Visa's Iran / Pakistan / India

[Graeme]

Gidday,

I know this is a tired old question but if anyone has recent experience of obtaining these Visa's 'on the run' can you pls reply. I am doing Germany to N.Z on a Dommie from early October. I would really prefer to obtain Visa's in the country prior rather than arranging from afar in advance given my complete lack of any real timeframe! Particularly since I'm currently based in Germany. I have Kiwi & Irish passports.
Oh and if anyone is thinking of doing a similair ride around this time let me know!
Many thks. Graeme

[kipper]

Good news is Pakistan is super easy- free visa at the border for 30 days.

Iran is tricky need it in advance, and if you read people's accounts on this website some had to apply several times and it was a lengthy process.

India should be cut and dry. Do a search on the web for the nearest India consulate. You can either go in person or mail your passport, if you express mail it you may get it back in a week.

Good luck!

[Goose]

Graeme

Iran needs to be organised before you leave but the visa can be collected at any Iranian high commission in the world once it's been booked. I'm doing mine through Magic Carpet 01344-622832(UK),Zahreh Majidan seemed most knowledgable and helpful. For £95 they arrange the visa and issue you with a reference number which when presented at an Iranian High Commission is then cross referenced and the visa subsequently issued. There is currently a £43 charge for the visa for Brits but the Irish seem to get most things related to Middle East formalities cheaper. Letters of recomendation are also no longer required.
I spoke with the Pakistan Embassy last week who where insistant that the visa couldn't be acquired at the border but was available in Tehran. If it can be done at the border all well and good but it's a long way back if it's a no,no.
Likewise with India which is available in Islamabad.
We're leaving in September and doing Africa first so stay in touch and maybe we'll get to meet up.

Goose.

[Stephan Solon]

Hi!

I'm a British citizen and I've just got a 30 day tourist visa for Iran in Bangkok. It took the embassy about 3 weeks to process the application as it had to be considered in Tehran. I've heard that you should obtain the visa for Pakistan first if you are coming from Europe. Check the website for the Iranian embassy in London. My visa is only valid for 3 months so if you get it before you leave you'll have to be out of Iran within that time. I have a visa for Pakistan and that is valid for 6 months so if you leave the Iranian visa to last and leave soon after you have it you should be able to get to Pakistan before the Iranian visa expires and still have plenty of time in Pakistan.

Good Luck
Stephan

[This message has been edited by Stephan Solon (edited 01 July 2001).]

[Graeme]

Thanks for your comments guys,

I've since read about Erzurum in Eastern Turkey from the 'Lonely Planet' website saying visas from here are pretty straight forward - this sounds encouraging. I don't mind waiting a few days in Turkey it's a great country with so much to see.

Cheers, Graeme

[Graeme]

Well my ineptitude and reliance on the Erzurum Lonely Planet Thorntree travellers advice site has just come and bit me on the bum. The 'friendly' Ýranian Consulate staff in Erzurum practically said 'no - Ankara' before I had even walked through the door an hour ago. Quite what this place does I do not know.
DO NOT ATTEMPT THÝS OPTION. Even with a letter of recommendation they said 10 days minimum wait.
Let hope the recent demonstrations in Ýran lead to some positive advances. Encouraging tourism by making Visa's a little easier to obtain would be a nice small step!

We got our Iranian Tourist visas in Turkey with limited hassle. When you get within a week or so from Erzerum you can e-mail bahmantour@neda.net (a travel agency in Tehran). They will need from you the following:

a) a list of places you will want to visit in Iran (just make up a list of common towns using a map)
b) $80 dollars tranferred to their bank account (and faxed proof of this if you want to speed things up - we used the AKBank in Ankara who even sent the fax for us but the tranfer fee was about $15)
c) a completed form (they will send you this by e-mail) with passport details etc

The visas were organised within a week and we collected them in the Iranian Consulate in Erzerum. To collect them you need two photos and to pay $72 dollars.

Take note that your visa will start 'ticking' the day you collect it so wait until you are ready to leave Erzerum. The Tourist visa lasts one month but can easily be extended once in Iran.

[Graeme]

Thks Kiki,

Just picked up my Ýranian Visa from Ankara today. 6 days wait with Letter of Recomedation from the NZ Embassy provided - & the 3 passport sized photos. USD35.00 (which I had to deposit to their Mellat Bank a/c in the city & bring back receipt for such). They gave me 3 weeks as requested on my application. Fairly hassle free. Pity the Erzurum staff weren't so courteous. Anakara said Erzurum should be able to perform Visa issuance duties in the same manner as they do. All applications get send to Tehran for consideration as it is.
Ýran here Ý come!