This is a guest post by Nick and Dariece, the couple behind Goats On The Road, a website designed to inspire others to live a financially sustainable, location independent lifestyle. Masters at making money abroad and turning their travels into a way of life, they’ve been on the road since 2008 and have explored some of the least visited places on Earth, finding adventure wherever they go.
Planning a trip to one of the least visited regions on Earth can be a daunting experience, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. For the most part, traveling Central Asia comes with a lot of paperwork; i.e. permits, letters of invitation and visa applications, but finding the right information is often the biggest hurdle you’ll face.
Within it, the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan form one of the last great travel frontiers and a trip here is a truly epic experience that doesn’t need to be discouraged by bureaucracy. Below we cover how to obtain a visa for these countries for most nationalities.
Why Central Asia?
Central Asia’s group of 5 former Soviet Republics, also known as “The Stan Countries,” were once a blank spot on the map south of Russia and north of Pakistan. More travelers are finally starting to realize that Central Asia nations are a prime backpacking and adventure travel destinations because they blend rugged accessibility with inviting exchange rates. We spent 4 months in 2013 traveling through this region trekking mountains, exploring ancient cities, road tripping and flying in helicopters, only to crave even more!
Generally you will need to hand in the following at the consulate:
We also recommend you bring pens plus two extra copies of passport pages and photos to the consulate in case they’re spontaneously requested (which isn’t unheard of).
BTW, What’s A Letter Of Invitation (LOI)?
A LOI is an extra bit of paperwork Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan require before you can apply for a travel visa (the stamp in your passport that allows you to enter a country). A LOI on the other hand basically what it sounds like – a formal invitation from a registered travel agent or tour operator in the country for which you are applying.
You will be asked for the LOI to be submitted with your visa application at the consulate. They cost between $30-150 US dollars (USD) and can be obtained from a reputable company like StanTours, which we recommend.
Visa Policies For Each Central Asian Country From Easiest To Turkmenistan
Below you will find everything you need to know about the visa policy for different nationalities traveling through Central Asia.
Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan is a great place to stock up on other visas for onward travel as well. You can spend a week or so in the capital applying at embassies and you’ll save yourself some time and hassle as most embassies in Bishkek are easy to deal with. For more on traveling here, check out our Ultimate Guide To Backpacking Kyrgyzstan.
Kazakhstan
If you’re traveling through Central Asia heading east, apply for this visa in Ankara, Turkey – good consulate reports and little hassle. Processing time is around 4 days; while you’re waiting, read up on Kazakh culture and customs.
Tajikistan
If Bishkek is on your Central Asian travel itinerary we recommend applying for a Tajik travel visa there if possible, since you can get a free GBAO permit on request. If you’re heading east through Central Asia and turning Ankara into a tourist town, you won’t be able to get your GBAO there. Alternatively you can apply for a GBAO permit after arriving in Dushanbe. For more on traveling here, check out our Ultimate Guide To Backpacking Tajikistan.
Uzbekistan
Citizens of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Spain, Switzerland, UK and USA do not need a letter of invitation to apply for a Uzbekistan tourist visa. Everyone else, you can can obtain an Uzbek Letter of Invitation here. Heading east you can apply for your Uzbek visa in Ankara which has good consulate reports from other travelers. Heading west we recommend applying for your visa in Beijing, China or Bishkek, which have an average turnaround time of 2 days, enough time for your to prepare for your trip to Uzbekistan.
Turkmenistan
Another reason that this visa is so difficult to apply for is that you will need to indicate specific dates of entry and exit on your visa application, have hotels previously booked, as well as state the exact land border crossings that you plan to enter and exit Turkmenistan through. Once you’ve written down the borders and dates there is NO changing them, so make sure of your plans beforehand.
If you’re traveling to Turkmenistan heading east through Central Asia, you can apply for your Turkmen visa in Ankara; heading west you can pick it up in Beijing. Additionally, a consulate is set to open in Bishkek in the near future.
Flight In And Over Paperwork
There are a number of airlines flying into major Central Asian capital cities (particularly to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and Dushanbe, Tajikistan) where there are deals to be found, especially from Europe and east Asia. Not only do these routes save you money on flights, they are great because arriving at these airports lets you to get visas on arrival.
For example, upon arrival in Bishkek, you’ll get a free 60 day stamp where you can then apply for any of the other four Central Asian nations in capital.
You Know What You Need, Now It’s Time To Go!
Central Asia is, without a doubt, one of the most stunning, friendly and rewarding destinations we’ve traveled to. In our 4 months traveling in Central Asia, we horse trekked over mountain passes, swam in crystal clear alpine lakes, soaked in natural hot springs, flew a helicopter over the Pamir Mountains, slept in yurts and so much more! This is a place where adventure and culture collide to create a memorable travel experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Thank you again Nick and Dariece for taking the time to compile this detailed guide on obtaining travel visas to all five Central Asian nations. You can keep up with Dariece and Nick on Goats On The Road, a website designed to inspire others to live a financially sustainable, location independent lifestyle. Don’t forget you can also follow Nick and Dariece on Twitter, Facebook, Google+