Kazakhstan and Benelux countries to abolish visas for service passport holders

On Thursday, the signing ceremony of the Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Governments of the Benelux States on Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic Passports took place at the General Secretariat of Benelux (Brussels), Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

On the Kazakh side, the document was signed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Belgium Margulan Baimukhan, on behalf of the Benelux countries [Editor’s note - Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg] - by the Director General for Consular Affairs at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Joris Salden, the Ambassador of Luxembourg to Belgium Jean-Louis Thill, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Netherlands to Belgium Max Valstar.

The Protocol extends the scope of the Agreement of March 2, 2015, on visa-free requirements for holders of diplomatic passports by allowing holders of service passports to enter without a visa. This significantly facilitates the work of public officials from Kazakhstan and the Benelux countries, enabling them to travel freely for official duties without the need for a visa and to stay for a period not exceeding 90 days.

During his speech, Ambassador Baimukhan noted that there are more than 200 foreign diplomatic missions in Brussels, as well as 120 international organizations, including the governing bodies of the EU, the World Customs Organization and other international structures that often receive official delegations from Kazakhstan.

He stressed that the exemption from visa requirements for holders of service passports will help reduce bureaucratic barriers and create favorable conditions for prompt interaction between departments and government agencies.

The Protocol shall enter into force 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of the last written notification through diplomatic channels of the completion by the parties of the necessary internal procedures.

Today, Kazakhstan has visa-free travel agreements for citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan with 96 countries for holders of diplomatic passports, with 77 countries for holders of service passports, and with 43 countries for holders of national passports.

The Brussels-based Benelux Secretariat coordinates the implementation of decisions taken by the Council and the Committee of Ministers of the Benelux Union. An important function of the Secretariat is to facilitate dialogue between member countries, thereby helping to achieve consensus on issues that require a joint approach, such as combating crime, protecting the environment and developing sustainable transport solutions.

The Secretariat also actively cooperates with the European Union and other international organisations, expanding Benelux's influence on the international stage and supporting the region's integration into wider EU structures.