Pakistan Visa Info

[Bjorn]

Hi,

I already asked for details for a Pakistan visa "on the road"... no-go area for me as I'm German (thanks for your advice on this, Beddhist!)

So this one's different:
I just happened to have a chat with Sheen from France. His Pakistan visa (issued in France) is actually valid for entering within 6 months. Germany says: 3 months to enter, then another 90 days to stay.

Has anyone got any experience with the UK embassy? Are there exceptions to the rule, i.e. can I get the visa in the UK and then renew the entry date in another country on the road?



Bjorn

[JoeSheffer]

Got mine in London valid for 6 months, for 2 30 day entries.

Don't mention you want to go to Baluchistan or the south just say you are doing the north out to kashgar and returning to India again. You will have the visa same day. Mention you are riding from the south and you will be waiting 6-8 weeks like 10 other English dingo overlanders currently camped near princes square.

Have fun, good to talk to you the other day.
Joe in Lebanon.

[Rebaseonu]

Stockholm consulate told me that tourist visa is valid maximum 3 months from day of issue, they can't issue longer one.

[bmw.bec]

We got our Pakistan visa in London - after filling out form, got sent to see an official upstairs who after a chat about our route and trip issued a 1 year multiple entry tourist visa.

[Bjorn]

OK. So I tried at the Pakistan embassy in London last week Tuesday. I told them Sost as an entry point and mentioned we're coming from Kashgar & go to Islamabad/Lahore, then India.
For some reason (which I don't understand) there's a delay about my application and they seem to be thinking about it. (I had to see the top guy for consular affairs in the 1st floor).

They said they'd phone me before last week-end, but didn't. So I'm gonna go back to the embassy tomorrow to check status.

Meanwhile, I have done some research and found that since 2007 there was a transit visa available at Sost/Sust:

Pakistan Travel and Tourism News: Vertical Explorers Expeditions Treks & Tours Pakistan

Karakoram Highway, Karakoram Highway in Pakistan, Tour Karakoram Highway, Karakoram Highway Adventure Tour Pakistan, Karakoram Highway Tour, Tours Packages in Karakoram Highway Pakistan

Apparently it is possible to then have that 14-day transit visa extended in Gilgit or Islamabad.

Has anyone got any recent (2008) information to verify this transit visa facility? Is the transit visa as strict as the Turkmenistan one (one way, no detours?), or are they a bit more chilled out in the Pakistan mountains?

Also: Has anyone got any idea why my visa application here in London should take that long? Usually it's a same-day pickup. (I am German, OK - but I did provide sufficient proof of residency in the UK).

Any help on this would be MUCH appreciated!

Bjorn

[MikeS]

As I'll be coming from the opposite direction, does anyone know the simplest procedure for a UK person getting a Pakistan visa in say Malaysia or Thailand?

Is it just a case of turning up at the consulate in these countries or is it more involved?

[pecha72]

My info is from September -07, we applied from Stockholm. After receiving the applications they wanted to know further details of our trip, our itinerary (we were going from Iran to India), our planned places to overnight, flight tickets (which we naturally did not have!) etc. I replied, fabricated a route and list of cities, and said that we will not have flight tickets because we are travelling overland. They said they need to forward this info to Pakistan. There had already been some talk about the possible martial law (which was then put into effect in November).

Then it took some 2 more weeks, and I was getting curious if they´re actually going to refuse our applications, but finally got an email that our visas are ok, and they were valid 3 months, single entry, with maximum stay 1 month.

It took total 3 weeks for us to get them, including sending passports from Finland to Sweden and back.

[Bjorn]

I finally got my visa today. (I applied last week Tuesday). From 10 am until 5pm I went to the London embassy 4 times. Once to inquire about any potential progress with my application, then I was asked to come back at 1pm (to find an empty office). So I went for a stroll and came back at 2:30, and I was told that my application was granted. Then I was asked to come back at 5pm to pick up the visa. And indeed - it's in the pocket now

Funny thing about the whole longwinded story is: My travel partner came down from Bristol today to apply for his Pakistan visa. He got it within 2 hours.

Could it be they make a difference between nationalities? I'm German, my travel partner is British.