ChrisMerriman.com

ChrisD managed to get a corking deal by visiting MajorTravel.co.uk

You’ll probably want to search for London Airports to TSE (Tsleningrad, old name of Akmola, which is the old name of Astana)

Their phone number is 020 7393 1070

You may well find better deals than through this company, but ChrisD’s total fare was below 300 pounds, which we’ve never managed to get before. (He is flying at a less popular time of the year though, don’t be surprised if your fare is 33% to 100% more, depending on how flexible you are about the month you go.)
The embassy don’t mention how long it will take to process a request for a visa, last time I did it, it took them two weeks. Might be best calling them to confirm the current estimated time frame.
Anyway, try to leave AT LEAST 2 or 3 weeks spare between expected visa in your hands and flying – if they need clarification, it might require resubmitting a new form, or even popping to the Embassy in London. (Had to do that before, not difficult to find it and they spoke English). Shouldn’t need to go there, but just in case, thought it was worth mentioning. There is a tube station with 5/10 mins walk of the office.
Don’t forget you’ll need your passport in your hands before you can send off form with it!

Documents required for Visa:

Letter of introduction explaining the purpose of the visit. See below for a rough draft. The missing info is indicated in red. Feel free to re-phrase it, if you wish.
Application forms, fully completed and signed by the applicant. The form (as of 19/07/2006) is attached. See some of the answers for the form are below
Valid passport with one full blank page to affix the visa (please note that the passport must be valid for at least six months after visa’s expiration date)
One passport sized photograph (We normally wrote the name on the back and stapled it to the form)
Self addressed and prepaid envelope, special delivery or registered post only.
VISA FEES (to be paid by cheques or postal orders made out to “Kazakhstan Embassy”, maybe put your passport number on the back of the cheque) – PRIVATE VISA SINGLE ENTRY up to three months visa – 33GBP

Send the above documents to:
CONSULAR SECTION OF KAZAKHSTAN EMBASSY
33 THURLOE SQUARE
LONDON, SW7 2SD

If you need to contact Embassy:
TEL: 020-7581-4646
OPENING HOURS: 9:00 – 12:00
(MONDAY TO FRIDAY, EXCEPT WEDNESDAYS, WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS)

Their web site address (well the section you need) is www.kazakhstanembassy.org.uk/cgi-bin/index/92

Answers to some of the questions in the application form (download from the link above):
It would be simple to print out the form and fill it in by hand, as to do it on a computer is a pain; it’s definitely not been designed for filling in electronically.

In case form isn’t too clear, the info you need to put in that you don’t already know is:

17. Purpose of travel: Private
18. Inviting organization (address, tel.): N/A
or person, arranging your visit to Kazakhstan (full name, address, tel.): e-mail us for this info – not going to publish on web :>
19. Places of destination in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Astana
20. The first place of entry into the Republic of Kazakhstan: Astana
21. Temporary address in Kazakhstan: See #18
22. Who is paying for your cost of travelling and for your costs of living during your stay in Kazakhstan?: myself

Re. Expiry date on visa – put a longer date in for the end of the visa, just in case any emergencies arise, its best to have a few days comfort-zone left after you should have officially left the country.
(MAKE SURE THE END DATE IS STILL WITHIN ONE MONTH OF ARRIVAL, OTHERWISE YOU WILL NEED A DIFFERENT, MORE EXPENSIVE VISA)

Tags: Airport, Akmola, Astana, ChrisD, Consular Section Of Kazakhstan Embassy, Irina, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Embassy, London, MajorTravel.co.uk, Passport, Republic of Kazakhstan, THURLOE SQUARE, Travel, TSE, United Kingdom, Visa