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.