I'm planning to do a trip next year. Through Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the 'Stans', Mongolia, Russia and back to the UK. Should you apply and get all your visas before leaving the UK? Is it a lot of hassle to get visas en route? Any info greatly appreciated by a novice to this game.

you dont need visa for turkiye (perheps you may pay something like 10-15 euros). you have to buy insurance(cost around agaon 10-150 euros) at the border in an insurance company (called isvicre sigorta) and get the permit at the border from border officer for free. i dont have any clue for other countries.

good luck

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ozhan u.
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Thanks for the information Ozhanu re the Turkish border requirements.
All the best
Paul

If it was me I'd approach the embassys or such for the up to date info. Personally I'd feel happier having all this sorted and for my trip we're sourcing visas etc prior to departure.

Best of luck

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I'm planning a three month trip and didn't want to get all visas that may not 'all join up properly'. I may get the first few before setting off. I'm planning to go down through Eastern Europe, Turkey and then either Iran or Armenia and Azerbaijan - up through the stans to Mongolia and back through Russia. I did part of your route (I followed your link) last year. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. PM me if you want info on them otherwise enjoy the trip.
Cheers
Paul

Visas for Armenia can be obtained at the main border crossings. Check www.fco.gov.uk.

You will need to go via Georgia to get between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but no visa is needed for EU citizens.

The Azeri visa will be easy to obtain in Tbilisi.

The 'stans are more difficult. Turkmenistan is currently closed to foreigners, it seems. Kazakhstan and Kyrgystan are relatively easy. You can get one month, single entry tourist visas without an invitation.

Uzbekistan requires an invite, though you can, I believe sort this out whilst on the road, and just have the invite emailled to yourself (see www.stantours.com).

Tajiksitan is quite tricky, see www.pamirs.org.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are OK.

Russia will be more difficult. You will need a multiple entry visa, as you can only enter Mongolia from Russia unless you pay stupid amounts to ride / drive through China. A double entry Russian visa is only valid for re-entry from a CIS country, so not Mongolia. A multiple entry visa may be more difficult to come by. see www.waytorussia.net.

In short, you could get away with leaving home with no visas, but it would pay to secure your invites for Uzb / Taj / Rus, or at least know how to get them on the road.

If you got all these visas at home, half of them would have expired before you even entered the country, unless you really fly through your trip.

Hope this helps

Dan

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Hi Dan,
That's just the sort of information that I've been looking for... It's a bit of a buggar if Turkmenistan is closed to foreigners 'cos I'd planned on crossing the Caspian Sea from there and I can only see the one crossing route.
I'm not going until next spring so things may have changed.
Thanks again Dan for the information and links. It is much appreciated.
Cheers
Paul

Russia-
- a multi entry visa does not have a CIS re-entry restruction, or at least my previous or current full year multi entry business visas have never had this. Apart from queing outside (usually in the rain!) to attend your appointment, they are very straighforward to obtain in London, about £120, but you will need a Letter of Invitation approved by the Ministry in Moscow beforehand. Here is where the Visa Agencies make their money if you do not have a contact there.

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