Kazakhstan Introduces Policy: Confiscated Items Now Disposed Immediately at Airports

Kazakhstan has ended the storage of confiscated items at all airports, a sweeping change that took effect on August 27, 2025. The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development announced the move after coordination with the Civil Aviation Committee, airport management companies, and private security contractors.

From now on, any item taken at a security checkpoint will be permanently surrendered and disposed of, with no option to reclaim it later and no compensation. Officials say the change aims to speed up security procedures, cut costs, and bring the country’s airport operations closer to widely accepted international standards.

What the policy covers

The policy applies nationwide and covers all confiscated items that fall under national and international aviation bans, including:

• Liquids above the permitted limit (commonly over 100 ml)
• Knives and other sharp tools
• Certain electronics and power banks
• Flammable, pressurized, or hazardous materials

The Ministry said the reform will “significantly improve operational efficiency and passenger flow,” noting that storage rooms and logging systems had become a heavy administrative burden for airports.

Early results and operational impact

• During a pilot period in July, average screening times reportedly fell by 15–20%, a benefit airport leaders attribute to removing intake, labeling, and storage steps at checkpoints.
• Storage rooms, tracking systems, and related staff time savings could total several million tenge annually nationwide, according to participating airports.
• Airport leaders say the streamlined approach shortens queues and allows staff to focus on screening rather than paperwork.

Key points of the new rules

The change is strict, uniform, and applies to items regardless of sentimental or monetary value.

• Effective immediately: Implemented across all airports on August 27, 2025.
• Immediate disposal: Prohibited items taken at checkpoints are immediately disposed of under safety and environmental rules.
• No reclaim option: Passengers cannot retrieve items after a flight, even on the same day.
• No compensation: Airports will not pay for surrendered items.
• No storage fees or paperwork: Storage-related fees and administrative logging are eliminated.
• Scope: Applies to liquids over allowed limits, sharp objects, hazardous materials, certain electronics, etc.

How checkpoints will operate (step-by-step)

1. Arrival at the checkpoint: Baggage is screened on the belt, and travelers pass through body scanners or walk-through arches.
2. Identification of prohibited items: Security staff flag any object not allowed by current rules (e.g., liquids over 100 ml, sharp tools, certain electronics, hazardous substances).
3. Notification: The passenger is told that the item is immediately confiscated and disposed of, with no chance to reclaim it later.
4. Surrender and disposal: The item is taken for safe disposal in line with environmental and hazardous waste requirements.
5. Continuation: The passenger continues through screening and proceeds to the gate.

Airport staff no longer need to handle inventories, assign numbered tags, or manage pick-up windows. Instead, officers will inform passengers at the checkpoint that a prohibited item must be surrendered and will be discarded under approved procedures.

Safety, environmental handling, and disposal

• Items like batteries, chemicals, and certain electronics require special handling to avoid leaks or sparks.
• Airports are required to:
  • Set aside special bins for hazardous items
  • Use trained staff for initial handling
  • Contract approved disposal providers for transport and final disposal
• Officials emphasize disposal will follow environmental and hazardous waste rules so nothing causes harm in transit to waste facilities.

Why officials support the change

• Reduces risks tied to storage rooms (mix-ups, theft, leaks).
• Eliminates disputes at lost-and-found windows over ownership and release timing.
• Frees terminal space previously used for storage.
• Lets security contractors schedule staff to keep more officers at the belt during peak hours.
• Aligns airport practice with guidance from the FAA and ICAO, aiming for consistent systems that help attract international routes.

What this means for travelers

A simple packing mistake can now be a permanent loss. Examples include:

• A business traveler forgetting a multi-tool in a backpack
• A parent carrying a jar of preserves for family abroad
• A student with a large bottle of lotion

Airlines and travel agencies are updating reminders and urging customers to check rules closely before heading to the airport.

Practical advice to avoid confiscation:

• Read airline advisories sent after booking and before online check-in.
• Place liquids in containers of 100 ml or less and keep them together for inspection.
• Keep sharp tools and work gear in checked baggage if allowed in the hold.
• Arrive with extra time in case your bag needs a second pass through the scanner.
• Avoid packing batteries or chemicals in carry-on bags unless clearly allowed.

Common categories of seized items (per VisaVerge.com analysis)

• Liquids over the 100 ml limit
• Pointed tools carried in carry-on bags (knives, box cutters)
• Oversized aerosol cans
• Power banks with problematic capacity or packaging

Operational benefits for airlines and airports

• Shorter lines at first checkpoints during peak hours.
• Security teams can focus on scanning and secondary checks, not paperwork.
• Shaving even a minute per passenger can clear hundreds more people per hour at large airports.
• Reduced bottlenecks at gates and cut-off times at boarding.

Training, enforcement, and communication

• Airport staff have been retrained to apply the rule consistently and use clear language at the belt.
• Staff will flag the item, state confiscation and disposal is final, and move the item to the correct disposal path.
• Travel businesses are updating emails, apps, and preflight briefings to warn customers and reduce seizure rates for groups.

Monitoring and future review

• The Ministry provides official policy documents and travel notices on the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development website.
• Officials will monitor effects through the end of the year.
• A formal review is scheduled for January 2026 to assess:
  • Screening time data
  • Number of confiscations during pilot and rollout
  • Traveler complaints and compliance rates
  • Disposal contractor performance and training needs

If results remain positive, similar measures may be considered for land border posts and seaports, subject to separate decisions.

Key takeaways and traveler warnings

The era of storage lockers, pick-up slips, and back-room shelves for seized goods is over at Kazakhstan’s airports.

• If a prohibited item appears at the belt, it will be taken and removed from circulation immediately.
• There is no appeal at the checkpoint and no payment for lost goods.
• All disposal follows safety and environmental rules.
• Travelers who prepare—measuring liquids, separating electronics, and double-checking bags—will move through checkpoints faster and avoid losses.

Authorities urge passengers to read official notices and airline messages carefully before travel.