Kyrgyzstan with Kazakh visa

Since 2008 the Agreement on mutual recognition of visa between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan theoretically enables the holders of single Kazakh visa to go to Kyrgyzstan for 72 hours and back. Does anybody have recent practical experience with the rule?

I have never heard of this rule. I used to have friends, who lived and worked in Kazakhstan come visit me in Bishkek. Everyone of them had to get Kyrgyzs visas. To complicate matters, even if this is a rule, border officials are often way out of the loop. Unless you can provide official documentation in Russian/Kazakh/Kyrgyz to prove your point, they certainly would not let you through

I understand that such rule is very unusual, the more in Central Asia, however it can be found here. Ratification was finished in 2008 and no news about aboslishin the rule. I asked the officer at the Kazakh embassy when picking up my Kazakh visa, he confirmed me the information. However, I have never met anybody who whould use it. I will be probably the first, so I will let know everybody after Sept 28, when I am going to try it.

Oh, sorry, the link above is in Russian. I have not found English version yet.

I have just links on several travel agencies where the rule is desribed and who can use it:
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on mutual recognition of... tourist visas of the RK and the Kyrgyz Republic, issued to the nationals of the third countries.
12.06.2009. Tourasia.

See also here

The practical information on staying in KRG without visas. I crossed the KAZ-KRG border with my Kazakh visas only. Within the period of validity of your KAZ visa you are enabled to stay in Northern KRG (Issyk-Kul, Chuy and Talas region) WITHOUT Kyrgyz visas. However, if you want to return back to Kazakhstan you have to obtain either double entry or get new visa in KAZ embassy in Bishkek.
The same rules are valid viceversa. So, your KRG visas are valid for Dzhambyl and Almaty region in Kazakhstan. It should be possible to fly out from Almaty or Bishkek respectively, but crossing KAZ-CHN border with Kyrgyz visas only is seemed to be doubtful however theoretically possible if crossing within the territory of Almaty oblast (Khorgos border zone).

I witness that Slavek is right. Citiziens of about 35 countries (see the list at Slavek's links) with Kazakh visa can enter to Chui, Talas and Issyk-kul oblasts of Kyrgyzstan, and with Kyrgyz visa to Almatinskaya and Zhambylskaya oblasts of Kazakhstan.

On August 2010 we have to test both of these agreements, and they are valid, BUT:
- If you have single-entry KZ visa and you cross the border to KG, you cannot return with this visa back to KZ
- Most custom officers don't know about this agreement, so every time it lasted a long time to clarify them, that we're right.

We used Kyrgyz visa to tranzit from Bishkek to Almaty and then to Urumqi by train via Dostyk-Alashankou (this border crossing lies in Almatinskaya oblast) The biggest problem was at KZ-CN border, where the custom officer proclaimed, that we can enter with Kyrgyz visa to Kazakhstan, but not leave Kazakhstan (!). It took more than four hours of negotiations (with popular threatens to harsh fine or imprisonment), until he admitted it and left us to proceed to China.

Good news to hear this rule is finally up and running. Is there any limit to how long you can stay in KG on a KZ visa, or visa versa? I assume they stamp your passport on both sides?

Thanks

Daniel

As Robert's incidents suggests that there might be "problems" created by several border officers who either are not aware of the rule or prefer not be aware, so to avoid this it is much easier to get visa of both countries before the travel as you might end up spending more or less same amount of money( if not more)
I guess it is much straight forward to show a visa to the border officer then spending hours arguing, just my thought

If you have Kyrgyzstan nationality,it is possible but foreigner cannot do that... It is a wrong information... you need a visa for travel....

OK, so on about the 10th May I'll be leaving Kazakhstan without a Kyrgyz visa at he crossing between Taraz and Talas. I have a double entry Kazakh visa which is good for 2 visits of 30 days each. So, if I get it, I drive over the passes to Bishkek and re-enter Kazakhstan at the Qorday border (where I can re-register, apparently). If I don't get it, I just turn back to Kazakhstan.

I am assuming that once can stay in the three regions of Kyrgyzstan as long as the Kazakh visa remains valid...

My question is this; if one were to enter Kyrgyzstan in this manner, i.e. without a visa, and go to the OVIR office which deals with visa extensions, would it be possible to get a full Kyrgyz visa there, and continue into the southern regions and exit to Tajikistan?

Thanks

Daniel