Visas for travelling overland to Nepal (Iran-Pakistan-India)

[mirrorworld]

Hey Overlanders,

I'm planning to go all the way from Europe till Himalaya Mountains, by train, bus and hitchhiking.
Right now i'm in the visa hustle. I would like to obtain the iranian, pakistani and indian visa upfront. Now i found out that after receiving the iranian visa grand notice you just have 30 days to collect your visa at the embassy. I would like to pick mine up in Erzurum. Did anyone tried TAP Persia or 1stquest to get the Iranian Visa Grand Notice / Auth Code? Has anybody experience with their mentioned option to hand in documents upfront and let them do the application later, when you are already on the road?

For the pakistan visa i really don't know what to expect. I heard that one can really write into the application if you are entering the country over the landroute via Taftan Border. Which documents do they really need? Is the LOI still necessary? Any recommendations about government licensed tour operators, where to get it the easiest and cheap?

About the indian visa i really don't know anything so far. Any tips or recomendation when and where to apply for it?

[jaaf]

Hey Overlanders,

I'm planning to go all the way from Europe till Himalaya Mountains, by train, bus and hitchhiking.
Right now i'm in the visa hustle. I would like to obtain the iranian, pakistani and indian visa upfront. Now i found out that after receiving the iranian visa grand notice you just have 30 days to collect your visa at the embassy. I would like to pick mine up in Erzurum. Did anyone tried TAP Persia or 1stquest to get the Iranian Visa Grand Notice / Auth Code? Has anybody experience with their mentioned option to hand in documents upfront and let them do the application later, when you are already on the road?

For the pakistan visa i really don't know what to expect. I heard that one can really write into the application if you are entering the country over the landroute via Taftan Border. Which documents do they really need? Is the LOI still necessary? Any recommendations about government licensed tour operators, where to get it the easiest and cheap?

About the indian visa i really don't know anything so far. Any tips or recomendation when and where to apply for it?

It is better to get a Pakistani e-visa in advance۔ The LOI depends on the embassy. Some demand it and some do not.

[Tepezcu]

[Indian visa in Pakistan]

I applied for the indian visa through Visatronix in Karachi (they were very friendly and helpfull). I left my passport there and continue cycling direction Lahore. After two weeks I arrived to Lahore and exactly that day Visatronix Karachi contacted me to confirm that the visa was already stamped on my passport. I asked them if they could send the passport to Visatronix Lahore. After two days I could collect my passport in Visatronix Lahore.

Note: from Karachi to Lahore I cycled on country roads and rural areas. Several times I was escorted by the police (motorbike or pick up following my bicycle) even if I wasn't in Baluchistan anymore, and only certain hotels were allowed to host tourist (normally the expensive ones). I have heard other cyclists, who took the main highway, had no escort. Other option is to take a bus.

[Indorus]

Best is to get Iran visa first, and while in Iran, apply for Pakistan visa ...same way, apply for Indian paper/sticker visa while in Pakistan. If it's multi entry paper visa, you are allowed to go to Nepal and re-enter india. IRN, PAK and IND are offering E visas for tourists, but India won't allow you through Wagah border with an e visa. Pakistan probably allows it but many guys get Iranian visa so late, and by the time they reach Pakistan, they have very little time left on their visa validity.

Basically don't get all the visa in advance ! You will sure get them on your way.

[Roadtophnompenh]

i did it land by land: iran+pakistan+india. Useally it takes a good week, but when you have the first, start the next country applying it. Then you wont be stuck somewhere, it took me exactly 1 month from leaving Turkey until entering India . . .