Help - Syria Visa
 

:eek3:Help please! I've had a major change of plans and am now having to go on my trip from England via the Middle East and down east Africa.

The major headaches for visas appear to be Syria and Sudan.

I know Sudan says it takes about 4 weeks to process their visa.

Can someone please offer advice about getting the Syria visa?

Thanks,

Mike 'Disco'

If you are travelling on a UK passport then go to the Syrian embassy in London give them your passport and whatever it is that they are charging these days and come back a week later to pick up the passport. I discovered this by ringing them when planning my ride down to Cape Town, magic things telephones. Ride Safe.

Hey Disco,

The official way to get a Syrian visa is in your home country or at their embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The only issue is you will likely have to make a detour up to Ankara as a more common and scenic route would have you riding across the lower half of Turkey and Ankara isn't on your route.

A few people the last couple of years have been just showing up at the Turkey/Syria border and receiving their visa there. I haven't heard of anyone being turned back and having to ride back to Ankara, but until you get it there is that nagging fear in the back of your mind. Depends on your preferred approach, but if you can get it ahead of time probably would give you more piece of mind.

In regards to Sudan, ahead of time seems to be a crap shoot. Some have waited months to no avail. In Cairo the standard dance is to show up at the embassy and look forlorn. It depends on their mood, but visas can be issued within a day or two, but can also take up to a couple of weeks. A loose average would be about a week. This if course plays havoc with your ability to catch the once a week boat out of Aswan. So if you can get it ahead of time, even better. Hope that helps:)

Thanks for answers so far:thumbup1:

I have just 8 weeks to get all the visas.

Will next post a thread about the Sudan visa as it appears to take at least 4 weeks to obtain in London