Amongst the nuances of travel, applying for visas is one of the things we hate about traveling. Sadly this is probably the most annoying part of planning a trip to Central Asia. Almost every country in Central Asia requires a visa to enter (for most nationalities). The ever-changing rules for visa applications in Central Asian nations makes it worse and deters even the most seasoned traveler.
Applying for these visas is an extremely time-consuming, expensive and tedious process. To save some time and pain, I used the services of The Visa Machine to help me do all the legwork. It’s a pain trying to do all the paperwork on my own especially since I’m on the road all the time and I don’t live in the capital city of Spain where all the embassies are at. They charge an administration fee for each visa they help you to apply for, but considering all the time they saved me, it’s pretty worthwhile.
In general, it is recommended that you start applying for your visas at least two months before your trip (you can usually only apply up to three months in advance), depending on the number of countries you intend to visit. Keep in mind that visa applications are a major cost for any traveler in Central Asia, so start saving! Also, if you end up not having enough time to apply for all your visas at home, don’t fret, you can still apply and collect them on the road. In fact, it is easier and faster that way. However, you’ll need to have a flexible travel schedule and plan enough time at each capital city to get your visas.
To help those who are planning to travel Central Asia, here’s a guide to Central Asian visas based on country (I’ve missed out Tajikistan and Azerbaijan as I’m not visiting). These info below is based on some detailed research and my own experience. Hopefully it’s accurate and useful for you.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is the easiest country in Central Asia to enter. With the new immigration law (introduced on July 27th 2012), the majority of visitors to Kyrgyzstan no longer require a visa to enter or stay for sixty days. The rule is followed both at land borders and the airport. It’s a breeze entering the country, making it a great base to fly into when starting your journey through Central Asia.
Kazakhstan
Most nationalities still need a visa, except for 17 countries that have a visa-free regime with Kazakhstan, including Hong Kong, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Serbia and Ecuador.
For those who need a visa, you need a letter of invitation (LOI) from a tour operator. I got my Kazakhstan visa just four days after sending it to The Visa Machine – the cost of the visa was £35 (US$55) and they charged an administration fee of £55 (US$91).
A Kazakh visa is date-specific, meaning it starts at the date you specify on your Kazakhstan visa application form, not when you enter the country. So be sure that you are entering at that specific date and not any other time.
Uzbekistan
The Uzbekistan visa is a tricky one, there are tourist visas for 7 days, 15 days and one month. It can take up to three weeks to process the visa. It is possible to get a visa on arrival, but only at the airport of Tashkent. You need to have a letter of invitation (LOI) which can be arranged through The Visa Machine for £56 (US$93) and an admin fee of £14 (US$23).
*Important: The Uzbekistan Ministry announced in August 2014 that all Uzbekistan visas will now only be issued to applicants at their country of residence.
I received this news from The Visa Machine just a few days before my departure so sadly I wasn’t able to get a last-minute visa from Spain. The Visa Machine came up with an alternative solution: they asked me to write a letter clarifying that I’ve been traveling and unable to obtain the visa in my country of residence and can therefore only get it in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. They got me the LOI and thankfully, I managed to get my visa approved in Bishkek and because The Visa Machine had requested for an urgent delivery, I got it on the same day for US$105.
Turkmenistan
Getting a Turkmenistan tourist visa is not possible without booking a tour which can be expensive. Prices for a tour usually range from US$120 to 250 per day, and that includes a guide, driver, accommodation and food. The tourist visa can be obtained on arrival in the airport of Ashgabat, as well as on the land borders, with a letter of invitation and booking from a tour operator.
You can however get a transit visa without booking a tour or getting an LOI, but it is a long wait and you’re not guaranteed to get it. Note that it is a transit visa: this means you need to go from one country to another through Turkmenistan. You cannot go back to the same country you came from on a transit visa.
As I’m traveling with Oasis Overland, I have an LOI arranged through The Visa Machine and will be obtaining the tourist visa upon arrival. The cost of the LOI is £75 or US$125 and The Visa Machine charges £50 or US$84 for the admin fee.
Iran
Every nationality needs a visa to enter Iran except for nationals of Turkey, Malaysia, Syria, Georgia, Azerbaijan (15 days), Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia and Ecuador. Entry will be refused to citizens of Israel and travelers with any evidence of visiting Israel. If you’ve got an Israeli entry stamp, get a new passport if needed.
To apply for an Iranian visa you need a visa authorization number which you can get through The Visa Machine for £55 or US$91 (and a £15 or US$25 admin fee). It takes a few weeks to get it, but once you’ve got it you just need to show up at the embassy, fill up a form and present a passport photo (women must wear a headscarf in the photo) and you’ll be given your visa. I got my express visa in just one day, the visa cost €50 or US$65 (and an additional €25 or US$33 to expedite it).
For more detailed information, it’s wise to check with your country’s consular. An excellent source for more visa info is Caravanista.
The post Traveling Central Asia: The Mind-Boggling Visa Application Process appeared first on Wild Junket.