Need help with Kazakhstan invitation letter
 

Hi everyone!

I'm a Chilean doing a RTW in a KLR650, now I'm in Istanbul, sorting out visas to make the Pamir highway. Already got Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Kirgistan I will do in the road. No need visa to Russia nor Mongolia :)

But I need to get Kazakhstan visa as soon as possible, to start riding East (my final destination is Vladivostock, hope to be there before autumn)

So I need help to find some travel agency to issue invitation letter to Kazakhstan for a Chilean. Like a month ago I got in contact with one, but they are charging me too, too much money, I need a more reasonable price, I'm not Ewan hahaha.

I need 3 months visa, double entry.
From Istambul, I plan to go Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (that's why 3 months double entry visa), Russia , Mongolia and Russia again :)
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...7f70ce4cb2.jpg
(more or less I'm going to do this, but instead of crossing Georgia, will tke a ferry from Trabzon to Sochi)

I plan to make the first entry to Kazakhstan on 27 April, so I'm running short of time, as I need to ride from Istanbul.

Any help will be highly appreciated.

Safe routes!

have you spoken to stantours?

hi
 

Hello Gotan, sorry I can't help with the visa but when you get to Kyrgyzstan I can help. I have two KLR's and some spare parts, enough tools, and shop space. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Mac

Hi! Thanks for your answers!

Colebatch: yes, I did, but they wanted around 250 usd just for the invitation letter, and I have to add like 60 usd for the visa... I need something cheaper. For Uzbekistan for instance I "only" spend 180 usd, visa included.

Mac-1769.... Cool thanks, btw in which city are you?

Safe routes,

Hey Gotan. You may check out this page: Live2Ride.KZ :: Просмотр темы - Хелп-лист

This is Kazakhstan biker forum page with "help-list" contacts. Try to send some letters to e-mails written there. I think there would be someone who speaks english. Unfortunately that is all I can help for now.

sokuluk
 

I live in Sokuluk, just west of Bishkek.

Mac

Cool, thx to everyone!

Hi Gotan,
Invitation letter require some level of responsibility for person who invite.
We got same visa- 3 month double entrance...
We write visa reqest letter to embassador our seves. We point that it will be sef financed adn self guided motorcycle tour with destnatin Pamir.

Hi Eshark:

Thanks a lot for the idea!

Cheers,

Francisco.

Hello Gotan,

I plan to do the same route as you end of May or begin of June.
From Turkey - Georgia - Russia (I apply for a 6 months visa) - Kazakhstan (don't need a visa for 10 days) - Uzbekistan - Tajikistan - Kyrgyzstan -Kazakhstan - Russia - Mongolia and Russia again to Vladivostok

As you I want to do to the Pamir Highway, but for now it's difficult to apply for visas because not sure yet for the dates.

I would like to know if it's easy (not too difficult) to apply visas on the road

Here the plan route

I'm going exactly same road from Kazahstan. Planned date to enter Uzbekistan- 6st of June.
Best place for you to get visas on road would be Istambul and Ankara in Turkey, In Tbilissi (Georgia) also is possible, but check what embassies are there. And off-coarse you shall expect extra stay for visa processing.
I've call my self to stans embassies in Turkey, Georgia and Belarus, officials was friendly and helpful. Don't think you shall expect major issues from them regarding visa.
See you on road, Erik

Hello Eshark,

Thanks for your reply.
It seems that here is not much embassy in Tbilissi, and the better place to apply is in Turkey.
I'm just wondering about the process time to have visas for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

See you maybe on the road.
Damien

Check on embassy website, but I guess if you apply for urgent visa, Tajik and Kazahastan visa could be done in 1 or 2 working days. For Uzbekistan visa is not required to leave passport- I guess you can apply for it in Turkey and pick up for example in other embassy or even on boarder, but check that with embassy you are planning to apply. Write e-mail.
My Tajik visa I'm going to fix in Belarus, all ready agreed with consul by phone:thumbup1:
Kyrgiz visa you can fix in Dushanbe, for sure.

Hi Motarddumonde:

I think if it's easy is relative... it will depend on your passport.

With mine I need invitation letter for some of the tans. I've been like three weeks trying to get the Kazakhstan, a ttavel agency wanted 250 usd for the visa... so I spend lot of time serching, now I think I got one for 90, but they are a bitt slo5 to amswer my emails.

And my favourite example is Georgia. .. I need to go to Argentins to get it!! (And I'm i Istanbul)

So I would suggest you to get as many visas before hand, or at least call to the consulates to check the requirements so con cam estar before hand looking for travel agencies for the invitation letters if i need.

An easy one would be Kyrgyzstan, to get it in Uzbekistan, that's wat the people of Kyrgyzstan consulate in Istanbul told me, and I plan to do it.

Sadly in this sort of trips is almost impossible to get the all the visas before hand, as there's lot of uncertainty about the dates.

Btw, I'm about to kill myself, the ferry I took last year from Russia to Turkey is not working anymore. .. and I'm having hard time to find out how to get out of Turkey (don't have cdp to go to iran, I can't go to Chengen, can't get visa to Georgia, amd a plain is too expensive for me) :(

Gotan,
In Ankara is embassy of Argentina. And for sure you can try get Georgia visa from there, not necessary to fly back home.

Hello Gotan,

It's seems to be more complicated than with a French or Canadian passeport.
Bureaucracy is a nightmare, so easy by comparaison in South America and Africa ;-)

Maybe as Eshark say you could ask for assistance in you embassy...
You seems to be stuck in Turkey, really bad news for you.

I know it's better to have visas before but like you say there is lot of uncertainty about time.

If you want go to Iran try with Hossein Sheykhlou - Overland To Iran
He could help you to cross Iran without CDP (7 days for 400€).
But the problem is for Turkmenistan.

Let me know how you will continue your journey


Un abrazo,
Damien

Hi Eshark and Motarddumonde:

Thanks for your ideas :)

Argentinian embassy would be of no help, as is Georgia which has to issue the visa.
Iran without cdp sounds good (expensive though), but Turk may be a problem.

But apparently there's some light at the end of the tunnel, I just check again and apparently Georgia changed the rules again, I think I can get an evisa without problem, anyway tomorrow I will go to the consulate, I prefer the normal visa, gives me more peace of mind :)

Cheers.

Francisco

It's a pleasure to help people Francisco.

Give an update tomorrow when you have a response from the consulate..

y me gusto mucho tu pais ;-)
Un abrazo,

Damien

good lack with that. Georgia is very nice and cheap place to stay. Try fix rest of stans visas in Tbilisi. At least you will save some money for living.

Eshark, do you think that is possible to fix all Stans Visas in Tbilisi?
Because it's seems that all countries are not here : Foreign Embassies in Georgia :: Embassies in Tbilisi

Damien

Only Kazahstan embassy is located in Georgia. Rest of stans colosiest embassies will be or in Moscow or Kazastan- Aktobe

So I can't apply for Uzbekistan visa in Georgia ?

Gotan (Francisco) How did you do for this visa?

Damien

Hi Everybody!

Good news from Georgia: I went to its consulate here in Istanbul this morning, they can't issue visas for not Turkish people, but Georgian foreign affairs have now (I'm quite sure they didn't last year) an online visa application site, is very easy to get visa for Schengen or OECD passport holders... so now I can go to Georgia! :)
This is the site:
https://www.evisa.gov.ge/GeoVisa/

And a brief in case someone may need it, about getting *tans visas in Istanbul:

Kazakhstan: if you need invitation letter, stantours can issue, but too expensive for me (arround 250 usd + 60 the visa), if u know something better let me know, I'm still looking.

Uzbekistan: if u need invitation letter, I highly recommend you to go with "Ender" tour agency, was 180 usd (visa included) and took like a week.
Address: Cerrahpaşa Cad. Murat Paşa apt N° 3 K. 1 D .2, Aksaray, Istanbul. ( like 200m from Yusufpaşa tram station)
Phone: +90 (212) 589 79 97

Tajikistan: very easy to get, took like 3 days, no invitation letter (with my Chilean passport). But they didn't give me the Pamir permit, I should get it in Tajikistan they say.

Kyrgyzstan: They could issue my visa, but they don't make visas with several months in advance, (I asked in December, and wanted visa like for may). But they told me it should be very easy to get in Uzbekistan (Tashkent) or Tajikistan (Dushanbe), I will try that.

Hope it helps!

Btw, im planing to enter Kazakhstan in late April (if I manage)... am I going too early or the other people is going to late?

Buenas rutas!

Francisco

Hola Francisco,

Really good news for you ;-)
- Kazakhstan, I made some research for you and can't find something less expensive. Maybe with Kazakhstan visa support (Letter of Invitation) | Caravanistan but you have to wait one week, and the price is 80-120$ for the letter

- Pamir : you could have the permit (GBAO) in Tashen(Uzbekistan) or in Dashanbe(Tajikistan).

Thanks for all the information.

I will be later than you in this area, be careful, it could be still cold in Pamir area and snow at this time of the year.

You are in Istanbul, could you give information about the accommodation where you are?

I will continue to follow you.
Buenas Rutas tambien!!

Damien

Francisco,
If you have Uzbekisan visa- go to Tbilisi to Kazahstan embassy and ask for transit visa. It is 5 day visa and shall be more than needed to enter Uzbekistan.
Somewhere in stans than will fix real Kazahstan visa, pritty sure you could find some body in Dushanbe or in Kirgiztan who can fix invitation letter for you.
Other vice if you revise your plan, I will be in Samara 1st of May at bikers meeting, and, guess, from there I could help you with Kazahstan invitation letter.
Drive safe, Erik

Hi!

Motarddumonde:

Thanks for the info about the Pamir permit ! :)

I got in contact with and agency through Caravanistan.... the price of the letter was ok, but they wanted me to book some hotels with them and took a 3 hours tour in Astana for a hundred usd.

Thanks for the climate advice, before I asked the visa I did some quick research and found that I may find snow even untill late may (if I remember correctly), so my Tajikistan visa starts on 20 may, amd ends on 5 July. My plan is arrive early and cross the Pamir as soon as weather allows.

If I enter Kazakhstan on 27 April, I will have time enough to hang arround in Uzbekistan. .. That was my idea, but now considering that its mandatory to stay in hotels... I may rethink my timimg a little.

I'm in the cheapest hostel I found, 6 bed room for like 10 Eur. The bike is parked in the alley outside, even though is a very busy commercial area, during the night is quite quiet and I have no worries :)
Adventour Hostel, and is very good.
http://Adventour Hostel<br /> <br />....gl/maps/8vtZP

Hi Eshark:

I thought in the transit visa to Kazakhstan, I went to the consulate in Istanbul. .. They want an invitation letter even for that visa! (I don't know if it's the same for everyone or they really don't like Chilean people)

In Samara? .... never been there, and 1 May is not to far in time, I may rethink my timimg... but generally speaking I want to ride towards Vladivostock as early as I can, as I ride slow and I don't want to be stuck in the far east in autumn. But at that date I should have my Kazakhstan visa sorted out, ifIi go will be for the talk and the beers :)


Buenas rutas!

Francisco

Invitation letter for transit visa??? That some ting new...
If you have Uzbekistan visa, there shall be no questions regarding transit visa.
I could arrange some help for you in Tbilisi, but not in Turkey.
Try to fix all stans needed visa in Turkey and Kazahstan visa in Tbilissi.
I will made call for you to Almaata and find out if guys can fix invitation letter.
(in stans it's not easy, inviting prson shall go to foreign ministry and get approval for invitation)
Possibly you could pick it up in Samara, but than you shall arrange transit visa in Tbilisi first.
Erik

Hi Everybody:

Today I got Georgian visa! The eportal worked pretty good!

And fornthe Kazakhstan visa:
I got in contact with a travel agency in Kazakhstan from the day I send my passport copy it took 9 days to get the LOI. For only 95 usd. They only asked the copy of my passport, the bike document, and to tell them were I'm going, no hotel reservation or anything like that, I strongly recommend them :
http://www.advantour.com
Yesterday I got the LOI in my email, today I went to the consulate, and they give me the cisa straight away! (I thought it would take like a week)

Stantours wanted like 250 usd.

Other agency wanted 90 usd + book some hotels with them + 99 usd for a 3 hoirs tour in almaty.

Now I'm waiting for some stuff from abroad, and hope to hit the road real soon

Cheers!

Pd, Eshark... anyway thx a lot bit I will not need help with this in Tbilisi