Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Kazakhstan were established on 27 May 1992. The Estonian Embassy in Astana has been operating since 2011. The Consulate of Kazakhstan in Tallinn was upgraded to an embassy in autumn 2019.
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Estonia, Altai Kulginov, presented his credentials to President Alar Karis on 3 May 2024.
Bilateral relations
January 2025 – 7th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, with the Kazakh delegation headed by Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev
May 2024 – visit to Estonia by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko, including participation in the Lennart Meri Conference
May 2024 – working visit to Estonia by Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev; meeting of the Transport, Transit and Information Technology Subcommittee of the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission
November 2023 – visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan by Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonatan Vseviov
November 2023 – visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan by Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Climate Sander Salmu, accompanied by a business delegation
February 2023 – visit to Kazakhstan by Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Climate Kaupo Läänerand, accompanied by a business delegation; meeting of the Transport, Transit and Information Technology Subcommittee of the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission
February 2023 – visit to Kazakhstan by Marge Mardisalu-Kahar, Director General of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for political consultations
May 2019 – Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Taavi Aas at the 6th meeting of the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission, accompanied by a business delegation
November 2018 – Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, accompanied by a business delegation
March 2018 – Deputy Prime Minister Askar Zhumagaliyev
October 2016 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko at the 5th meeting of the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission
May 2015 – President Arnold Rüütel at the Astana Economic Forum; on 31 May, President Rüütel unveiled a memorial stone at the memorial in Spassk near Karaganda, dedicated to Estonians deported to Karlag. The stone was blessed by Archbishop Emeritus Põder, and representatives of the repressed were present.
November 2013 – Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts at the 4th meeting of the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission
September 2012 – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, accompanied by a business delegation
August 2012 – Minister of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliyev at the 3rd meeting of the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission
May 2012 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet
April 2011 – state visit by President Nursultan Nazarbayev
February 2011 – Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts at the 2nd meeting of the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission
March 2010 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rapil Zhoshybayev at the 1st meeting of the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission
September 2009 – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, accompanied by a business delegation
October 2008 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet
June 2004 – President Arnold Rüütel, accompanied by a business delegation
December 2000 – First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov, accompanied by government and business delegations
May 2000 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Idrissov
More detailed information on agreements concluded between Estonia and Kazakhstan is available in the Riigi Teatajast.
The entry into force in 2010 of the Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Estonia and Kazakhstan has been important for the development of relations. On the basis of the agreement, the Estonian-Kazakh Intergovernmental Commission met for the first time that same year and has now convened seven times. The seventh meeting of the Commission took place in Tallinn on 24 January 2025.
For Estonia, the main areas of interest in cooperation are logistics and transit. Kazakhstan is interested in Estonia’s experience in developing e-governance and in the use of IT solutions in different sectors.
For data on trade between Estonia and Kazakhstan, see the application of Statistics Estonia.
Events related to Estonian culture are held regularly in Kazakhstan. Estonian films are screened at international film festivals, and musician Maia Sepp, who is of Estonian origin, lives and works in Almaty.
In 2024, two larger exhibition projects took place: the photo exhibition Theatre Moments by the Russian Theatre at the Russian Drama Theatres in Astana and Almaty, and the exhibition Exploring Estonian Children’s Books by the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre at the National Library in Astana and the Central Children’s Library in Almaty.
The Estonian Embassy in Astana served as the NATO Contact Point Embassy in Kazakhstan until the end of 2024.
According to census data, more than one hundred people of Kazakh ethnicity live in Estonia. There is also a Kazakh cultural society operating in Estonia.„Atameken“.