Kyrgyzstan

Visas

Kyrgyzstan is the easiest of the Central Asian republics for which to get a visa. Kyrgyz embassies issue 30-day tourist visas, with fixed dates, to 28 nationalities without letters of support. These nationalities can also obtain a visa on arrival at Bishkek’s Manas International Airport (US$35) although not at land borders.

Most nationalities from the former Soviet bloc, as well as Japanese, Turks and Kazakhs do not need visas.

If there is no Kyrgyz embassy in your country, go through a Kazakh embassy instead, although a letter of invitation regardless of nationality is then required. Central Asian travel agencies can provide these for US$20 to US$30.

It’s illegal to enter Kyrgyzstan except at a designated border crossing, which makes cross-border treks (eg Almaty to Issyk-Köl) technically illegal. You’ll need a travel agency to help smooth over these problems if you intend to take these treks.