Today, Wednesday 14 September 2022, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital Nur-Sultan, an Agreement was signed between the Holy See and the Republic of Kazakhstan.

It was signed on behalf of the Holy See by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, and for the Republic of Kazakhstan by His Excellency Mr. Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The new Agreement is intended to provide for broader implementation to Art. 2 of the 1998 Bilateral Agreement, facilitating the granting of visas and residence permits to ecclesiastical and religious personnel from abroad engaged in the pastoral care of the Catholic faithful in Kazakhstan. Consisting of a Preamble and eight paragraphs, the document further consolidates the bonds of friendship and cooperation already existing between the two parties.

The Agreement will enter into force after the exchange of the instruments of ratification.