overland-underwater.com - A Charity Drive UK-NZ

Visas

Written by overland-underwater team. Uploaded 26 April 2005.

The table below shows the best information we had before setting off. We found the internet to be a very useful resource for finding information from other travellers who have gone before us, and of course we have got information from more official sources (embassies, tourist authorities etc.) but by the time you read this much of it could be out of date and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of it.

For most countries we could not apply for the visas in the UK before setting off as they would expire before entering the country, so we have had to research which is the best place for us to apply for each visa. Entries in blue text are what we currently think are the best options for us and the less suitable options are shown in grey text, but we have left them in the table in case it's useful for anyone wanting to jump on a plane to come and join us! Black text means no visa is required.

(Note: all of us are travelling on United Kingdom passports!)

Country	Req	Issued By	App Time	Docs Needed	Entry Within	Valid For	Single	Multi	Comments and notes from previous travellers' experiences
France	no
Italy	no
Slovenia	no
Croatia	no
Serbia & Mont	no
Bulgaria	no
Turkey	yes	Border	Immed	passport - valid for six months	Immed	3 mo	�10
Syria	yes	UK	7-10 days	2 app forms, 2 photos, letter from your employer confirming occupation, passport - Need to get visa from the country of residence	3 mo		�32	�54	If you have visited Israel you will not be granted entry into Syria
Syria	yes	Turkey	Same day	2 photos, passport	Single 3 mo, multi 6 mo	2 wks			Long distance travellers can obtain a visa in Istanbul, in Ankara or in Cairo
Jordan	yes	UK	3 days	Application form, 1 photo	3 mo		�11	�21	Private vehicles registered in other countries will be permitted to cross the border in accordance with existing regulations concerning type of vehicle permitted on each country's roads.
Jordan	yes	Border	Immed	Passport	Immed	3 mo	10 JD	20 JD	No point applying to Jordan Embassy in Damascus, often refuse to process a visa - should get one at border. Can only get a single entry visa at border. If you need a multi entry, need to apply at Embassy. Single entry visas are easy to obtain. Must "register" at main police station within 2 weeks of arrival
Eygpt	yes	UK	2 days	Application form, 1 photo			�15	�18	All visitors to Egypt must register with police within 7 days of entry. Registration often carried out by the hotel or tour operator, but should check that it has been done as there is a fine for not registering.
Eygpt	yes	Jordan	3hrs to 3 days	Application form	3 mo	1 mo	12 JD		Can be obtain on the ferry between Jordan and Sinai
Iran	yes	UK	2-8 weeks	2 application forms, 2 photos and passport	3 mo	7-21 days	�54		Ladies must have the head, arms and shoulders covered in the photographs.
Iran	yes	Turkey	10 days		60 days	30 days	60 USD		An Iranian visa was not available at the Turkey/Iran border. This visa must be obtained in advance of arriving at Iran in Istanbul. A simple, but lengthy process. Advisable to wear conservative clothing to the Iranian consulate and keep legs and arms covered, women must wear headscarfs. If you fail at Istanbul, try Ankara and nearer the border at Erzurum.
Pakistan	yes	UK	2 days	Application form, 2 photos, passport, guarantee letter, bank statement, copy of tickets	6 mo		�40	�54
Pakistan	yes	Iran	3 hours		3 mo	30 days	30 USD		The consulate at Zahedan is a small, friendly and an 'informal' one. If you are not British or American your Visa will cost $1 - $3!
India	yes	UK	1 day	Application form, 2 photos and passport	6 mo		�30		If travelling to any restricted areas please contact us for further advice
India	yes	Iran	7 days	Application form, 3 photo	Immed	6 mo	370000 rials	50 USD	Not available at the Pakistan/India border, must be obtained in advance of arriving at India. The visa validity is Immed i.e. the 6 month duration starts as soon as the visa is issued. Also this visa is not extendable.
Nepal	yes	UK	1 day	Application form, 1 photo	6 mo	60 days	�20	�55	Visas can also be obtained on arrival from the Immigration authorities at all entry points (in US Dollars) provided travellers are in possession of valid travel documents, two passport photos and the relevant fee.
Nepal	yes	Border	1 hour		Immed	60 days	30 USD		Pleasant & relaxed border. It is in the extreme west of the country and you can drive along the spectacular Mahendra Highway along Nepal to Kathmandu.
China	yes	UK	4 days	Application form, 1 photo and passport	3 mo	30 days	�30	�45	The Embassy will no longer accept postal applications direct to Embassy. Require government travel agency to issue necessary permits & also organise a guide to accompany you during your stay if in self-drive vehicles. Expensive..!!
Laos	yes	Border	1 hour	Application form, 2 photos. Return/onward ticket and all docs req for next destination, Certificate of Bank Statement (min. USD 400.-) or life insurance policy, Has a contact/confirmed hotel reservation in Laos.		15 days	30 USD		The Department of Immigration in Vientiane will only extend tourist visas for one day. Sometimes possible to get an extension for an additional 15 days by submitting an application through a tour agency. Foreigners who overstay in Laos risk arrest, and they will be fined $5 for each day upon departure.
Thailand	yes	Border	3 days	Application form, 1 photo and passport, departure ticket	3 mo		�25		No visa needed for tourist visits of upto 30 days providing you can provide exit ticket
Philippines	yes	Border	5 days	Application form, 2 photo, bank statement, passport, proof of departure	6 mo	30 days	�22		A Visa is only required for a stay of over 21 days as long as you have proof of departure
Cambodia	yes	UK	5 days	1 application form, 2 photos, travel confirmation or itinerary from tour operator, passport	3 mo		�15
Cambodia	yes	Border	1 hour	Passport photocopy, 1 photos (3 x 4 cm)	Immed	1 mo	20 USD		Entry through Aranyapathet-Poipet Border and Trat-Koh Kong Border of Thailand
Malaysia	no
Singapore	no
Indonesia	yes	UK	3-5 days	2 app forms, 2 photos, passport, bank statement, ref from employer, travel confirmation	3 mo		�35		If staying less than 30 days you can obtain at most borders on arrival. If stay is more than 30 days then visa in advance
Indonesia	yes	Border	1 hour	demonstrate sufficient means to live during stay in Indonesia, not listed on official blacklist of individuals prohibited from entering the country	Immed	30 days	25 USD		Also beware of the 30-day counting trap! Immigration officials count the 30-day period as: you arrive on the 1st day with a 30-day VoA, and you must leave on the 30th day (not the 31st day or the first of the next month etc.)
PNG	yes	UK	7 days	application form, 2 photos, guarantee letter, stating dates and places of entry to exit passport	3 mo		�38	�78
PNG	yes	Airport	1 hour	The applicant must complete a Request for Entry Permit (Form 1), evidence of return tickets		60 days	25 PKG (7 USD)		Visitor visas are available upon arrival provided onward tickets are carried by bona fide tourists. Only PGK payment is accepted by Immigration so where possible have PNG Kina handy.
Australia	yes	UK		Full name, Date & place of birth, Passport number & expiry date & credit card details		3 mo		20 USD	ETA VISA - This visa is issued by your agent/airline or Travcour (UK) It is an electronic visa (not visible on your passport). Valid for 3 months but valid for multi entries for 1 year
Australia	yes	Web	1 day		12 mo	3 mo		12 USD	http://www.fastozvisa.com/system.htm
Australia	yes	Web			12 mo	3 mo		20 AUS	http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/
New Zealand	no

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