Information on getting visas in an overland trip from India to Europe(through central asia)
Updated on 18-10-2012
If you are going in an overland trip from Asia to Europe,through central asia , here is my experience with the visas.
NEPAL:You get visa on arrival.One month 40 dollars, 3 months 100 dollars.
Visa extensions cost 1.5 dollars per day
INDIA:You can get quiet straight forward a tourist visa in Kathmandu.
BANGLADESH:The worst place to get a tourist visa for Bangladesh is in Agartala.The Consul in the visa office is a n arrogant ,unpolite and corrupt person.Declines my visa as i refused to pay 3 times the oficial price for a tourist visa.His name is Abu Taher Mondal.
Probably my worst experience ever getting any visa was in Agartala.If you have the chance try to get it in Calcuta…or be ready to pay 2 or 3 times the real price.Its your choice to keep feeding those corrupt people.
Visa extension in Dhaka are a real pain.They dont stamp the visa extension until few weeks later, so you just have a receit you have a applied for a extension,while your visa has experied.Like this you must come back to Dhaka,even if you were not planing…
INDiA:At the indian high comision in Dhaka(Bangladesh)they normally issue just 3 months visas.If you left India, you should stay at least 60 days outside India to get a new visa.
To apply for a visa , you need to get an appointment, which oficialy your get it online…But online is IMPOSSIBLE.
Near the Indian high comission there is an agency that arranges this appointments.They asked 500 Takka, but i got it for 200.
PAKISTAN:Is possible to get a visa outside your home country, so i sent my passport to Spain and got it there.
I heard from some people (New zealanders)they got the visa in Vietnam.
CHINA:Got it in the chinese embassy in Islamabad.Takes 4 days and cost 2000 RPS(18 euros) for one month single eantry.
Bring bank statement and a hostel booking confirmation, and some photos.
KYRGYZSTAN:Most europeans countries dont need anymore a visa.You get 60 days free visa at the border.The consul in Kyrgyzstan Embassy in Pakistan didnt told me anything and gave me a 30 days tourist visa for 55 dollars.Luckly, he didnt charge me 90 dollars for express service!
TAJIKISTAN:Applied in Tajik embassy in islamabad.25 dollars one months visa take 3 days to process.50 Dollars one month visa issued on the spot.
Very friendly consul.
GBAO permit cost 25 dollars.
As the pamir was closed i went to Bishkek to apply AGAIN for a new Tajik visa and GBAO permit.Very eassy.(not cheap)
75 dollars 30/45 days single eantry, included GBAO permit ,and issued on the spot. (+10 dollars if you want double entry)
IRAN:Applied for a visa confirmation code on www.key2persia.com Not the best comunication as it took them ages to asnwer my emails,and quite complicated as you need to pay through a bank transfer in a bank account in Germany.Though, they gave me the code without having received the money.
When you apply for the code normally takes 10 days for a confirmation(im sure it takes much longer for americans)
You need to say in which consulate you want to collect your visa.
The visa code cost 30 euros on this agency, the cheapest i could find online.
I got my iranian visa in Iran embassy in Bishkek.The friendliest staff ever and got the visa in 3 hours( i paid express service)
One month single entry tourist visa issued in 5 days cost 50 euros.
Same but exppress, normally issued in 2 days, though i got it in 3 hours ,cost 75 euros.
BEST OPTION If you are in Bishkek, is eassier to get the visa confirmation code in an iranian tourist agency not far from the embassy.You pay with cash and cost just 20 dollars.
Name of agency is Parsia, Address Sovietskaya,166 (tlf 663701-663118)
UZBEQUISTAN:Havent applied yet but if someone has some useful information please post it on this thread.
TURKMENISTAN:Same as Uzbekistan.Please post some useful information.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT GETTING VISAS IN ASIA, PLEASE POST A COMMENT.
4 thoughts on “Information on getting visas in an overland trip from India to Europe(through central asia)”
Turkmenistan you will need to be accompanied unless you get a transit visa – I am planning to do this from the UK…. I would get on to Turkmenistan as notoriously difficult
Entry Requirements – Visas – Transiting Turkmenistan
All foreign nationals, including British nationals, require visas to transit Turkmenistan by train. You can be registered at entry and exit points if your stay is not longer than five days and you hold a valid transit visa. Transit visitors cannot change their visas in-country, and need to notify the authorities if they intend to vary their route through the country. All visa applications made at Turkmen Embassies overseas are referred to Ashgabat for a decision. This can take 20 days or more. There is an accelerated 24 hours service, but a supplementary fee of approximately US$150 will be charged.
Transit visas
The only visa that allows unaccompanied travel for tourists is the transit visa. Relatively easy to come by, they are normally valid for three days, although sometimes for five days and in extremely rare cases, seven and even 10 days. Turkmen embassies in Europe (opposed to Central Asia or Iran) are more likely to grant longer visas. Transit visas can be obtained at any Turkmen consulate, although if you apply without an LOI, the application will need to be forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ashgabat, meaning a processing time of around 10 to 14 days. No transit visa is extendable, save in the case of serious illness. The penalty for overstaying a transit visa is US$200, and you may be taken back to Ashgabat and deported on the next available flight at your expense. Your route will normally not be indicated on the visa, but your entry and exit point (unchangeable) will be, and you will therefore run into trouble going anywhere not obviously between the two points (eg Nokhur or Kugitang). Transit visas are usually not valid if you are dealing with a Kazakh routing, a double-entry Uzbekistan visa or even an air ticket out of Ashgabat. Turkmen embassies regularly refuse transit visa applications, so don’t count on getting one. Note that the five day transit visa is not enough time to cycle across the country, (ie from Turkmenbashi to the Farab border point), as you’re likely to lose one day at Turkmenbashi (the boat may be delayed).
Tourist visas
Tourist visas are a mixed blessing in Turkmenistan. While they allow the visitor to spend a decent amount of time in the country (up to three weeks as a rule), they require accompaniment by an accredited tour guide, who will meet you at the border and remain with you throughout your trip. This obviously has cost implications, as you will have to pay your guide a daily rate (usually between US$30 and US$50), as well as sometimes pay for their meals and hotels.
Hello mister Kabir! sigo tu blog desde que arrancaste y he colaborado alguna vez para que sigas pedaleando y contando tu viaje. Estoy ahorrando para hacer un viaje parecido y la información que das es muy útil. Lo que no he leído (no sé si lo has escrito en alguna sección del blog que no haya encontrado) es el relato de cómo conseguiste el visado para viajar por tu cuenta por el Tíbet. Pensaba que era impsible.
Un abrazo y mucho ánimo!!
Hola Jorge!!
Tuve la suerte de conocer a otros dos ciclistas y entre los tres conseguimos los permisos para hacer la carretera desde Lahsa hasta la frontera con Nepal, unos 1000km. Cuando lo hice no era necesario un numero mínimo de personas, aunque ahora creo que las cosas han cambiado y es necesario un minimo de 4 personas de la misma ncionalidad.
El permiso consiste en tener un guia, y el guia tiene que ir en coche, asi que estamos hablando de bastante dinero.
un abrazo y muchas grcias!tenia pensado escribirte para darte las gracia!!
Mantenme informado de tu futuro viaje!
Hi, nice article. I really like it!