhstan grants visa-free entry to citizens of 54 countries, but requires special permission from the Interdepartmental Government Commission on COVID-19 for entry, signifying ongoing pandemic-related controls in relation to health safety protocols. It can be inferred that Decree No.59 laid down the framework for controlling incoming travelers during the pandemic, involving measures such as entry permissions, health checks, or quarantine requirements. However, the specific text or full details of these regulations were not provided in the search results.
Science plays a significant role in the health-and-wellness measures implemented by Kazakhstan's border control, as the country strengthens its COVID-19 prevention efforts. PCR testing is a scientific method used to identify individuals infected with the virus, and it is now mandatory for air travelers entering Kazakhstan.
