Kyrgyzstan offers multiple visa categories to accommodate different travel purposes. The electronic visa system covers the most common types, while additional categories are available through embassies. This guide explains every Kyrgyzstan visa type, who each one is for, and how to choose the right one for your trip.
eVisa Types Available Online
The Kyrgyzstan eVisa portal (evisa.e-gov.kg) offers these visa types:
Tourist eVisa
The most popular eVisa type, designed for:
• Leisure travel and sightseeing
• Cultural visits and exploration
• Visiting natural attractions (Issyk-Kul, Song-Kul, Tien Shan mountains)
• Short-term recreational stays
Available for 30 or 60 days with single or double entry.
Business eVisa
For travelers visiting Kyrgyzstan on commercial business:
• Attending meetings, conferences, or trade fairs
• Business negotiations and consultations
• Short-term professional activities
• Investment-related visits
Does not authorize employment. Available for 30 or 60 days with single or double entry.
Transit eVisa
For travelers passing through Kyrgyzstan to reach another destination:
• Connecting flights through Bishkek
• Overland transit to neighboring countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, Tajikistan)
• Short stays while in transit
Typically valid for a few days. Requires proof of onward travel and a visa for your final destination (if applicable).
Group Tourist eVisa
For organized tour groups traveling together:
• Must be arranged through a registered Kyrgyz travel agency
• Covers all group members under one application
• Requires a Letter of Invitation from the tour operator
Embassy Visa Categories
For purposes not covered by the eVisa, Kyrgyz embassies issue these visa types:
| Code | Visa Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| B | Business | Long-term business activities |
| D | Diplomatic | Diplomatic travel |
| F | Family | Visiting family members in Kyrgyzstan |
| G | Guest | Guest visits (non-tourism) |
| I | Investment | Investment activities |
| L | Leave | Exit visa for residents |
| MT | Mountain Tourism | Specialized mountaineering and trekking |
| RL | Relatives | Visiting relatives |
| R | Religion | Religious activities |
| O | Service/Official | Official government travel |
| S | Study | Education at Kyrgyz institutions |
| TS | Tourist | Extended tourist travel |
| TR | Transit | Transit through Kyrgyzstan |
| M | Ethnic Kyrgyz | For ethnic Kyrgyz diaspora |
| W1 | Work (short-term) | Employment under 90 days |
| W2 | Work (long-term) | Employment over 90 days |
The 2026 Sapar Visa
In 2026, Kyrgyzstan introduced a new visa category called the “Sapar” visa:
• Intended for guest visits, business trips, and short-term purposes not directly related to tourism
• Distinguished from the standard tourist visa
• Available through the eVisa system and diplomatic missions
The Sapar visa was created to clearly separate travel purposes and improve the organization of entry procedures.
Choosing the Right Visa Type
Use this decision guide:
| Your Situation | Recommended Visa |
|---|---|
| Vacation for up to 30/60 days | Tourist eVisa |
| Business meetings for up to 30/60 days | Business eVisa |
| Passing through to another country | Transit eVisa |
| Organized group tour | Group Tourist eVisa |
| Studying at a Kyrgyz university | Study Visa (S) |
| Working in Kyrgyzstan | Work Visa (W1 or W2) |
| Visiting family | Family Visa (F) or Relatives Visa (RL) |
| Mountain climbing/expedition | Mountain Tourism Visa (MT) |
| Diplomatic travel | Diplomatic Visa (D) |
Visa Duration and Entry Types
Duration Options
• 30 days – Standard short stay
• 60 days – Extended short stay
• 90 days – Available for business and some embassy visas
• Up to 6 months – Special cases, requires additional documentation
• 1 year or more – Long-term visas (work, study, residence)
Entry Types
• Single entry – Enter Kyrgyzstan once; if you leave, the visa expires
• Double entry – Enter, leave, and re-enter once
• Multiple entry – Enter and leave multiple times within the validity period (embassy visas only)
Visa Fees by Type
| Visa Type | Duration | Entry | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist eVisa | 30 days | Single | ~$70 |
| Tourist eVisa | 60 days | Double | ~$110 |
| Business eVisa | 30 days | Single | ~$70 |
| Business eVisa | 60 days | Double | ~$110 |
| Transit eVisa | Varies | Single | ~$40 |
| Embassy tourist | 30 days | Single | $104 |
| Embassy tourist | 30 days | Double | $119 |
| Embassy business | 30 days | Single | $104 |
| Embassy business | 90 days | Multiple | $144-244 |
| Embassy transit | Varies | Single/Double | $89-99 |
Special Categories
Mountain Tourism Visa (MT)
Kyrgyzstan’s mountain tourism visa is unique to the country and designed for:
• Mountaineering expeditions
• High-altitude trekking
• Organized adventure tours
This visa typically requires coordination with a registered Kyrgyz tour operator and may need additional permits for restricted mountain areas.
Ethnic Kyrgyz Visa (M)
Available to ethnic Kyrgyz people living abroad who wish to visit their ancestral homeland. This category has simplified requirements compared to standard tourist visas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related guides: complete eVisa guide | how to apply | visa policy
Kyrgyzstan offers tourist, business, transit, and group tourist eVisas. Each is available for 30 or 60 days with single or double entry. The Sapar visa was added in 2026 for guest visits and non-tourism short-term purposes.
No. The tourist eVisa does not authorize employment. To work in Kyrgyzstan, you need a Work Visa (W1 for short-term, W2 for long-term), which must be obtained through a Kyrgyz embassy.
The tourist visa is specifically for travel, recreation, and exploration. The Sapar visa covers guest visits, business trips, and other short-term purposes not directly related to tourism. Both are available through the eVisa system.
The Mountain Tourism Visa is obtained through a Kyrgyz embassy, not the eVisa system. It requires coordination with a registered Kyrgyz tour operator who arranges the necessary permits for your expedition.
Generally, you cannot switch from one visa type to another while in Kyrgyzstan. If you need a different visa category, you typically must leave the country and apply for the new visa type from abroad.
