Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Plan Your Trip
Visas & Permits
Visas and permits can be the single biggest headache associated
with travel in ex-Soviet Central Asia. Collecting visas for a multi-
country trip through Central Asia can take months and cost
hundreds of US dollars. Visa regulations are getting easier every
year but our best advice remains 'start early and do your research'.
Visas
The good news is that the visa situation
in Central Asia is much easier than just
a couple of years ago. Single-entry tour-
ist visas of up to 30 days for all countries
except Turkmenistan are now a relative
formality for most nationalities, with no
need for the once notoriously pesky let-
ter of invitation (LOI). Kyrgyzstan offers
visa-free travel for most nationalities and
Kazakhstan and Tajikistan might follow
suit. It's even possible to get a visa on ar-
rival at most airports, as long as you have
arranged this in advance with a travel
agency. Only Turkmenistan requires you
to jump through some serious logistical
hoops, including booking a guided tour.
The steps to obtain a visa and the atten-
tion it gets after you arrive differ for each
republic, but their outlines are similar.
Visas at a Glance
Kazakhtan
No Letter of Invitation (LOI) needed for 30- or 60-
day tourist visas for most nationalities; visas are
date-speciic; no extensions possible; registration
required if entering the country overland. (p131)
Uzbekitan
No LOI needed for US citizens and most European
nationalities for visas up to 30 days; visas are
date-speciic; extensions diicult but possible
through a travel agency. (p225)
Kyrgyztan
The easiest: visa-free for most nationalities for
stays of up to 60 days for both air and land entry;
extensions possible, or simply leave and re-enter
the country; no registration for tourists. (p309)
Tajikitan
No LOI needed for tourist visas; visas are date-
speciic; extensions possible but tricky; visa-free
program planned; no registration needed for tour-
ist visas under 45 days; registration for private
visas required and expensive. (p367)
Applying for a Visa
Visa applications can be made in per-
son or via post at most of the republics'
overseas embassies or consulates. If your
country doesn't have Central Asian rep-
resentation you'll have to courier your
passport to the nearest embassy, arrange
a visa on arrival, or arrange your itinerary
to get the visa in another Central Asian
republic or elsewhere en route.
Embassies will want the following
documents:
Turkmenitan
The hardest: tourist visas only possible with
expensive pre-booked tour; three- to ive-day
transit visas possible with ixed dates and entry/
exit points. (p405)
