Thanks very much for that info.

Anyone on the ground in Pakistan at the moment? Is the situation as bad as they say in the Media? It sounds like it will not be crossable when we come in Nov.

Neil

Actually got a quote today of $100 sea freight from bandar abbas to Nhava Sheva (close to mumbai) + $350 port fees in bandar abbas + $230 clearance.
Unstuffing fees in mumbai unknow. Sailing weekly.
Company name is SSP and contact is Mehrnoosh Hoghooghi, mehrnoosh@jonoubdarya.com tel: 98 21 88727255.
EDITED with new costs

Hi,

I was just wondering if you went ahead with the shipping and if so how did it go at the India end? We applied for Pak visa a week and a bit ago and just found out today that meanwhile they decided to change the format of the application form and want us to re-apply doh

With the flooding in Pakistan we are wondering if we'd be better avoiding it though that'd be a shame as we have friends out there.

Cheers,

Neil

Yes, I stuffed my container Tuesday, and I am now in India. Customs were very difficult in Iran. All together, on the Iran side, I had to pay $700 which includes the ocean freight, taxes, customs, THC, and a clearing agent.
Container goes to Nhava Sheva, a port few miles from Mumbai. Sailing time 4 days.
I am kind of nervous for the customs clearance on the Indian side, as it is supposed to be difficult. Will let you know if you choose to go ahead.

Thanks for that, hope the Indian side goes ok.

Neil

Hi nicolasrapp, how did things go on the Indian side? What was the total cost of shipping?

How did you get yourself over to India? Fly, boat? How much was that?

Had a pretty bad (we think) Pakistani consulate experience this morning. All was going well, until the clerk looked at the application form which said we're entering at the Iran border and leaving at Indian border. Asked if we were taking a vehicle, lied and said no. Was told there could be problems with visa and would have to be referred to the consular general who would call at some point in the future.

Looks like may have to ship around Pakistan... :(

Hey man,
You have to be careful because the Pakistan embassy could give you a visa with a stamp giving authorization of entry by air only.
Anyhow, usually when they tell you they have to refer to Islamabad, it finishes by a "no" two weeks after.
So far, on the Iran side I had to pay $777 including the cost of an agent. Doing without would be kind of impossible. My boat still didn't arrive in India, so I can't tell you how much it will cost me. I will update when I know that. It's supposed to be pretty expensive.
Once you stuffed your container, you can take a bus to Shiraz ($8) and there, a plane to Mumbai or Delhi (both destination same price, $150 per seat).

Thanks for the swift reply. Hope your bike / car gets to India soon safe and sound.

Am off to get Indian visa tomorrow whilst we decide what to do.

1) Soon as got Indian visa off we go YAY, but expensive shipping booo.
2) Hold out for the Pakistani visa, maybe not get it, could delay things a few weeks and all the time winter is getting nearer and Eastern Turkey may be a problem. But maybe do get it....

What city did you apply to get the Pakistan visa? Frankly, I did intensive research and met few people in Iran, and nobody was able to get a Pakistan visa anywhere outside of their home country...
Where do you go after India, is it your final destination?

Hi Nicolas,
Do you know this for a fact? From other posts I was under the impression that visa applications for entry from Iran are now all being denied and the only way to get in is to state that you arrive via another way (fly, ...).

All visas "en route" are being denied. I didn't see one person who got it since a long time outside of their country of origin.
I remember hearing about some people getting a visa with entry via airport only, but these people got it in their country of origin as well.

I was told to get it "at home" in 2006, but eventually got it in Abu Dhabi in 2007, but *only* because I was travelling with a vehicle. I think you are right and it seems they have further tightened that up.

I guess we can consider this a closed border for now. :oops2:

Yes, it completely closed in the last three-four months.
But I do think there are still chances to get it from your country of origin, even more if there's some kind of event you are supposed to attend there, like a wedding or something...

A change to Pakistan Visa policy.
 

Just read through this post as am in Pakistan at the moment. We applied for our visas in the UK before we left but a couple of people in our China crossing group (we came from the north) did't have theirs and spent some nervous weeks in central asian capitals trying to apply at Pak embassies only to be told that as of May 2010 all Pakistan visas can only be obtained in the applicants country of origin. Of course, they've not updated websites to reflect this slightly important change!
In the end the guys in our group without visas came with us and having got to the Pakistan border on the Khunjerab Pass just said they were applying in Sost (the customs post 80km further into Pakistan. Nobody seemed to have a problem with it, and in deed upon arrival in Sost, they were taken to a room and returned 10 minutes later with a 30 visa for just $24!! Way cheaper and more hassle free than applying at home! Loads of people seem to be doing this but I understand that this is the only border for Pakistan where this happens.

Sure, if you have authorization to drive into China, you are good.