No Pakistan Visas for UK passport Holders
 

Exactly what it says on the tin!!!
Just checked in to a hotel in Dogubeyazit after leaving the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran this morning!!!!
We applied Monday last week and were told it would take 2 -3 Days. Week later they told us that the UK have asked the Pakistan Embassy not to issue UK passport holders Visas.
Humpf!!!! :censored: Nver mind, We'll gonna head west and endure the cold winter and try again next year!!!!!

We also heard from a couple of different overland travelers that the Taftan boarder is clossed but we couldn't get any confirmation of that from the Pakistan Embassy this morning either.

Thats very very bad news. Just looked on the government travel advice site and it doesnt mention anything but if they told you that then its bad.

Seems odd though as when we wre there the U.K government was still issuing letters of introduction to help you get a visa. If they are now actively trying to prevent you going its quite a turn around. They should warn people all they like but to prevent people going seems unfair.

Sorry you have to turn around. Could you not ship from UAE? Best of luck next time anyway.

The refusal of Pakistan Visas
 

Hi Guys,

Just read your highly depressing post. We're planning on passing through Pakistan on our UK-Oz trip in July 2010 and, having worked there in the past, see Pakistan as a real highlight of the trip.

This may be a stupid question, but has the UK Govt actually got any power to prevent its citizens from entering any country? I can appreciate that they can advise against travel but once abroad surely they can have little say.

Is this merely the Pakistan Govt keeping the UK govt sweet (and losing out on much needed tourist income) or is this likely to be something just happening at the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran?

Either way, not good news......

I've just spoken to the Pakistan Desk at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (+44 20 7008 1500) and they say it is categorically not true.

I therefore suggest you go back to the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran and have another go. :)

Good luck
Tim

Even if it turns out to be true, it might not all be lost just yet. Many European countries seem to frown upon overland travellers passing through Baluchistan, hence the difficulties. Try sending your passport home (FedEx, DHL) and have a friend post it to the Pakistan Embassy at home. Visas tend to be a lot easier to get at home than on the road.

Another hint: wherever you apply, try specifying your itinery as China (Tashkurgan) - Khunjerab pass - Sust - Gilgit - Islamabad - Lahore - India (Amritsar). Not putting Baluchistan or Swat etc down often makes a big difference. Plus there's visa on arrival in Sust/Sost, so there's little point in refusing a visa application for this itinery. Good luck ...

I didn't think that one could be true. All sounded a bit strange. You need a letter of introduction to get the visa, if the British government are still issuing them in Tehran they would have to be real C***s to do so in the knowledge that they have asked the Pakistanis to stop issuing visas anyway.

I imagine the Pakistanis didnt want to give the visa for whatever reason and just made that bit up.

yes, you guys are probably right as we were told a whole host of things while we were waiting at the embassy. The last thing they told us was to apply again in a month. We thought about going back the the UK embassy in Tehran but had lost hope by then.
Our budget didn't allow for alturnative routes so we'd already decided to head home and work and do it again properly next year.
Hope everyone else has more luck!