1. On June 19, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Kazak counterpart Erlan Idrissov signed the ROK-Kazakhstan Agreement on the Mutual Waiver of Visa Requirements for Holders of Ordinary Passports, with the Presidents of the two countries in attendance.

2. The ROK government has actively worked to sign the Agreement, considering that it is important to expand people-to-people exchanges between the ROK and Kazakhstan in order to advance the ROK’s strategic partnership with Kazakhstan in a mutually-beneficial way. This led to the signing of the Agreement during President Park Geun-hye’s latest visit to Kazakhstan.

3. Following the conclusion of the Agreement, nationals of either country holding valid ordinary passports or travel certificates can enter the territory of the other country without a visa and stay for a period not exceeding 30 days, if they have no intention to work, conduct religious activities, study at educational institutions or reside in the territory of the other country.

o The total period of stay shall not exceed 60 days within each period of 180 days.

4. The ROK and Kazakhstan will move forward with their respective domestic procedures with the goal of effectuating the Agreement within 2014.

5. The conclusion of the Agreement is expected to contribute significantly to facilitating cooperation between the ROK and Kazakhstan by creating a legal basis for increasing mutual visits and people-to-people exchanges. 


                 Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation