Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Stephan Hahnel, Kradwanderer, in Northern Argentina

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Stephan Hahnel,
www.krad-wanderer.de,
in Northern Argentina



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 31 Jul 2005
davidmc's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 373
Obtaining a Pakistani Visa in Central Asia

Has anyone had any experience lately getting a Pakistani visa in any of the Central Asian countries?

I am a bit nervous about this visa as we tried to get one in Ankara but they said we needed a letter of introduction from our embassy. The American Embassy in Ankara does not issue this letter of introduction so it sounded like a Catch-22 to me. Also they would only issue a visa for a 3 month entry period, which was too early for us.

Would it help to get a letter of invitation in advance from a tourist agency in Pakistan and does anyone have a recommendation on this? If an LOI can guarantee a visa (well, as much as possible) I will gladly spend the money.

From my experience getting visas so far, its pretty much impossible to know what each embassy requires until you get there in person. Calling in advance has been unsuccessful for us in almost every case. I am trying to be prepared as best as we can and the Pakistani visa procedures seem to vary at random.

Any advice on getting the Pakistani visa in Central Asia would be much appreciated. We will make our first attempt in Tashkent.

BTW, obtaining the other Central Asian visas has been much easier than expected and most of the Central Asian embassy officals in Turkey were friendly and helpful.

------------------
Dave
www.mototrekker.com

[This message has been edited by davidmc (edited 31 July 2005).]
__________________
Dave McMillan
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/mcmillan/
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 3 Aug 2005
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 655
well, as usual, it depends on your nationality, which is ? try to get some support from your embassy : letter of introduction to the pak embassy, etc ...
see other recent "same" threads, about getting visas in iran, pakistan, central asia ...
don t hesitate telling us how you got the other visas in central asia, it may helps others.
thanx, good luck


[This message has been edited by vincent danna (edited 03 August 2005).]
__________________
--
Vincent Danna

* www.va-project.com
Sept 2008 - dec 2009 : Voyage et art contemporain en Amérique du sud.

* http://vincent.danna.free.fr/
2002 - 2004 : Un tour du monde en moto.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 3 Aug 2005
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Sicamous,Canada
Posts: 133
hi
do not try to get youyr visa in iran.

cheers nobby
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 3 Aug 2005
davidmc's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 373
Thanks Vincent, we are Americans and now in Baku they have told us that they only deal with citizens of the particular country where the embassy is located. They said we should have gotten the visa before we left.

I told them that we couldn't have gotten our visa prior to departure as it would have expired before we got into Pakistan. They were sympathetic, but said there was nothing they could do. They mentioned something about a "new policy" which was sent out to all the embassies.

We will be calling the Pakistan embassy in the USA to see if there is anything they can do.

I will let you know what we find out.

------------------
Dave
www.mototrekker.com
__________________
Dave McMillan
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/mcmillan/
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5 Aug 2005
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 655
thanx for this info.
i ve heard about this new apparently official policy.
hochififi (french passport) had this problem with pak embassy in iran in late 2004 (like others). i ve tried to help him in france, in vain. after many attenpts and waiting, he finally got the pak visa at the pak embassy in iran (the french embassy didn t want to make him a letter of introduction).
pakistan may have tightened their rules with visas for europe or/and america citizens, as europe (schengen) and/or america may have tightened their rules with visas for pakistan citizens (you know the political situation) : the visa relation is a bilateral matter between 2 countries : the countries "reply" to each other : if one country gets easier/smoother, the other gets easier/smoother; if one country gets harder/tougher, the other gets harder/tougher (diplomcy, politics).

good luck anyways

nb : i ve never heard in pakistan of a kind of letter of invitation (LOI) by a local tourist agency to make the visa process easier smoother.

check also other posts about getting visas for iran pakistan in central asia, for example.

__________________
--
Vincent Danna

* www.va-project.com
Sept 2008 - dec 2009 : Voyage et art contemporain en Amérique du sud.

* http://vincent.danna.free.fr/
2002 - 2004 : Un tour du monde en moto.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 31 Aug 2005
davidmc's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 373
Well, good news, we got the Pakistani visa last week here in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. We made contact with a travel agency in Islamabad and they made a few calls to the Pakistani embassy in Tashkent and the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on our behalf and explained our situation. Don't know if their intervention helped or not, but at least we got the visa.

The folks at the embassy were quite friendly, but they did say that we should have gotten the visa prior to leaving home and that we could have gotten a visa valid for longer than 6 months.

Moral of the story, get your Pakistan visa before you leave home...

------------------
Dave
www.mototrekker.com
__________________
Dave McMillan
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/mcmillan/
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

  • California: April 18-21
  • Virginia: April 25-28
  • Germany Summer: May 9-12
  • Québec: May 17-19
  • Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
  • CanWest: July 11-14
  • Switzerland: August 15-18
  • Ecuador: August 23-25
  • Romania: August 30-Sept 1
  • Austria: September 12-15
  • France: September 20-22
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3

2025:

  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025!
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • France: September 19-21 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:50.