Photo: akipress.org
The Kyrgyz government will assist foreign nationals who have violated the country's immigration laws in returning to their home countries. The Cabinet of Ministers has amended the existing regulation on the stay and departure of foreign nationals and stateless persons who are in the country illegally, according to a report by 24.kg.
Under the new rules, immigration violators will have the option to leave Kyrgyzstan voluntarily. To support this process, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Committee for National Security will establish special temporary accommodation centers. At these facilities, authorities will check documents, conduct medical examinations, and collect the necessary information. The maximum stay in such centers is limited to 30 days.
The cost of travel home, including airfare, is to be covered by the migrant or the party that invited them. If neither can pay, the state will bear the expense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assist with exit visa processing free of charge.
A presidential decree titled “On Measures to Optimize Migration Processes” took effect on January 1, 2025. It introduced unified permits via the E-VISA portal, increased the responsibilities of inviting parties, and raised penalties. For instance, a foreign national overstaying by more than a year now faces a fine of 20,000 soms (about $229), while legal entities may be fined up to 30,000 soms ($343).
Under the decree, authority to issue permits was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The interagency commission was dissolved, and a “one-stop” electronic portal system was introduced. An additional 280 million soms ($3.2 million) has been allocated from the national budget to fund deportation measures.
