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Border crossings listing

This is a temporary page, all this info will go into a nice searchable database - but it's still in progress. In the meantime:

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Documentation Required
Name Citizenship Country Leaving Country Entering Location of Border Entry Date Entered Carnet required Passport stamp instead of carnet Pass-port Drivers Licence Intern-ational Drivers Licence Vehicle Insurance (buy at border)? Vehicle Registration Other documentation required Carnet Passport Drivers Licence International Drivers Licence Vehicle Registration Fees: How much were the individual fees, and for what? Entry Procedure: What did you have to do, who did you see, anything else of note. Were there "helpers" and were they a good or bad deal Visa/Entry Permit duration Insurance Required Insurance Price and duration Exit Procedure: What did you have to do, who did you see, anything else of note. Were there "helpers" and were they a good or bad deal? Reliability: Do you know if this is the normal experience, or something new? Other Comments
Cynthia Milton Malaysia Singapore Tuas 15/01/2005 yes no yes yes yes yes yes no 14 days yes RM 70, 30 days Normal 1. Get to Johor Bahru (JB). 2. Get insurance from UniAsia Insurance: 17/18 Jln Tebrau, 80250 Johor Bahru, Tel: 07-2230488. Helpful lady called Easwary. Cost around RM70 for 30 days. 3. Go to Singapore AA in River Valley Road. Get a taxi from the Singapore Taxi stand in JB for wait-and-return if you're feeling lazy (cost me S$70). 4. Hand over: Insurance policy and certificate Carnet de Passage UK (or wherever) Driving licence International Driving Permit V5 (original registration doc) Passport Completed interminable form S$10.50 A promise (cross my heart and hope to die) that I'll go back with the Bill of Lading from the shipping company 5. Receive in exchange: International Circulation Permit 6. Go back to JB. at this stage don't affix ICP to inside of screen. 7. Get on bike and go to border (the second link is about 20km away but completely empty and much nicer). 8. Usual border stuff with carnet. They search the panniers. You get issued with an ERP card (electronic road pricing) and explanatory leaflets in exchange for S$10. You can now put the ICP on your screen.
Julia & Kevin Costa Rica Panama Sixaola (Costa Rica) / Guabito (Panama) Dec-04 no yes yes no no no yes no No fees required for immigration or for the vehicle permit. US$1 for fumigation of bike. 1. Fumigation of bike immediately after crossing banana bridge. Cost US$1. 2. Immigration. No fees. 3. Aduana. Hand in vehicle registration and passport. No fees. Permit hand typed. They want to know where you will export the bike from. 30 days no Not a legal requirement in Panama. Exiting Costa Rica just meant handing in our vehicle permit to the Aduana. There was no stamp in the passport to cancel. Immigration is simply an exit stamp. Border is not 24 hours. It opens at 7pm, closes at 5pm on the Costa Rica side. Remember that clocks go forward one hour in Panama. On Panama side, immigration closes for lunch at 12 - 12.30pm. This is the northern crossing from Costa Rica to Panama. On the Panamanian side, there is now a new road that links Almirante to Chiriqui Grande. It is paved, but has already suffered from land slides. However it means that for the first time there is a road link all the way through down to the Pan Am. On the Costa Rican side, the road is now paved all the way through to the border, from Cahuita onwards. It is a new road, built only last year. However, despite new roads, the bridge remains the only way to cross the border. It is an old railway bridge, which has had wooden planks nailed down both sides of the tracks, to enable vehicles to cross. The planks are now old and worn away so it is a little precarious to cross (I came off!)and the bridge is quite long. Having made it across the bridge here, there is yet another banana bridge waiting for you on the other side of Chinguinola which is even longer.
Tom Hunter Argentina Uruguay Mercedes, Uruguay 12/14/2004 no no yes no no no no no no no no no There were no fees either exiting Argentina or entering Uruguay No helpers available and none required, although neither immigration or customs spoke English Transit permit for bike - 1 year no n/a Very simple. No helpers available and none needed. No English spoken by officials. don't know I was out of Argentina and into Uruguay in less than 25 minutes total.
Julia Sanders Honduras Nicaragua Los Manos Dec-04 no yes yes yes no yes yes no no no no no Immigration US$7 each. Bike permit was free. US$12 for compulsory insurance We used a guide for the bike permit as this seemed to be the only way to get the attention of the young senorita who was busy in the vehicle permit office. His name was Enrique and he was good. We tipped him US$5. However check your bike permit very carefully as the senorita4s typing skills, were inaccurate. Bike permit was valid for 3 months yes US$12 for 3 months Exiting Honduras was straight forward but we paid a fee of US$5 each for cancellation of the bike permits (no receipt issued) and a further US$3 to exit at immigration. No helpers needed. A pretty straight forward crossing. The longest wait was to exit Honduras immigration, which only had one window open to deal with everyone.
Julia Sanders Guatemala Honduras Copan Ruinas Dec-04 no yes yes no no no yes no yes no no yes US$3 for immigration entry. US$35 for bike permit. It did not quite stack up, but fees were posted at this border which said that all foreign vehicles had to pay US$20 for raod tax and another 120 Lempira for the bike permit - about US$6, so US$35 seems about OK . . . The windows are marked and the Aduana was helpful. You need to have a slip of papar which is stamped by Immigration, Aduana, Police and some man at a desk to then hand in to the bloke operating the border barrier, who will let you through. The border was very straight forward, which probably explains why there were no helpers there. None needed! Bike permit was valid for 3 months no Exiting Guatemala was very simple. No costs. No helpers needed - no helpers were even there! This is the best experience we have had crossing into Honduras. Agua Caliente has always been busy and confusing and has taken longer. If crossing from Guatemala to Honduras, I would definitely recommend riders to use this crossing and not Agua Caliente. The road here is now paved both sides, which might not be as much fun, but it is still a nicer road than Agua Caliente too.
Tom Hunter Ecuador Peru Macara/La Tina(?) 23/08/2004 no no yes yes no no yes no no yes yes no yes USD$10 (approx) required for Peruvian Transit Pass Very easy - less than 30 minutes. No helpers needed, or available. 90 days no Had my passport stamped - took less than 15 minutes. No helpers needed or available.
Julia & Kevin Mexico Guatemala La Mesilla 22-Nov-04 no yes yes no no no yes no no yes no no yes Vehicle Fumigation cost 12.40 quetzales. Vehicle permit cost 41 quetzales. Immigration stamp was 20 quetzales. For the first time at a Guatemalan border, there were no helpers. This was the best border crossing into Guatemala that we have done (this was our third). It was very simple. First the fumigation. Next block was immigration. Final block was the vehicle permit. Didn't take more than 30 minutes for both bikes. 90 days no Exiting from Mexico was very simple. This northern border crossing is very quiet. The Customs lady did check the VIN numbers on the bikes to the documents. Anyone going into Guatemala from Mexico, should seriously consider this border. It is quiet (no commercial traffic) and so easy that there are no helpers there to bother you.
Simon Harby India Burma 25/06/2004 yes no yes yes yes no yes Road travel permit from Myanmar embassy yes yes yes yes yes Two month wait in for visa application in Delhi Second secretary at emabassy was helpful Needed special permits for Nagaland And Manipur (india) these were refused first time in Delhi - try calcutta 30 days no Bloody annoying it took 17 days!!!! to exit!! Cost over 400 USD. A major headache A one off I think
Roland Koster Thailand Malaysia Sadao 21/07/2001 no yes yes yes yes no yes can't remember, between nothing and a couple of dollars easy as it can get. Everything very modern. The forgot write in my passport about me bringing a motorbike in the country. So it was easy to leave it there. Otherwise sofar I know , Laos is the only country you can sell your bike without having to pay tax etc. no You just have give all the form to the officals at the vietnamese border crossing. Make you give only the necc. forms. very good It has been one of the easiest border crossings. But also the least adventuras. no old fashion border crossing charm!
Roland Koster Combodia Thailand Poipet 25/06/2001 no yes yes yes yes no yes no no no no no can't remember, so it could,t have been much. No bribes. Everything is going by the book. Lots of form to fill in. Vehicles are also been weight. no Leaving Cambodia was as easy as entering it. Although Poipet is a shitholl to stay. Make shure you be there before 17.00. The just close the gate. And you'll have wait until tomorrow. No problems, standard procedure Cambodia was great too! road where made in Hell, but also part of the fun/experience/ romance of Cambodia.
Roland Koster Vietnam Combodia Moc Bai 06/06/2001 no yes yes yes yes no yes Vietnamese drivers license. Don't even try to get one. You can buy one for 1.000.000 dong. or just drive and make sure you stay away from the police. most of the time they aren't bothered to go after you. Not sure about the copies, but he took all the stuff to the back so I presume there have been made some copies. Entering Cambodia was easy! Only one rule: if you take take the bike in cambodia, you have to take it out again. You get a stamp in your passport. No hassle at all. Officials even friendly! no leaving vietnam was much more difficult then entering Cambodia. We were driving on the Minsk motorbikes. One motorbike was registrated in my name (police had to be bribed for this (50 USD)And gave no trouble at the border. The other bike had its original reg. from some local dude. We bought our bike in Hanoi from a nice guys who gave us also his buisniss card. The official at the border crossing gave him a call and averything was ok. Depends on what kind of motorbike you drive. Just make sure you have some registration on your name and it shouldn't be a problem. vietnam was great!! Get to Hanoi rent a motorbike for 80 US a months (or buy for between 250-400 US) and go to e.g. Sapa, Halong Bay, Dien bien phu. Very nice drivig! All the way down to Saigon too. but lot off traffic! Region Hanoi is better. Enjoy
Roland Koster Guatemala Honduras Florido-Copan 25/12/2003 no yes yes yes yes yes yes no no no no no 10 dollar first of all: this is an crossings permit that allows you only to stay in honduras for three days. You can use it to go to Copa Ruinas. You're are also not allowed to travel further Although its no problem to check out the surrending areas. Anyway, no hassle at all. Just have your usual paperwork ready. Take about twenty minutes. We had rental motorbikes from Antiqua (Guatemala)but no problem at all. 3 days No hassel at all, you have to leave to same crossing as you came. no nobody was surprised or something like that. Just tell you want to visit the ruins. That all
Vladimir Soto Mexico Belize via chetumal Aug-04 no yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes no yes insurance for a week was about $15 30 days yes $15 for a week Going into belize we realized there are actually two steps to trying to enter a country with the bikes, one. gotta get yourself checked in and get your passport stamped. two. gotta get your bike checked in, passport stamped with bike details so you won't try to leave the country without it, and place a temporary vehicle import sticker on the bike's windshield. in belize a couple of agents sending me from side to side insisting i had to do the other procedure first. howver, they were pleasant and even apologetic for the confusion. guatemala was a breeze both in and out, trying to exit guatemala through puerto barrios took about 45 minutes. Corinto, honduras, 2usd to enter, 35us for the bike and since the customs agents don't have the benefit of a typewriter in-house, i had to pay a customs broker to fill out the needed from and take two photocopies for another 15usd.
Chris Stone Iran Pakistan Tehran 19/09/2004 yes no yes no yes no no no no no the rules have changed will not issue visa's at the boarder or at zahan we were refused visa at tehran the british embassy would not issue a letter of introduction pakistan embassey won't issue visa without one
Matt and Jo Hobbs Uzbekistan Pakistan Islamabad 31/08/2004 yes no yes no no no yes air way bill no yes no no yes at islamabad airport cargo terminal we were assigned a handling agent. we had to pay 400 rupees as some sort of customs charge, 120 for something else in customs office - both payments with receipts. 1500 in the warehouse to a counter again with receipt. the handler wanted $200 but we settled on $100 for his days work. assigned agent in cargo terminal. checked freight. unloaded bikes ourselves as we preferred to do it. agent did alot of the running about but we had to visit customs office a few times and also the dry port in islamabad. all a simple procedure for us with a little waiting and some visiting of various offices 2 months no n/a pssports stamped and carnet details checked by customs employee. they were almost insistent we exchanged $ and became quite a nuisance we flew PIA from tashkent to islamabad. on arrival we checked the bikes had left the plane and were in cargo dept. PIA charge $1 per KG (also quoted $8.60 per KG from other tour agent in tshkent so seemed ok from PIA. all palleting we had to organise at tashkent IA cargo dept although PIA sent an employee with us. cost was $70 and they were ok with us to help. took about 1 hour to actually weigh and pallet the bikes (big aluminium tray and rachet straps). the whole process was our first but seemed to be fairly simple this time.
Matt Hobbs Georgia Azerbajain Lagodeki 05/07/2004 no no yes no no no yes no yes no no yes nil 1 month no we had a visa for 1 month. customs staff said 'we give you two days'. they did not say they were referring to the bikes so when we got to baku customs said they had to impound the bikes. we explained to the consular staff in istanbul about the bikes and they said no probs. what we got was a 2 day transit for the bikes without being told. luckily we went straight to baku ferry port or we would have incurred a heavy fine. we heard of other bikers who had turned back at the border as they had been told they must pay approx $1000 to import the bikes, refundable on exit. we were not asked for this but not told we had a 2 day transit.
Matt Hobbs Azerbajain Kazakstan Aktau 09/07/2004 no no yes no no no yes no no no no yes nil long winded procedure to process bikes through customs, but no costs. german/english speaking girl working in business visa section is very helpful 2 months no into uzbekistan. no probs. leaving baku was tedious. the ticket staff are particularly corrupt and even asked for sexual favours. customs staff tried to take money from us as a 'gift'. the cost of the ticket was appalling and the ferry accom is disgusting.
Matt Hobbs Turkey Georgia Vale 30/06/2004 no no yes no no no yes no no no no no visa from consulate in istanbul for $40 + $20 admin charge. $20 at border for "vehicle importation" present passport and visa to guard booth. - present passport/visa and V5 to customs. - sign import document for bikes. no helpers on hand but none required. valid for 3 months for a 14 day visit no
JD Smith Guatemala Honduras Agua Calientes 26/03/2004 no yes no Title only The Honduras border official and her manager took me for $100 us. Be aware of this crossing. I could have called the managers manager or involved the police but after 2 hours of fun in the heat I just wanted out.
Kerstin and Volker per Ship Singapore Singapore 30/12/2003 yes no yes no no yes yes no yes yes no no yes An administration fee of S$10.40 for Customer Services from Automobile Assocation of Singapore First of all you have to go to the Automobile Assocation of Singapore, located at 336 River Valley Road, #01-00 AA Centre, Singapore 238366 for the inward endorsement of documents before custom clearance can be effected. The opening hours are from Mon-Fri 0830hrs to 1730hrs, Sat 0830hrs to 1300hrs. The AAS give you a stemp on the backside of your carnet. As you intend to drive on Singapore roads,you have to apply for a International Circulation Permit(ICP). You need to produce the vehicle registration card, Bill of lading(Ship)Passport (Holder) and a valid third party coverage. You would also need to fill up an application form. The quotation for 3rd party insurance for one month or less for driving in Singapore and Malaysia roads will be S$208 per motorcycle. The ICP is issued on the spot, based on the period of stay in Singapore, the maximum duration being 90 days. For more on AAA and complete motoring information, visit www.aas.com.sg After all this the custom clearance is very easy. 30 days yes S$ 208,00 for minimum 4 week Outward endorsement of documents at the AAS. After this got to Land Transport Authority (www.lta.gov.sg) and there you have to buy a autopass. This pass is needed at the border (S$ 10,00) We used the border S-Woodland / MA-Johor Bahru. The custom is on your righten side after the immigration service. This is the normal way Somene told us that it is possible to drive by train to Malaysia and buy the inssurance over there for less money. Requirements for Foreign Registered Vehicles driving on Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) roads. For more information on ERP,VEP and toll charges, please refer to Land Transport Authority website at www.lta.gov.sg We didn't use our bikes in the city and never took the ERP unit. And after 7.00 pm and on weekend you don't need the ERP
Herbert Roelandt Russia Mongolia Kjachta 01/07/2002 no yes yes yes yes no yes visa for Mongolia no no no no no zero No Problem 2 weeks no No Problem it is much easier now;on the Russian side there is a brand new customs zone; on the Mongolian side it is under construction
Angela Brandl Russia Mongolia K'achta 09/07/2002 no yes yes yes yes no yes You get a seperat pice of paper, and you have to exit the country on the same border ans give this paper back no no no no no There was no cost on the border at all. I had to have a reentry Visa for Russia. I drove down the Hill to a Barack. Somebody gave me a form to fill in, then I had to go to a Container with Custom, another form again and this Custom-Officer told me that I have to come back to this Border, somebody with no Uniform loocked to these papers and I was free to carry on. all Mongolian Borderentry was done in one hour I had a 3 week Visa for Mongolia no Comming back to the Border, there was some hassle with people on cars. They had given away there pasport to some "helpers" to get them through faster. There where about 50 cars waiting. The customs whaved me to come to the crossing. Somebody wanted to help me as well, but I went strait to the man with the Uniform and he started the prozedere himself. Afterwords he told me where I can see custom. I had to fill in an exit-form and to go to both of the cantainers again. At least I had to see one more official. All was done in about 1 houre without anny, as it loocked not helpfull, people at all. I have done all crossing without help of none officials. there is only one lady on the Russian Border who speaks a little english. But everybody tells you where to go.
Ronald Colijn Oman Yemen Near Mayzuna in desert June 03, 1999 yes no yes no no no no Big Smile no no no no no none Just get Carnett stamped, they scribble loads of pages in your passport, thats all. 6 weeks no Really remote crossings, no white face seen in 16 years according to camp officer. No problem Everybody thinks this is not possible but I did not have any problem a all! Oman side is realy well organised and friendly, alltough I was 3 days late on my visa there was not problem. Yemeni side looks pretty dangerous with guns, Adidas everywhere. But guys were okay as long as you have a Carnett
Maarten Munnik Lao Cambodia Veun Kham yes yes yes 2.00 USD for Caret stamp if you missed the customs-house; at the Cambodia customs and immigration, They will ask you for 10 dollar (well, they did with me). I lied that the embassy specificly told me NOT to pay anything. This seemed to do the trick and I was waved on... Just before the tarmac road (HW13) ends and you are left with a choice to go either right onto a dirt-road to Veun Kham (border-town) or straight ahead onto a forest-path where the customs-house is on the left. Don't miss it, there you have to get your carnet stamped. Then go straight onto the forest-path. (Not to Veun Kham unless you want to take the ferry to Stung Treng witch is expensive). on to Cambodia customs and immigration. Don't offer your carnet.. it will only confuse them or give them a reason to ask for money. Cambodia has no document or rules for bike's. If you want to go the other way (Cambodia to lao) get a exit-permit at Stung Treng (I don't know what it is or where to get it, I just know you need to get it there to avoid paying 50 dollars for it at the actual border). There are hotels in Stung Treng, but you can easy make it to Kratie (140 Km, 4 hours) although they will all tell you it's impossible.
Olivier Servais Romania Bulgaria Calafat, RO - ferryboat - Vidin, BG 01/08/2002 no yes yes yes no no yes Authorization if the vehicle is not yours. - Green card (insurance) with RO/BG not crossed no no no no no Leaving Romania: City tax: 70000 ROL + Boat: 20 EUR or USD (must be paid in those given currencies!) Entering Bulgaria: Desinfection: 3 EUR + Depolution tax: 12 EUR (valid for a 72 hours transit) or 20 EUR. The whole process takes a lot of time. Ferries run about every 2 hours at the most. Plan at least 4 hours from your arrival in Calafat, RO until you are able to leave Vidin, BG. EU-citizens: no visa required no Same problem: long and expensive (even a little more). No depolution tax is due in Romania but they make it up with higher desinfection tax + city tax. However, on the way back all the costs (about 50 EUR) can be paid in Euros. This is the way it goes. I saw very angry guys complaining about the costs, it seems as it never ends because you are asked about four-five times for money. The whole process costs about 50 EUR one way (a bit cheaper for bikes). DO NOT take the road assistance insurance after the custum check in BG. It is not mandatory, even if the officer will tell you to go show your papers at that office. The depolution tax is to be paid at the very end. It's a half-A4 white paper=>keep it safely! Check every fees written on papers before paying. DO NOT pay attention to the guys trying to sell you things at the BG border. 1 + 2 Euro coins are accepted at both sides.
Simon and Monika Russia Mongolia Kyakhta 02/08/2002 no yes yes yes no no yes no no no no no no None Show passport and M/C documents. Customs have a book which they record your M/C details and date of entry but they do not give you any paperwork to keep. They stamp your passport and make sure they modify their passport stamp to reflect that you have brought a M/C into the country. Seen and heard of people crossing border who had US dollars on them at time of entry and where then were asked to go back to city to exchange for Russian Roubles. So it could be easier to exchange in advance of border crossing 1 month no Show passport and bike docs. Customs will then review their vehicle entry/exit book and enter your date of departure. Nice an dfriendly, took one hour. Heard many stories from people who had only an entry visa and not an entry and exit visa which they though they had! So check your visa for both. GPS: We had entered Russia four times previous with no GPS licence and had no problem. Even told by Russian Consulate that one is not required before departing UK. However we were also told by police and customs that one is required for Siberia because of the large amount of military establishments. To obtain a GPS licence is easy once we found out how to contact Russian Radiation Office in Ullan Ude Fax: 3012 260999 or email: bury...@rfcir.ru They will fax you a cover registration document and will give you a original once you arrive in Ulan Ude. Price is $15.00 per onth. It may be easier just to remove GPS before border or just say it is a electrical compass. But it could be better to play safe.
Simon and Monika Russia Kazahkstan PETUKHOVO N55.09327 E68.26261 02/08/2002 no no yes yes no no yes no no yes no no yes $2.00 each bike and was able to pay with Russian Roubles Complete two declaration forms and after being stamped and signed, you keep one. Customs agent created temp importation document for both motocycles. Whole procedure took less than one hour. 1 month no Show passports and M/C documents. Submit temp bike documents to customs.
Simon and Monika Belerous Ukraine Nov Rudnja N51.52264 E28.99202 03/06/2002 no yes yes yes no yes yes no no no no no no Administration fees of $3 per bike. Similier to RUSSIA. 2 X Decleration forms and one you keep. Temp importation form given to you make sure its stamped and signed and registration and chasis numbers correct. it took about 3.5 hours to enter. 2 weeks but extended to one month yes $4.00 per bike 15 days Show passport and bike docs. fill in new customs decleration and then submit the new one and the original given on entry and also submit the temp vehicle docs given on entry normal The police were nice on entry and whilst driving south to odessa but The police got worse and more currupt the nearer we got to the border and the Speedings fines increased from $10 to $180 the closer we got to the border (we did not pay and we were not speeding!) The border guards even wanted $10 per bike for using the last stretch of road (we did not pay - ask to see it in writing) Fantastic motorbike show in odessa in mid july each year. if you need an excuse to visit ukraine this is it. Sun sea and vodka and lots of nice company.
Simon and Monika Latvia Lithuania Bauska N56.27718 E24.36272 24/06/2002 no yes yes yes no yes yes no no no no no no Show passport, show bike docs and buy their insurance. No visa yes $15 per bike for two weeks Show passport and bike documents. Nice and relaxed Normal
Simon and Monika Lithuania Belerous Kurganai N54.54666 E25.69084 27/06/2002 no no yes yes no yes yes no no no no no Similier to Russia. Fill in two custom decleration forms one you keep. They create temp vehicle importation document and they sign and stamp it. Nobody spoke english but they were friendly 1 month yes $2 per bike and would only take dollars Fill in new customs decleration and submit new one with original which was given on entry. Submit temp vehicle importation document Normal Extreamly large border que on entry to belerus. We rode to front on bikes with no problems from customs and were then the first in to do entry procedure
Simon and Monika Estonia Latvia Ikla N57.88589 E24.39483 22/06/2002 no no yes yes no yes yes no no no no no no Good deal, quiet crossing, and insurance had to be paid in local currancy (cash). Money exchange at border. Not required for less than 30 days yes $7.70 per bike for 2 weeks No problems, quiet and friendly normal
Simon and Monika Russia Estonia Narva N59.37713 E28.21167 15/06/2002 no no yes yes no no yes no no no no no no New border point, very friendly and relaxed. Lots of Drug sniffer dogs. exhange money at border. not required no n/a No problems, very relaxed and easy Normal Estonia is very relaxed and friendly as is their police and customs
Simon and Monika Norway Russia Kirkeness N693980 E2586829 30/05/2002 no yes yes yes no no yes no no no no no no fees At the border we were given a piece of paper with the guards local number on it and your registration no, make of vehicle, and name of person and then you ride about 50 kilometers! to the customs office, passing numerous army security check points on the way. (Their Watchtowers and electrical fences were a little intimidating). At security checks and then at the customs control submit the piece of paper you were initially given. You are then required to fill in 2 x customs declaration forms which also included details about your vehicle, one you keep, the other you submit. Once completed they give you a Temporary Importation document and a copy of customs declaration copy which you must not loose and do make sure that it signed and stamped by customs officer and it is to be handed in to customs when you exit. The border was quiet and the staff were friendly and helpful but it was all made easier because Monika speaks Russian. There is no money exchange on the russian side not for at least 80 kilometers where the hotels will change dollars. 6 months no n/a First complete new declaration form and with the new one you hand in the original one given on entry and also submit your temp vehicle declaration and customs declaration forms. Normal We were never asked to provide aids certificate or medical jabs certificate. we were never asked to show international drivers or international registration papers. And when ever we where stopped they only ever wanted to see passport and uk driving license. On entry We had the GPS on the bike and they had no problems about it.
Patrick Seacor Bolivia Brazil Corumba, Brazil 25/05/2002 no yes yes no yes no no no yes no no no 12.00 USD leaving Bolivia I was hit up for a $25 US "departure fee" from Bolivian officials (behind a closed door in an office). I agreed to $12.00.. I had a 5 year visa from travelling to Brazil (non-motorcycle) no The "officials" at the Brazilian office in Corumba border negelected to give me motorcycle paperwork (only passport stamp) even though I told them I was entering with a motorcycle. They said "no problem" to enter with the bike. BIG mistake. 1,600 km later in Rio I encountered a hellish scenario where I was held accountable for THEIR mistake when I went to ship the bike home. I was NOT allowed to ship the bike home without the paperwork. I had a month of negotiations with Rio's bureacratic hell AND customs was on strike!!. I wasted lot's of time and money ($200 fine) dealing with the whole mess. Bottom Line: MAKE SURE YOU GET A MOTORCYCLE ENTRY DOCUMENT!!!!!!
Joachim Goetz Argentina Brazil Foz de Iguazu 03/05/2002 no no yes no no no yes no no no no no no fee First visa for 90 days. Then customs. But one has to insist of getting the apropriate entry form for brasil: Declaracao Simplificada de Importacao DSI. On weekends and public holidays custom is not working. One can enter Brasil here without any customs document at any time. Just ride through. Personal experience! 90 days, plus 90 possible no Exit by air from Rio de Janeiro. Normal EASY and very friendly.
Benka Pulko Jordan Egypt Jordan (El Aqaba) to Egypt (Nweiba) by ferry yes yes yes yes Valid visa, registration papers, copies of legitimation page of the passport and of the entry stamp to Egypt, copy of registration documents, copy of one of the inside pages of carnet yes yes yes 6.5 E.Pound for Bill of laiding on the ferry; 20 Egiptian pounds for photocopies (probably the worlds most expensive copies; and no way you can bring the copy of your entry stamp with you from home); 17.5 insurance; 265 EP for clearing the carnet; 40 Ep for the obligatory Egyptian licence plates (20 refundable on the return). I have been hearing all those horrifying stories about the procedure on entering Egypt, about 6-8 hours of nightmares and got, naturaly, ready for that. Instead, as I was riding off the ferry, tidly dressed on white uniform walked to me traffic police man and asked me to wait for him in front of his office, on the other side of the port. He showed up inwithin a minutes and start clearing the documents with me. In 45 minuts (!) I was leaving the port. Unbelivable eficient! 1 month Obligatory third party local insurance 5 pounds for clearing the carnet if you do it in the morning but 15 in the afternoon, 5 pounds to the traffic police in the port but you get 20 pounds refund from the licence plates. I just hope you can get one of those tourist police huys on the other entery poins as well. They work marvels.
Steven Raucher Malaysia Indonesia Dumai by boat from Malacca 10/10/2001 yes no yes no no no you have to get an itinerary stamped by the police and give it to the customs officials, you also get a copy you get to keep no no no no no none No Problem here is the trick, most nationalities get an automatic 2 months visa, but if you spend usd 50 and go to the embassy in KL, you can get a type B visa, this is the only extendable visa, otherwise you will have to leave the country after 2 months or pay a fine of usd 20 per day of overstay no carnet stamp from customs officer at airport on the way to oz there were rumours that they were stopping this before i got here, but the customs in sumatra are so keen to meet bikers i am sure that this is possible in the future these are the shippers i plan to use for quantas air freight: Christina Tri Rini; Krishna Bali Cargo; tel. 0361 754 242; kbcl...@denpasar.wasantara.net.id. One more thing, one needs a exit ticket for an indonesian visa, ie a
return ferry ticket or the like, I think the ticket cost me about 30usd return.
Steven Raucher Laos Vietnam Highway #8 01/06/2001 yes no yes no no yes no no no no no usd 1 per person brie for entry stamp there is a baggage declaration form which must be filled in and handed to the police, you must keep your copy of this at all times 1 month, entry date is specified no make sure you have your baggage declaration form, the only border in vietnam that accepts bikes over 175 cc is this border, no bikes are permitted to enter vietnam from cambodia
Dag Jenssen Mexico Guatemala Cuauhtémoc/La Mesilla Border 2000 no yes yes yes no no no no no We paid 10Q for tourist card; 35Q, the last five was for buying the documents they issued;18 Quetzales for fumigation, and it was required; "Tramitador" not needed First you will meet is a closed gate and fumigation post. They only sprayed the lower part of the bikes and took us inside to receive the 18Q it costs. A receipt was issued. The gate were opened and we moved the bikes ten meters to the Immigration across the road. No receipt were issued and it's possible we were ripped off for 5Q, which didn't bother us the least. We moved the bikes again, this time six meters on the same side of the road to the next office, the Aduana. The Banrural, located in the same building, was the last stop after a thirty minutes process of filling out the necessary forms at Aduana. Price was the same as stated on the receipt. The costs were 10Q more than stated from Gonzalos information, but it didn't seem corrupt. Registration with the police not necessary. no Everyone was friendly and we cannot do other than strongly recommend this border crossing to other travellers. Even the people who hung around were nice and not too bothering. Not a single tramitador approached us, which I took as a sign of how civilized this border crossing is.
John Green USA Mexico Tijuana Nov-01 6 months (for both moto and us) You DO have to sign a "Promise to Return" letter along with an imprint of your credit card. If you do not leave the country at the correct time your credit card will be charged with US$400
John Green Mexico Guatemala Las Mesilla/Ciudad Cuauhtemoc Feb-02 yes Had to pay a minimal fee, about one English pound, for the bikes to be disinfected and about 3 pounds each for the motorbikes to enter the country. 30 days for motorbike, 90 days for us
John Green Guatemala Honduras El Florida Mar-02 yes yes Had to pay about 40 English pounds each to cross the border and 3 pounds for our tourist card. This is official, they have a sign up stating how much for each vehicle entering the country. 90 days for motorbike, 30 days for us
John Green Honduras Nicaragua Gasaule Apr-02 yes 30 days for motorbike, 90 days for us Just watch out for the money changers when you are leaving Honduras, they swarm you.We paid a guy about 2 pounds to help us get our exit paperwork done, he jumped the line. You have an option on the Nicaraguan side to pay for assistance if you need it but we did not bother.
John Green Nicaragua Costa Rica Penas Blancas May-02 yes Paid about 1 pound each to get out of Nicaragua. Paid 30 pounds each for the motorbikes to enter Costa Rica 90 days for motorbike, 90 days for us Veryyyyyyyyyyy slowwwwwwww procces The queues were horrendous, 2 hours to get a tourist card and 2 and a half to get the motorbike paperwork completed.
John Green Costa Rica Panama Paso Canous Jun-02 yes We had to pay about 2 pounds to get out of Costa Rica, and pay about 1 pound each for fumigation 30 days for motorbike, 90 days for us
John Green Panama Jul-02 We had to get the bikes checked at the Police Station to prove that they were not stolen, then a load of typing, to obtain a document.
Herbert Roelandt Spain Morocco Algeciras-Ceuta (Sebta) several times no yes yes yes no yes yes no no no no no No fees This is the best bordercrossing into Morroco. The most safe and straight forward. The ferry from Algeciras in Spain to Ceuta (Sebta in Morrocan language) is the quikest and cheapest. You arrive in Ceuta but no hassle because Ceuta is still Spanish territory; The bordercrossing is much easier than like in Tanger. Much safer, too. Less hustlers around. Fill up the tank here, Ceuta is tax-free, so fuel is much cheaper here than in Morocco! yes Same story,easy. And waiting for the ferry to Spain is much nicer as you are already in Spain. As Ceuta is tax free,do not forget to fill up the tank as fuel is much cheaper here, same for tobacco and alcohol. Big advantage is that Ceuta and Mellila are tax-free! So cheap fuel etc available. The same story goes for the bordercrossing in Mellila, but the ferry ride takes much longer and is more expensive A European Green card is ok for Morocco, so probably no need to buy an insurance on the border is MA is listed on the green card
Chris van deh Heever RSA Mozambique Komatipoort 22/02/2005 no yes yes yes no yes yes DA 341 temp importation docks no no no no no To stamp your passport R12.00 Third party insurance R85.00 To stamp your temp import docks R12.00 On entry of the RSA border post you obtain a gate pass at the entry gate. Then fill in the DA341 (get it at the customs desk) form a temp importation documentation for your vehicle, that together with the gate pass must be stamped by customs. They will tear out one page from the DA341. Make sure to declare all your valuables and serial related items. Then off to Immigration to stamp your passport together with your gate pass. On the exit gate they will collect the gate pass and might search your goods and vehicle. When entering the Mozambican side, they will issue you with a gate pass, then to the CGSM office (red building) to obtain your third party insurance, then go to Customs (Alfandega) with your DA342 form gate pass and vehicle registration papers to be stamped, then to immigration to stamp your passport (sometimes you will have to fill in a form about all your passport and travel details before stamping your passport). If you don’t have a visa you would have to fill in another form and pay + R185.00 (to pay in their currency namely Meticais the visa would be cheaper) make sure that Customs AND IMMIGRATION STAMPED THE GATE PASS. Find a Customs officer to come and inspect your goods and your bike, he has to sign on the gate pass before you leave. Hand in your gate pass at the exit gate. Single entry 30 days, import permit for your bike also 30 days. For longer periods you have to go to Maputo the capital city. yes R85.00 / 30 days There are helpers but they just want to make a buck, rather ask the staff at the CGSM office for assistance obviously not free but reliable. This is the correct procedure as I am a Customs officer at the RSA border, I must also mention that corruption is prevalent and officers might try to take advantage of uninformed foreigners. Information supplied is for RSA registerd vehicles and citicens of the RSA. With foreigners a Carnet is sufficient, or you just simply get a tempory import permit on the Mozambican border. (sorry i dont know how much it will cost)
Vincy Oman United Arab Emirates Wadi Al Jizzi Boarder 02/05/2005 no yes yes no yes yes yes no no no no no 10 Easy process, Take care about Insurance papers 1 Month yes Good Take plenty of water (heat and humid)
Carlos Azevedo Marroco Mauritania Bnr Guendos 01/03/2004 no yes yes yes no no yes Some times they require to buy one Insurance in Noubdhibou yes yes yes about 25 euros, but they can ask for work extra-time cash ;o) First costumes, then border, we enter one small house and they fill some papers, we pay and they stamp the passport. Take care of the form w h ere you describe the money you take to Mauritania . S omet h ing like 100 is one good advice. You have to justify in the way out the change of currency and only banks do it, you will get better deals in the streets. 90 days Justify the money you describe in the entrance with rec e ipts from banks and show the rest. Sometimes they ask for more money in the entrance. There are some guides after the border that can take you to Noubdhibou, normal l y is not needed.
Martin Wickert Mexico Guatemala Ciudad Cuauthemoc 08/03/2005 no yes yes no no yes yes no no no no no costs: (on 8. March 2005) no exit costs in Mexico Entry Guatemala: Desinfection: 12 Quetzales Visa (Immigration): 10 Quetzales Bike Permit (Aduana): 41 Quetzales took 20 minutes in Mex and 30 in Guatemala. u encounter desinfection first. let him spray and pay in office.then go to migraciones, fill out paper, get stamp (request 90 days , just in case); then go to aduana, fill out paper, show ur bike registration, the guy checks the numbers of engine or bike, hen u receive a paper (doublecheck the numbers). no helpers needed and we have not seen any. visa 90 days, vehicle permit 40 days no go to aduana first, check out the bikes. hand the officer the mexican form u received, he fills evrything out. he checks ur bike numbers then. u receive copy. then go to migraciones, hand ur paper u received while entering mexico. the oficer stamps your exit in passport seems to be that way on this border crossing all the time we strongly recommend that crossing. it was very easy and everybody more than friendly and helpful.
Matthew Bobbs Thailand Lao Huay Xai 01/02/2005 no no yes no no yes yes try not buy insurance at border as extremely expensive.(2-3000 baht) visit local insurance office where it is $3.5 for 2 bikes for 20 days no no no no no 100 baht import duty per bike - you are issued a receipt avoid the travelling insurance salesman. insurance is compulsory in lao but no-one told us this. no-one checks either. just show passport and vehicle docs, pay 100 baht each bike and off you go. valid for 60 day period of which 30 days entry yes $3.5 for 2 bikes for 20 days from savanakhet - exit stamp in passport and just got on the ferry back to thailand i think normal Any additional Comments? we were never asked for carnet, although two new zealand friends had their carnet stamped on entry and exit
Martin Wickert Mexico Guatemala Ciudad Cuauthemoc 08/03/2005 no yes yes no no yes yes no no no no no costs: (on 8. March 2005) no exit costs in Mexico Entry Guatemala: Desinfection: 12 Quetzales Visa (Immigration): 10 Quetzales Bike Permit (Aduana): 41 Quetzales took 20 minutes in Mex and 30 in Guatemala. u encounter desinfection first. let him spray and pay in office.then go to migraciones, fill out paper, get stamp (request 90 days , just in case); then go to aduana, fill out paper, show ur bike registration, the guy checks the numbers of engine or bike, hen u receive a paper (doublecheck the numbers). no helpers needed and we have not seen any. visa 90 days, vehicle permit 40 days no go to aduana first, check out the bikes. hand the officer the mexican form u received, he fills evrything out. he checks ur bike numbers then. u receive copy. then go to migraciones, hand ur paper u received while entering mexico. the oficer stamps your exit in passport seems to be that way on this border crossing all the time we strongly recommend that crossing. it was very easy and everybody more than friendly and helpful.
Anton Post Cambodia Vietnam Chau Doc (Cambodia Phom Denh) 09/04/2005 no no yes no no no no no no no no no None, except for $US24-25 for Vietnamese Visa in Phnom Penh Thought you might like to know that I scraped my Honda XL250 into Vietnam, although originally being turned down, and had happy and untroubled riding for about 10 days before leaving. Read http://hamilton2japan.blogspot.com for the details. 30 days no $0 No problems here - just asked them to stamp my carnet - they didn't seem interested in the bit of tear-off I gave them. Unusual - your milage may vary. Just thought I'd let you know I'd done it. Please read http://hamilton2japan.blogspot.com for the details. Feel free to ask me if I can provide any info on recent South East Asian conditions.
Martin Wickert Honduras Nicaragua Danli (Los Manos) to Esteli 17/04/2005 no yes yes yes no yes yes You need your car or bike title. no no no no no You need your car or bike title. You need your car or bike title. You need your car or bike title. You need your car or bike title. You need your car or bike title. You need your car or bike title. Exit and Enter. Between the borders is the main building. 1. Exit Honduras. (sign above the counter). Stamp in ur passport, pay 3 US Dollar. done 2. Enter Nicaragua: Fill out paper (same form like entering Honduras or Guatemala. pay 7 Dollar US. done 3. go to Aduana (sign above the counter). They fill out a paper. U need drivers licence, Title and Passport. then they force u to buy an mandatory insurance (although having internatinal insurance we had to buy one, no chance to get around). pay 12 Dollar US for insurance. then they check ur bike registration and chassis number. No more costs. no copies required. (although aother people needed to have copies!!!) Altogether it took about 2 hours for 4 people. Just two kids hanging around which were ok. Money changer are a little annoying but ok. U dont need to change here, u can pay in US Dollar as well (actually a better rate). But the rates for changing are the same on both sides of the border, so it doesnt matter. 90 days visa/ vehicle permit 30 days yes 12 $ US, 30 days Honduras: On Honduras site there is just Aduana. Check out your bikes there. no costs, easy going. You get the same stamp u got when entering, just the exit version.Exit yourself is at entry location. The crossing seems that easy all the time. Costs seem to be consistent what we heard. Just normally you seem to need copies of your documents. No idea why we didnt. We recommend the crossing. If u can talk yourself out of the insurance, try it. We couldnt although we had an international insurance.
Bob Morley Uruguay Brazil Rivera 28/04/2005 no no yes yes no no yes no no no no no none After leaving Uruguay you have to find the police station to get your passport stamped. NO papers issued for the bike, and after pestering people for an hour they threw me out. 90 days no Leaving Uruguay was a snap. no idea
Martin Wickert Nicaragua Costa Rica Penas Blancas 28/04/2005 no yes yes yes no yes yes no no yes yes yes Just crossed the border to Costa Rica at Penas Blancas. Cost us about 3 hours for 4 Bikes.Procedure:
Exit at Nicaragua side. Pay 1 Dollar municipal, drive than to imigration office on left side. There are guys with blue shirts (like the guy at entry who checked ur bike) who will check ur bike out. Then u need to find a police officer to sign that paper. (u can take a guide for 2 Dollars, but it is not needed). Then go to Immigration, there are three counter. At one u check out the bike, at the other urself. Cost is another 2 Dollars.

Then ride to Costa Rica.
1. Fumigation. Its 2.50 Dollar.
2. RIde on to Immigration. u get entry stamp at no cost. (same form to fill out as always).
3. then they force you to buy insurance in the same building. costs are 10 Dollars per Bike.
4 then cross the street to Aduana (they force u to do insurance first). they fill out the standard papers, u do some papers. No costs. You get some papers.
5. ride on. 100 meters further on right there is a police/Aduana building. Pass the papers and ur titel and licence and passsport. He gives u the final permit. No costs.




Done. Long and confusing but easy possible without a guide. No begging kids, some money changers.


90 days yes 10 Dollars for 90 days Easy, see Entey Procedure yes, have heard it is always busy but never too annoying, just takes time. Getting better now where new buildings are almost ready.
Martin Wickert Costa Rica Panama San Vito - Rio Sereno 09/05/2005 no yes yes no yes no yes no no no no no 1 Dollar for Fumigation on Panama side Hi, we just crossed the border into Panama at San Vito - Rio Sereno.
Please note: U do not get the official exit procedure for the bike because there is no Aduana on Costa Rican side. That means u can also do not enter here with ur bike into Costa Rica. But because CR does not stamp ur bike into ur passport, u can prob. leave here to Panama Semi illegally.

Exit. It is 5 km dirt road to the border. Just go to Migraciones on CR side and check urself out. No costs.

Entry. Cross 10 meters to the Panama side.

Migraciones: fill out the normal paper as u did in other CA countrys. No costs.

Pay 1 Dollar for Fumigation and get ur bike watered.

Go to Aduana. U need no copies, just title, passport and Drivers licence. no costs for us, other people paid 4 Dollars.

We were the only people at the border for about 2 hours. Main thing we did was chatting with army guys who wanted to practice their german. the easiest stuff we have ever done.


90 days no See EntryProc very relaxed border all the time. sometimes people pay 4 dollar aduana. seems to be normal here, just campesinos cross this border That was the easiest border in all of Central America. Just see above the comment regarding your bike exit. Officials told us you can send the paper u received in Costa Rica lateron to the CR embassy to check out, but that is not approved.
Jan Misiewicz Poland Belarus Terespol, PL - Brest, BY August, 2004 no no yes yes yes yes yes no no no no no Reasonable, cheap. Take Dollars and Euro. Sterling is not recognised. Agree with earlier post by Herbert, bikes push to front with no problems, given priority by locals and treated kindly. Anyone in a uniform is out to add something to your price of entry so be prepared for the "missed step" in your procedure that he/she will waive for a small fee. Pay and move on, or say you've got nothing to give and wait for the unofficial "toll gate" to open. It always does. Determined when applying in London for transit visa, be generous with your time, though Belarus can be crossed in a day. yes cheap, buy on border helpers were good entry and exit procedures were the same experience Take Dollars and Euro to pay for fuel and bribes. Credit cards are recognised at few petrol outlets. Beware of sleeping on the side of the road, warnings of bandits, though I had no experience of theft or harassment.
Jan Misiewicz Belarus Russia Smolensk August, 2004 no no yes yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes Documentation is cheap, obligatory bribes for officials are what you negotiate. Expect to pay up. Helpers useful Helpers useful yes Buy at border and cheap Entry and exit same process and hassle. Mostly courteous officials especially when relieving you of your money. Police are difficult and corrupt.
Anton Post Vietnam China Mong Cai 23/04/2005 no no yes no no no no no no no no no zero This was the second border I tried (Lang Son/Pin Xian previously) - no special requirements, just a lot of sweet talking. I think having a carnet helped. 30 days? no zero Not an issue I definitely wouldn't expect to be able to get away with this. See http://hamilton2japan.blogspot.com/2005/04/hengyang-hunan-china-day-70-1... for the actual crossing, and http://hamilton2japan.blogspot.com/2005/04/mong-cai-vietnam-day-67-10236... for the attempt at the first border. Please email me if I can help further.
Susan Homer Guatemala Honduras Copan 15/07/2005 no yes yes yes Title yes yes $29 bike $3 person 1. Aduana: Both Guatemala and Honduras customs are in the same building. 2. Immigration: also both countries in same building check out of Guatemala window, check in at the Honduras window 2 years on the bike no No one approached me to help. It was easy to check out of Guatemala no idea They were all very nice folks
Jonathan Morgan USA Mexico Brownsville, TX 29/01/2005 no yes yes yes no yes yes no no no no no $15.00 charged to a credit card/debit card. Must have valid visa or MasterCard. About $10 in other fees. $15.00 charged to a credit card/debit card. Must have valid visa or MasterCard. About $10 in other fees. Simple easy and fast.
But, you must park bike and go inside the immigration building to get papers if you want to go past the 50km buffer zone. Insurance is not required. Shop around for the best price. Buy only short time, if you need to extend it you should be able to over the internet. When you cross the border you get a green light, keep going. If you get a red light they will search you bags for drugs and guns.
6 months no Take your window sticker in and make sure you get a receipt. If you don’t turn in your sticker they will charge your card and block future entry. Should be the same Find out what the prime exchange rate is before arguing with the cambio guy on the sidewalk.
Martin Wickert Ecuador Peru Vilcabamba, Zumba - San Ignacio 21/06/2005 no no yes no no no yes We were asked for the Carnet, actually the officer insisted on it, At the end, we used it. Our swiss friend who did not have any, discussed for 20 min and suddenly there were temporary vhicle permits which were filled out very slowly and with the help of all of us. no no no no no There were no fees, no copies required, nothing at all, just the lazy officer who either had no clue what to do with the private vehicle or no motivation to fill out his own forms. But they all were very friendly. Go to Immigration, officer fills out form. Police next door accepts, return to officer who stamps ur passsport. Aduana officer insist on carnet or fills out papers after a while. Easy, no problems, very friendly. 90 days no all easy obvious

Nigel Stevens

Finland Estonia Tallinn 28/05/2005 no no yes yes no no yes I had scanned photocpy of V5 but it wasn't accepted and the bike was impounded (it was because the document was a scanned copy and NOT the original that the border guards wouldn't let the bike through...) no no no no no none no took bike back to Finland and after short explanation no problems...
Tobias Niger Nigeria Damasak 25/05/2005 yes no yes no no no yes no no no no no no issues no Straightforward it seems to be normal
Rene Cormier Argentina Entre Rios from Zarare, just over the bridge on Routa 14 yes no no no no no Initially the cop wanted to fine me for not having reflectors on the Touretech cases (which I have). I go into the room, and there the story changes to a really good one:the luggage (presumably the same Touratech cases and maybe my guitar) exceeding the space allowed to be carried by a motorcycle...
Richard Currie Jordan Saudi Arabia Al Haditha 10/04/2005 no no yes yes yes yes Visa obtained in advance no no no no no Nil. But there are exit fees in some adjoining countries (Jordan and UAE) Immigration for check-in (present check-out ticket from Jordan Customs)
Customs - obtain vehicle permit (do not lose this as it is required on exit)
No helpers required. officials generally friendly and co-operative.
Buy Insurance
Check-out (the policeman will check passport stamp, vehicle entry certificate, insurance).



Normally a week for transit yes 70 Saudi Riyals per week

Immigration check-out
Customs check-out. Hand in vehicle permit.
Collect check-out ticket which needs to be presented on arrival at next border.



Procedures seem to be consistent at borders with Jordan and UAE. No right hand drive vehicles permmitted in Saudi Arabia.
Women not permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia
Numerous check-points, particularly near towns, where the police are likely to stop foreign registered vehicles to check paperwork. All generally friendly and sometimes offer tea. You should accept.

Martin Wickert Peru Chile Tacna to Arica

23/08/2005 no no yes yes no no yes You have to buy or get a 4 pages Relaciones de Pasajeros. You can buy it in Tacna or ask a border post who will kind of sell it to you. Probably it's free, but he asks for a Propina, tip kind of style. no no no no no We only payed the little propina, tip to the officer, because he helped us getting and filling out the form. If u buy it in Tacna u also pay a Dollar or so,
thats what we paid him.


You reach Chile side, stop the bike near checkpoint.go to Immigration, get stamp of Entry, then check the luggage thru x/ray, get 2 stamps on Pasajeros de Relaciones doc. from checking police, then go to counter 2 Aduana, lady types ur data on temporary permit, another stamp on Relaciones de Pas. doc. and u are free to go. After 300 meters is a checkpoint where they take ur last copy of the relaciones Document. keep the temporary permit for ur bike.

90 days no

Buy or get the Pasajeros de Relaciones document and fill it out. Then go to aduana, he stamps the document and keeps a copy. Then drive over to Immigration, get ur exit stamp, he keeps another Relaciones de Pasajeros part. Then go to Chile border.

Seems pretty organised, no trouble, no discussions, very friendly, they all know what they are doing. Took us less than an hour to check thru with 2 bikes. Depends on waiting line. Chilean side more organised, but search thru ur luggage can be little annoying, because u have to take some off and x ray it like in the airport. Useless, considering that they dont open the aluminum boxes but check all other luggage. If u are friendly they leave u alone after the first bag.
Nina Le Lievre Guatemala Honduras Copan / El Florida 22/09/2005 no yes yes no no no yes no yes no no yes $35 for bike permit, $3 each immigration

Very easy, immigration for both countries in same building, customs building just next door, no helpers

30 days no n/a Very easy, immigration for both countries in same building, customs building just next door, no helpers

Sounds like this is pretty normal for this particular crossing

Whole procedure only took 45 mins, nice and easy!
Matthew Hobbs El Salvador Honduras El Amatillo 05 Oct 2005 no yes yes yes no yes yes A crystal ball if handy no yes yes no yes Difficult to say as we were had. We think it should be 369 lempiras per bike or about US$18. It may be 650 lempiras or approx US$32. Watch out for the exchange rate at the border, it should be about 19.5 for US$1. The thieves seem to work in pairs. One will proudly present an id card hanging round his neck. The other nothing. They claim to work for $5. Procedure: stop at first check point and present vehicle import docs. 100 metres on right present passports and vehicle docs. Proceed 1 km to border. El Savaldor & Honduras next to each other. Get stamped out then to Honduras pay US$3 each hand in completed tourist slip. Next you need to find a "secretary", just passed central strucure on right. She'll issue all papers needed (many). Cross the street to an administration office (computers) who will give you an A4 receipt and charge you US$10 per bike. Proceed to bank and pay for bike import. Exit turn left and 3 doors down an office with man & computer. He will write your bikes into the passport (no fee) exit turn right to portacabins and pay US$5 for fumigation (they don't fumigate the bikes however). Throughout the process you'll be required to present photocopies of passport, dvr license, bike registration and of some of the documents you have been issued. Alot of walking back to the copias. 3 months not sure Simply thank God. Hand in the A5 sized official looking bit of paper to the first guy at the border. Proceed to main border post. Going in was a traumatic experience, leaving was good. This was the most complicated crossing we have ever done in terms of paperwork. We think in hindsight this was because the helpers made it so. They are slick operators and it is not helped by we think low level official help in the police and border bank. Under no circumstances exchange dollars at their insistence at the border. They'll tell you all sorts, principally, the bank will only take lempiras. Under no circumstances let them "pay on you behalf" in the bank. They'll insist that all the charges listed on individual bits of paper are to be added up for a total. We suspect the A4 sized receipt is the total you are to pay per bike. The helpers constantly ask for documents to be photocopied so you have to keep returning to the copia booths. Meanwhile they'll tell you the bank is closing so they try to go and pay on your behalf while you are preoccupied. Stand your ground here as when I thought I'd realised the scam the bank refused to even let me in: they too are part of the conspiracy I think. The police were utterly useless. The whole charade took about 4 hours. All I can say is, (except the US$3 at passport control) as soon as you have to start parting with money (over US$10) be very suspicious, do not exchange cash, you can pay all in US$. Make sure you get into the bank and ensure you are paying the correct money. Appologies if this is a confusing explanation but it was a confusing experience for us, I hope I have at least shed some light onto the process.
Nina Le Lievre Colombia Ecuador Ipiales 25 November 2005 no no yes yes no no yes no yes yes no yes Just had to pay $3 for the Ecuador customs guy to get back to the border as they process the bike permit in the town about 10 mins from the border. No helpers. But they have new laws regarding entry for some countries. For Geoff on his NZ passport, he now needed a $60 visa - we also met a Mexican who needed one also. We had to go back to Ipiales (both already stamped out of Colombia) and stay another night while waiting for the visa. We met another kiwi who had the same problem and he spoke to the NZ embassy and they said that this visa requirement was new since 9 November and would no longer be necessary after 1 Dec, but we didn´t have time to wait! $60 visa for NZ - 30 days, entry for UK passport 90 days no n/a Got stamped out of Colombia, bike paperwork copied and
stamped, very easy.
Jason Tonge Israel Egypt eilat,taba 19 December 2005 yes no yes no no yes yes THE CARNET WASN'T RECOGNIZED IN
ISRAEL.IN & OUT ON A TEMPORARY IMPORT PAPER,VERY HELPFULL AT HAIFA.
yes yes no no yes 20EGP,INSURANCE
55EGP,REGISTRATION FEE(NUMBER PLATE)
270EGP,IMPORT FEE(WHAT IUNDERSTOOD!)
87EGP,ROAD TAX.35EACH+17 FOR BIKE!....WELCOME!!!


SECURITY POLICE,(EMPTY THE BIKE)!!!
PASS,VISA CONTROL,
CUSTOMS(NEARLY ALL DAY!!)
ONE CUSTOMS GUY NEEDED 20 PONDS FOR PHOTOCOPYING...I DID MYSELF OT HILTON, COST 10!(AFTER 4 SECURITY CHECKS)!




One month

yes 20 EGP,1 MOUNTH

NOT KNOWN YET PATIENCE!!!
Fred Tran Duc China Vietnam Lao Cai 21 June 2005 no no yes no yes no yes Nice friendly smile no no no no no About 20 S altogether
Plus 100 S helper's fee -very competent in my case- I could have given way less, but he deserved it. ALL the numerous forms are in Vietnamiese only.

At first sight, it does seem impossible.
During the 21 hours I spent at the border, I saw absolutely no motor vehicle crossing the border. Not even tourist busses, the guys cross the border on foot and take another bus the other side of the border. Kinda weird.
You need permission from the chief of police.
Well, negociate, explain you've been dreaming of seing VN all youtr life, or better since VN got free in '75, but cannot leave your bike behind, use any reason you can have or imagine. No bike registered in China will come in.
Theoretically no bike over 150cc is allowed, but rules can often be streched. Your DL is not valid in VN anyway. Unless you can read Vietnamiese, helper is necessary; I got an excellent one.



1 month renewable. Can be gotten anywhere; including China.



no Since your licence is not valid, you
cannot get one.


I'm still in Viet Nam!
Derek Albania Macedonia Hwy E86 03/07/2004 no no yes yes yes yes yes no no no no no

yes 50 euros, 7 days.

I was U.S. military stationed in Italy
in 2004, and as a force protection measure we have two license plates - the "official" one that makes it obvious that your mc belongs to an American and a "cover" plate that looks like any other Italian license plate. When I crossed into Macedonia from Albania I was extorted for additional motorcycle insurance because my green international insurance form listed the official plate number, not the cover plate which was on my BMW. The fact that I had copies of vehicle registration papers that clearly listed that both plate numbers were for the same vehicle did not help, and I was forced to pay 50 euros for one week of insurance (despite only riding through Macedonia for 1 day). I could've turned back, but I'd just ridden over 30 miles of dirt roads on my BMW R1100S, and the prospect of repeating that journey to get to a different border crossing - but in the dark this time - was not worth the 50 euros to me. PS:
Macedonian roads are from my experience the best in all of eastern europe.

Koos Mauritania

Senegal Rosso 01/01/2005 no no yes yes yes yes yes Well, you're not supposed to take a car
into senegal which is more than 5 years old without a Carnet, so we needed some sort of form and a custom official that would accompany us during our drive through Senegal.
no no no no no About €100 a car for entry and insurance

Rubbish, very chaotic, luckily we had a
guide who did everything for us.


Didn't get one Yes about €70 very easy, absolutely no problem, no
bribes or anything. Just a couple of stamps and thats it
Seems to be normal DON"T GO THROUGH ROSSO!!!!

Before getting to Rosso, turn right towards Diama. Cross the border there. Much easier

Brad DeShano

Kosovo Serbia any frequently yes yes yes yes yes YOU CAN'T DO IT!!... period. If you come out of Macedonia, into Kosovo, Serbia WILL NOT allow you to come into Serbia. You have to go from Macedonia into Serbia, basically, they refuse to recognize a Kosovo stamp on your passport.... just figured I'd warn you all.
Fraser Cant Peru Bolivia Desaguadera 04/04/2006 yes no yes no no no no Immigration entry to Peru. Bit of a fine if you've lost it, but negotiable. no no no no no 5 Bolivianos sometimes if the guy is there. I think it's something to do with agriculture. 1. Immigration (blue building on left on Peru side of bridge)
2. Opposite side is customs. Get carnet stamped.


30 or 90 days. Always go for 90 it's free. no Cross bridge. DO NOT go any further than the barrier.
Go to left of building in middle of the road. At far end is immigration. Fill in entry form and get it stamped. DO NOT LOSE.
Stay in the building but come back towards the bridge and last door on left they take details of vehicle.
Go out of building and head to bridge. On the outside of the building facing the bridge is a window where customs do paperwork.
All borders in Bolivia shut at 8pm and I think it's 8am opening.



Peru has been changing procedure for
years. Sometimes they want the carnet others they don't and you have to do other forms and other times they want you to do the other forms until they realise they haven't got any and then stamp the carnet! Just look bored but unconcerned
and they get it done.

Things can be different each time you go to this border as with many SAmerican borders. They ask you for something they know that you won't have or tell you that you can't bring fresh food in. They always relent if you play the dumb tourist and don't offer them money. Chile and Argie you don't want fresh meat or veg crossing those borders.
Jerome Boucher

Mali Guinea (Conacry) Kouémalé, route de Sibi (Sud-Ouest de
Bamako)


2/12/2004 yes yes no no no no -Visa for you
-you MUST have a permit to drive in Guinea, it's deliver by the malian embassy


10 000 FCFA at the border
35 000 FCFA for the temporay driving permit
Drive slowly, we are anable to see where is the real border checkpoint.
Smile and talk friendly.
1 month no No probleme we cross to Guinea-Bissau on a small path into the deep jungle

We were well prepare for this border. We came many time at the guinea embassy before.
Lone Rider Mexico Guatemala Bethel 12/21/2005 no no yes no no no no none no no no no no none No help is needed no Nothing done Assume it's normal This is a river crossing at Frontera
Corozal, MX. Your bike is carried on a lancha upstream for about 30 min.

Dayala Bharadwaj

Iran Turkey Bazargan 02/05/2006 yes no yes no no yes no No other documents no no no no no No fees of any kind. Paid 10 Turkish Lira
for Vehicle Insurance at border.
There will be a big gate at Bazargan town itself and I was waved off without stopping. Went straight to the immegration office and stopped my bike there went in many locals were waiting but I went straight into the cabin of the officer written "Passports" and told him about me.
He took me out and showed me another window where two women were checking passports and stamping. I had a clean visa and when they saw me they I know I am one more freak going to Europe on my bike. Asked nothing and they stamped it.
When I asked them where I can get my carnet stamped they said they don't know. So I came out and asked an eager looking "Helper" who asked me to change my money. He showed me and took me to another office. There the customs officers were having tea and when they saw me they joked, maybe about my motorcycle gear... and they signed and stamped my carnet with out any delay and told me I can go now. The "Helper" who took me to the customs office asked me some bakshis two three times but when I said no he went away. Came out, finished police check and entered Turkey.

I already had a visa valid for 6 months yes 10 Turkish Lira or 7 Euros for 3 months I had no bike insurance for Iran and no body asked for it. But on the Turkey side they wanted me to take insurance which cost me 10 YTL ie about 7Euros. Got all stamps. And the customs officer asked me if I am carrying any banned goods and I obviously said no and so he signed and told me I can go. I never thought crossing border with a vehicle was so easy... This should be the normal proceedure
unless you look very frightened.
May be not all crossings will be as easy I should no in future
Nigel Smith Ukraine Poland Przemysl 8/25/2005 no no yes no no no no EU passport or, if other passport held, EU
visa


no no no no no None Long queues approaching the border. I
joined the line and was approached by 2 men who said they would get me to the front of the line for 5 Euros. I gave them $5 and they sheperded me to the front (Ukrainian Immigration), where I discovered that bikes were allowed to go straight to the front anyway, I didn't need to give these scamsters 5 bucks.
no There are apparently long lines at all borders coming into the EU from Russia / Ukraine / Romania.
The good news is that there are no longer long queues at borders between the new EU countries (Hungary, Czech, Poland etc) and other EU countries; nothing more than a cursory passport check.
Nigel Smith Romania Ukraine Chernivtsy 8/20/2005 no no yes yes yes no yes none no no no no no None A very quiet border crossing (6:00 pm on a weekday). Only 2 local-registered vehicles waiting.
Immigration officials seemed unsure what to do with me at first. I was given a customs form to fill in. They asked for my original bike registration document and passport; I gave them this together with my international drivers' license (which did not seem to be required). They returned and asked the purpose of my vist; I sid "tourism". No baggage search, they just let me through after a 10-minute wait for stamps etc. I changed money in the shack the other side and had a bit of craic (in German, they spoke no
English) with a bunch of soldiers, all very curious about the bike. Then I was on my way on a wide fast road, no other traffic in sight in either direction.

No visa required for Ukraine for EU & US
citizens since 2005.
no No hassles at all I was uninsured in Ukraine; no requirement
for it at the border.
Dayala Bharadwaj Turkey Syria Ackakale 5/13/2006 yes no yes no no yes no Nothing at all no no no no no Except the Syrian vehicle insurance no other fees The border was a small one and there are only two sheds on either side of the gate and a small building at a distance. No chance for helpers as I think I am the only one crossed that day...They charged $44 for the Syrian vehicle insurance. Nothing more.

Already had visa so no problems. But I don't think they will give visa there.

yes $44 one year Exiting Turkey was very easy. As I was the only one crossing it, they processed everything in 10 minutes and stamped the carnet and passport at the same place and let me go. But they checked all my luggage. Very friendly. This should be the normal procedure as the traffic is very less, they are very co operative.

All the officers were enjoying their tea and chatting as there was no one except me crossing the border. In fact the border itself is situated just across a railway line and I missed it once and got back to it after asking around. The Turkish officers said they have no problem but the Syrians will not allow so they wanted to find out first if they will allow me so that these people can process my carnet and send me. First they refused but after showing the carnet they agreed and the entire processing took not more than 45 min. Nobody till then had ever asked for the bike papers or my driving licence.
Dayala Bharadwaj Jordan Egypt Aqaba/Nuweiba 5/22/2006 yes yes yes yes yes yes No other documents yes yes yes yes yes Fast ferry ticket from Aqaba to Neweiba is
$40 per person and for the bike it is $30 to be paid in US$.
605 Egyptian Pounds on the Egypt side for insurance and vehicle registration



It is generally a lengthy procedure to
enter Egypt with your bike but nothing to worry about it. As you get down the ferry you can find Tourist Police in white uniform who will guide u to the customs office which is located few meters away. There your vehicle will be inspected by somebody and he will write something on the carnet. You take it to the customs office and he will ask you to get photo copies of your passport and other documents along with some forms and files for vehicle registration.
Just beside the photocopy you buy insurance for 20EL for one month. Your vehicle must be registered in Egypt and you must put Egyptian number plates on your bike. The photocopier will charge 25EL and will give u all u need. Then go and get traffic registration form for 5EL. Some body will come and get a pencil impression of the engine number or chassis no and will stick it on that form. you submit all this at the customs and then he give u receipt to pay 505EL registration fees. Then you go to traffic department with all this and they will give u two number plates and a license for 55EL.
The customs will check the bike and goods and will give u gate pass. You have to put the number plates on before you can go out. All this seems to be extreme trouble but you will be guided by the Tourist Police all the way and so it takes maximum one hour in my case. He did not insisted for bakshish but was eagerly looking for it. Satisfied with his efficient service I paid him 50EL. At the gate they will again check and enter your number in a register and you are off... into the desert.


I already had visa. given 1 month.

yes 20EL one month Exiting Jordan is a straight forward
affair first you buy tickets for the bike and you and then you have to pay departure tax depending on number of days you stayed. Bike will be checked and stamped and then you go get your passport stamped and off to the fast ferry by the dock.
This should be the normal procedure unless u get some uncooperative officer on the Egyptian side.
James Butler British Croatia Montenegro E65 03/03/2006 no no yes yes yes no no no no no yes 10 Euros for 15 days The norm
James Butler British Montenegro Albania Podgorica -> Shkoder 04/03/2006 no no yes yes yes no no no no no I'm not 100% what I paid for but I think 2 Euros was for road tax and then 10 Euros for something else!
They were most insistent I paid anyway.


I wasn't asked so kept quiet! Albanian roads (if you can call them roads) are amazing. Northern Albania has potholes you can get lost in!
Christian Schulze German Thailand Laos Friendship Bridge to Vientaine 20/05/2006 yes no no no no no no no yes no no no At the Thai-side they try to charge 1000Baht per Bike and 200Baht per Person. After some chatting we pay all together 220 Baht. 1$ is about 38 Baht.

No helpers at both side of the river.
Everything troublefree.
30 days at the border no You should have the white special thai importpaper, otherwise you can have really trouble and meaby you have to pay a fee from up to maximum 2000Baht. We are lucky and they let us through without much stress. We hadn't any paper like they want to have...

New, because a lot of thais mean that this
border is closed for bikes.



 

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