Overeenkomst tussen de Regeringen van de Benelux-Staten en de Regering van de Republiek Kazachstan inzake de afschaffing van de visumplicht voor houders van diplomatieke paspoorten

In this Agreement, unless the context indicates otherwise:
– “Benelux States” shall mean the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
– “Benelux territory” shall mean the joint territories in Europe of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Competent Authorities responsible for the implementation of this Agreement shall be:
1. for the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; and
2. for the Governments of the Benelux States: for the Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1. Nationals of the Republic of Kazakhstan who are holders of valid national diplomatic passports may enter the Benelux States’ territory without a visa and stay in the territory for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days.
2. Nationals of the Benelux States who are holders of valid national diplomatic passports may enter the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan without a visa and stay for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days.

1. Nationals of the State of one Party assigned to Diplomatic or Consular missions or missions to international organizations located in the State of the other Party bearing valid national diplomatic passports may enter, depart and stay in the territory of the receiving Party without visas for the duration of their accreditation.
2. The Parties shall notify each other of the arrival of the officials mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article and these officials shall comply with the accreditation regulations of the other Party.

Notwithstanding Articles 3 and 4 of this Agreement, each Government reserves the right to refuse to admit to its territory any person regarded as being undesirable or whose presence in the country is regarded as prejudicial to law and order or national security.

Except as herein provided this Agreement shall not affect the laws and regulations in force in the States of the Parties governing entry, length of stay, residence and expulsion and any form of occupation of foreigners.

Each Party undertakes to readmit to its territory, at any time and without formalities, persons who entered the said territory under a valid national diplomatic passport issued by the Authorities of the States of the Parties.

The Parties shall transmit through diplomatic channels specimens of their new or modified national diplomatic passports, and also the particulars concerning the use of these passports, as far as possible, sixty (60) days before their date of introduction.

Any dispute between the Parties arising from the application or interpretation of this Agreement shall be settled amicably through consultation or negotiations between the Parties.

This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the Parties through an Exchange of Notes between the Parties through the diplomatic channels.

The Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of Belgium (referred to as “Depositary”) shall act as Depositary to this Agreement for the Governments of the Benelux States. The Depositary shall issue the Governments of the Benelux States with a certified copy of the original of this Agreement.

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month from the date of the last notification confirming that all constitutional and legal requirements for its entry into force have been fulfilled.
2. This Agreement is concluded for a period of one year and shall be considered as extended for an unlimited period, unless any Party sends a written notification, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to denounce this Agreement to the Depositary not later than thirty (30) days prior to the expiry of this period.
3. After the expiry of the first period of one year any Party may denounce this Agreement by sending a written notification, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to denounce this Agreement to the Depositary not later than thirty (30) days prior to the date on which the denunciation is to take effect.
4. The denunciation by any Party shall cause this Agreement to terminate for all the Parties.
5. The Depositary shall inform the other Parties of the receipt of any notification mentioned in this Article.

The application of this Agreement may be suspended by any Party. A Party shall immediately notify the Depositary through diplomatic channels of its decision to suspend this Agreement. The Depositary shall inform the other Parties of the receipt of such notification. The same procedure shall be adopted when the suspension is lifted.

As regards the Kingdom of the Netherlands the application of this Agreement may be extended to Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean part of the Netherlands (the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba).