Applying for Visas by post

[tatters]

Hi guys, l,m off touring the stans and iran this summer, and am currently sorting out visas, l should have all but the Iran and Tajikistan visas plus a Turkmenistan transit visa before l travel, l have the advantage of a second british passport would it be a good idea to have my father send off for theses visas back in the UK then fedex me the second passport when l,m in central asia saving me from trying to get them there?

[Kennichi]

Yup this is a backup I have considered but only using one passport!,

[MotoEdde]

A second passport is a great idea...you may find it just as quick to sort visas en route, if you're smart about which countries you pick up your visas from.

The longest I waited for a visa was 5 days(Turkmen Transit in Istanbul)...but I was traveling during those days within Turkey...so it didn't matter.
Other visas were all pretty much same day or on the spot...including Russian Multiple-Entry Business Visa in Tashkent...

And did i mention cheaper?

Applying by post puts some of the recent visas you acquired at risk...based on the service you choose. No thanks...

HTH

[tatters]

Thanks for the reply's, if was going to get those visas on the road would it be easiest to get all three in Almaty,Kazakhstan? (once have a Iranian LOI).

[MotoEdde]

What specifically is your path of travel?
That will dictate which countries and towns to pick up visas.

For example, historically you can apply outside your country for an Iranian visa and pick it up en route anywhere in the world...at one of their consulates. So if you're travelling from Turkey to Erzurum, you can pick up there...near the border of Iran...same day.

HTH

[tatters]

My route is UK/Ukraine/Russia/Mongolia/Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan/Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan/Iran/turkey then back through Europe to the UK.

Getting the Iran and the Turkmenistan visas are the most worrying to me.

[Kennichi]

Hey Eddie , the problem is the UK government has been annoying ALOT of countries recently and thus other countries have put restrictions on getting visas outside your home country.

I was going to get the Russian one in Kazakhstan or Turkey but have since been told don't even try.

[tatters]

Been having a think and going to try and get my Turkmenistan transit visa and Tajikistan visa in Almaty Kazakhstan and try and get the Iranian visa before l leave the UK or in Europe so l have it ready before l enter the Stans.

[Dean74]

Hello - I'm a new member on HU - my first post... hopefully in the right place??

Am at the early stages of planning a rtw trip, starting in Sth Africa, up to Egypt, Middle East, Caucuses, Central Asia, Russia, Mongolia, China (maybe...) and sth east Asia. Currently I have organised the bike, a lot of maps, a year off work, the budget and a lot of enthusiasm

So I'm now working on Insurance and Visas... do I try to organise all the visas and insurance before i leave, or can i do this as i go without too much headache?

I want my route to be fairly flexible so if visas can be done along the way that would be great. Insurance might be simpler to try and get a policy in place before leaving to avoid more work on the road though. And does anyone in the world offer a comprehensive insurance policy or is it all excess coverage (as per motorcycle express)?

Would like to know if there is a consensus for this among experienced travellers?

Any feedback would be much appreciated!

Thanks Dean.
Adelaide - Australia.

[sockpuppet]

Originally Posted by Dean74

So I'm now working on Insurance and Visas... do I try to organise all the visas and insurance before i leave, or can i do this as i go without too much headache?

I want my route to be fairly flexible so if visas can be done along the way that would be great. Insurance might be simpler to try and get a policy in place before leaving to avoid more work on the road though. And does anyone in the world offer a comprehensive insurance policy or is it all excess coverage (as per motorcycle express)?

Most visas can be gotten along the way (but check prior to leaving and as the embassys) some (seemingly) have to be gotten by post in your home country.

Afaik there is no global comp insurance policy. You can get third party insurance at most borders. Africa has things like the brown card (carte brun) so the stans might have something similar but you'd have to check.