Kazakhstan is a state that was once part of the USSR. Citizens of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are provided with the most comfortable and friendly welcome, which includes only a number of simple rules.
Border crossing points
Currently, there are 15 checkpoints between Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Please note that all points, except for Mikhailovka, are open during the daytime. Mikhailovka road point allows travelers around the clock. There are customs points in 15 cities and towns of Russia:
- Karaozek, a village in the Astrakhan region, Krasnoyarsk region. It is located about 60 kilometers from Astrakhan;
- Ozinki, a coastal urban-type settlement in the Saratov region;
- Ilek, a small village in the Orenburg region, the center of the Ilek Agricultural Council;
- Orsk, one of the largest cities in Russia in terms of area (621, 33 km²), is located in the Orenburg region;
- Sagarchin, Orenburg region. It is located in the Akbulak region. A lot of heavy trucks are assembled at this point, which greatly increases the number of hours spent at the border;
- Bugristoe, a settlement within the Klyastitsky rural settlement, Chelyabinsk region;
- Voskresenskoye - a small village 100 kilometers south of Kurgan, Kurgan region with a population of less than 500 people;
- Petukhovo is an urban settlement in the Kurgan region. It used to be called "Yudino";
- Isilkul is the westernmost city in the Omsk region and the administrative center of Isilkul district;
- Cherlaksky district, located in the south of the Omsk region. The administrative center of this region is the city of Cherlak;
- Karasuksky district, which is located in the southwest of the Siberian Federal District;
- Kulunda is a small village with a population of less than 15 thousand people. Located in the Altai Territory;
- Veseloyarsk, a small village in the Altai Territory, Rubtsovsky district. The number of its inhabitants is less than 5000 people;
- Mikhailovka-Avtodorozhniy is the only checkpoint that operates at any time of the day or night. A coastal city in the Altai Territory, located 200 kilometers from Volgograd;
- Miner is a city in the Altai Territory, on the territory called Rudny Altai (a deposit of many minerals).
How to prepare
First of all, you should be wise when choosing the time of year in which the trip will be made. The most comfortable temperature in Kazakhstan is in spring and autumn, because in summer, the mark on the thermometers far exceeds 30 degrees, and in winter it drops below -20 degrees. In addition, you need to choose a transport to travel to the country: plane, train, or a private car. Crossing the border in your own car is now becoming more and more popular, because this way you can avoid spending money on public transport and use your own navigator. Travelers need to make sure in advance of the availability of bookings at the hotel or inn.
If the purpose of the trip is tourist, and you do not plan to stay in the country for more than 30 days, then you only need a Russian passport and a migration card to cross the border. Children under the age of 14 need to take with them a birth certificate with a mark on the citizenship of the Russian Federation. To stay on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan for more than a month (for study, work, etc.), you should apply for a temporary registration or contact the diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan.
A migration card is a document registering your entry into the Republic of Kazakhstan. You need to enter your passport data, the purpose of visiting the country and the duration of stay in it in Russian, Kazakh or English. It is necessary to take care of filling out the migration card in advance, but if your trip is managed by a travel company, then this responsibility falls on its shoulders. The document will need to be presented to the employees at the checkpoint. Keep the completed card with care during your stay in the country. If this important document is lost or damaged, you will face fines.
Drivers crossing the Russia-Kazakhstan border should check for the following documents: vehicle technical passport, driver's license and insurance. Please note that Russian insurance is not valid on the territory of Kazakhstan, therefore, immediately after entering the country, near the checkpoint, it is mandatory to issue a Kazakh OSAGO. Its absence can entail decent fines (3000 rubles or more). By the way, it is good for drivers to familiarize themselves in advance with the country's PPD and the amount of fines for violations of the rules, since in Kazakhstan the punishments are very different from ours. For example, exceeding the speed limit by only 10 km / h can take more than 6 thousand rubles from your pocket.
Thus, a list of the following documents will be required to cross the Russia-Kazakhstan border:
- Valid Russian passport, foreign passport or birth certificate (for children under 14);
- Migration card;
- Vehicle technical passport;
- Driver's license (license);
- Documents for auto insurance of road transport.
Actions at the Russia-Kazakhstan checkpoint
When all the documents have been collected and the most suitable checkpoint has been selected, you can hit the road. At the crossing point, passport control awaits you, during which employees will check all documents and whether you have a ban on entering the country. If everything is in order, you will be stamped with a special stamp on leaving the Russian Federation in your foreign passport (if any) or in your migration card. There you will also need to fill out a customs declaration, which requires you to indicate the amount of imported money and their currency, as well as the presence of valuable personal belongings.
After checking all documents, you should go through an inspection. The customs officer will check the presence of prohibited items in the luggage:
- Firearms, stabbing and cutting weapons, ammunition;
- Narcotic substances prohibited on the territory of Kazakhstan;
- Medicines and chemicals that require permission (prescription) from a doctor, but do not contain it;
- Photos and videos that contradict the laws of the Islamic state and the legislation of Kazakhstan;
- More than 1000 cigarettes and tobacco products;
- Strong alcoholic drinks with a volume of more than 2 liters;
- Expensive personal items with a total value of over 1,500 US dollars (about 100,000 rubles);
- Foreign currency in cash exceeding the number of 500 in dollars (larger amounts can only be carried on a bank card).
- Kazakhstani tenge is the Kazakh currency, the import and export of which is strictly prohibited.
Actions at the checkpoint Kazakhstan-Russia
You will already be familiar with the steps to return home. You will need to go through passport control, during which your documents will be checked and made sure that you have not exceeded the permissible period of stay in the Republic of Kazakhstan. But this time, customs officials will check for the following prohibited items:
- Precious stones and precious metals without special permission for them;
- Rare local animals and birds;
- Items that carry cultural and historical value for the Republic of Kazakhstan (souvenirs, most likely, will also need to be presented for inspection). For antiques and expensive handicrafts, you need to have the appropriate documents.
- Kazakhstani currency is Tenge.
A preliminary acquaintance with the rules of travel through the checkpoint will protect you from many surprises and make your trip as comfortable as possible. Carefully check the availability of all documents and the amount of currency imported in cash to avoid unnecessary problems.
