Visa assistance required for Asia overland trip
 

I’m trying to plan a 6 month overland trip heading from the UK through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Mongolia and Russia etc. My main concern is all the visa requirements. It looks like an admin nightmare. What is the best approach to take regards getting all the Visa’s sorted?

My current line of thought is to get the Visa’s for Iran, Pakistan and India while still in the UK and then apply for the rest as I travel. Having never applied for a Visa while abroad I’m not sure if this is feasible or not.

Any advice would really be welcomed.

Cheers, James

Get your IR and Pak visas in the UK. Unless you are rushing through the Indian visa will have expired before you get there, so you will have to get it on route.

China is not possible, so you have to rethink your route.

If possible, I would suggest also getting your Russian visa before departure. In general I found the Russian bureaucracies to be ponderous and slow moving, although I have no specific info on getting a visa at the Russian border (perhaps someone else does?). By far the simplest way to get a Russian visa is through an agency that can provide complete service, including the required letter of invitation. I used www.russia-visa.com with excellent results. However, I don't know if they can help you in the UK.

Hope this is of some help.


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Mike

[This message has been edited by liketoride2 (edited 05 November 2005).]

can't say anything about russia, but definitely get your iranian and pakistani visa in europe, the indian visa is easy to get in islamabad (3500 pak rupees and wait one week-nice camping in islamabad). you can get nepali visa on the border (30 US) also no problem. hope i could help, jan

hi
for your Iranian visa use key to persia in shiras they do every thing over the internet and you collect yyour visa in england
website www.key2persia.com
get you paki visa in england!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cheers nobby

I've just been told by my visa agent (Persian Voyages) that Iran has just changed it's visa requirements and that I'll need a host or a guide to get an Iranian visa. Has anyone else had this in the last few days?

Another good source is David at Stantours. www.stantours.com He got me a business visa for Russia, all the "stans" and Iran visa's all in advance. You can get Mongolia in Ulan Ude (three months no visa for Americans)

Pete's right David Berghof does a great job and knows all the ins and outs.
Sean