Uzbekistan Travel Forum

Hello! I plan to visit Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan this summer.
I'd like to know if i need LOI to apply for visas to these countries in advance in my homecountry or there is no need to apply for visas in advance and there is an oppotunity to get visas just at the airport without LOI arriving to any of these countries?Thanks.

Hi. I travelled into Kazakhstan from China a few years back and obtained my visa in Urumqi (town in W.China) and didnt need a LOI but did need the visa in advance. Sometimes, though, as you probably know, its different on arriving at the airport. Sorry cant help further. If no luck here try posting the same on Lonely Planet Thorn Tree.
Cheers.

Hi over there!
As for Uzbekistan,
you will need to obtain an LOI prior the arriving. The LOI can be made by trave agency, or hotel in Uzbekistan where you will be staying.
For Uzbek visa you will need to apply in advance, and the processing time usually no more than 10 days.

Hope it's helpful.
Good luck!

Erm, Vadim, I don't want to object, as you know better. But isn't the LOI a question of the country where the visitors are from? I went to the Uzbek consulate in Frankfurt and they told me that as a German citizen I would not need the LOI, only the visa. The same was for almost all EU citizens.
Or did it change in the meantime? My experience was from summer 2006 (I got the visa in May 2006).

Ingrid

It definitely depends on the nationality of the OP.

Peak, do you need LOI to enter Uzbekistan ? Is there Uzbek embassy in Bangkok ?

I don't need LOI, just a visa & I got my visa for less than 1 week although the guy there asked me to come 3 times !

I applied for double entry visa & the guy charged me USD 85 (a receipt was issued of course). My length of stay would be 20 days.

Another guy also applied for Uzbek visa & he would stay for 10 days only.
He was charged for USD 55 only.

I needed an LOI but the agent I dealt with was very cool so it took only a few days. I applied for a visa last Thursday and they told me I could pick it up that afternoon if they hear back from Tashkent in time but they didn't hear back until Monday so Mondayw as the day I picked it up.

The fee was quite ridiculous...they charged in US Dollars but they don't allow me to pay in US Dollars! They charged 38 Baht per $1 when it's only 32 Baht in reality. But overall it was one of the easiest visas I've ever got.

Peak, I am in Nukus at this very moment.
First night, I stayed at Nukus Hotel, second night at Tashkent Hotel.
I went to Moynaq today & seeing the stranded ships...

I could see a bit of what's left for Aral Sea.

Visa-wise, I got it easy in just 3 days.
They asked me to pay in US Dollars but I didn't know that they only wanted new noted ! I had to come to the embassy 3 times !!

Over all, Uzbekistan is okay.
People are okay. I met more nice people on the buses than the people that I was in touch with.

They invited me to their houses as well.
You will know the story when I get back.

Tomorrow I will go to Bukhara.

Next week, I will enter Kyrgystan.

It sounds like you didn't have the best time there? I guess you like the Middle East more?

What do you mean I didn't have the best of time here ? :)

I am in Kokand now, in Fergana Valley & last night I was invited to somebody's houses & we had a bit of gathering...eating, talking, laughing...amazing time !!!!

I have a video to prove as well & will upload them when I get home, about 1 week from now.

What I meant was when I was planning for this trip, I wrote to a few people whom I thought would help me on Uzbekistan but they were not so keen in me coming to their country !!
Some of them didn't even wrote back !!!

Typical yes Peak, ...because I'm not the sort of handsome white tourist who would come to their country !!
If I were, all these people would jump at the first chance of meeting me !! Ha ! Ha !

I don't speak a word of Russian but I could move around easily...people who sit next to me on the buses, on the mashrutkas are more interested to know more about me & my country...than the 'educated' fews among us.

Where are you now actually ?
In Uzbekistan ??

Of course, you can get visa upon arrival, but taking into account two-fold information, it is better to get visa in advance. You can apply either to
http://www.travelazerbaijan.land.ru/ or uzbekistantrip@yandex.ru, they make LOIs to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, tadjikistan, Kazakhstan etc., choose that
agency, which will offer you the best price. Nowadays these agncies are the cheapest and the quickest way to get LOI. Their LOI costs about 12 euros per person per country. If you apply for LOIs for several countries, they can make you discount.

By the way, to have a good time, it is also better to get some acquaintance with girls in each country in advance ;))