Visiting Kyrgyzstan will become more expensive. State fees will be increased

The Ministry of Digital Development and Communications has drafted a resolution providing for a significant increase in state fees for a number of services. The main objective of the initiative is to strengthen the revenue side of the republican budget and bring the size of fees in line with the current economic situation. The current rates have not been revised since 1994.

The proposed changes will primarily affect foreign citizens and stateless persons. It is planned to increase fees for the issuance and renewal of permanent residence permits, registration and renewal of foreign passports, consideration of applications for admission to or withdrawal from citizenship, as well as for the issuance of permits to enter border areas. The authors of the draft note that the increase takes into account the costs incurred by foreigners for legal residence and the benefits they receive from obtaining a longer-term status in the country.

The rate increase varies, but is quite significant. For example, the fee for issuing a permanent residence permit for citizens of the CIS and the EAEU may increase fourfold (from 2,500 to 10,000 KGS), and for citizens of other countries – 1.3 times (from 15,000 to 20,000 KGS). The fee for extending or replacing a residence permit will increase fivefold (from 200 to 1,000 KGS). The registration and renewal of foreign passports will double (from 100 to 200 KGS). The largest increase is planned for permits for foreigners to enter border areas – sixfold (from 250 to 1,500 KGS), while for citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic this fee will double (from 50 to 100 KGS). Applications for citizenship or renunciation of citizenship (with some exceptions) will also increase fivefold.

An exception to the general rule will be the establishment of a zero fee for the registration and renewal of registration of foreign citizens involved in the construction of the strategically important Torugart-Jalal-Abad railway. If adopted, the draft resolution is expected to generate additional revenue of about 217 million KGS per year for the national budget. The draft resolution will be submitted for public discussion.