Frontiers between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
Replies: 15 - Last Post: Nov 1, 2012 11:10 AM Last Post By: Aspodelia
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Frontiers between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
Hello!! We are a couple of Spaniards planing a long trip around central Asia. On our way back to Spain we will travel from Iran to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Turkey. We have been told recently that the border between these countries might be closed so that there's a "correct" order to visit them all —otherwise you would be unable to cross from one specific country to the next. This "order" would be this:Iran—>Azerbaijan—>Georgia—>Armenia—>Georgia (again)—>Turkey. This would mean that the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia is closed.
Is that so? We will have to get our visas on our way, since the delay of validity of visas, once used, tends to be of three months, which would mean we won't have the possibility of getting them in Spain, before departure: we will leave the 1st April and arrive to the Caucasus area (say Armenia) around the 1st September). Could you confirm it is possible to get the visas for these Caucasus countries on arrival?
By the way: we will travel with our own 4x4, so we will cross always road borders.
With a trillion thanks in advance,
CM
:-)
1
Is that so?Yes, that's it. The order you quoted is fine. The border between Azerbaijan and Armenia is fully closed as well as the border between Armenia and Turkey.
Regarding visas, you don't need visa for Georgia and, AFAIK, you can get the visa for Armenia on arrival but not the visa for Azerbaijan. You have to get that one prior your arrival to the country. Be aware that info about visas can change (at any moment and without prior notice) so, as you are planning a long trip, verify close to your travel dates to those countries if it has changed.
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OK, very interesting reply, anillos_de_Saturno…For what you say the only thing to have in mind is to avoid Azerbaijan-Armenia and Armenia-Turkey connections, correct?
Therefore, the following order: Iran—>Armenia—>Georgia—>Azerbaijan—>Georgia (again)—>Turkey should also be correct (we have just realized this would be more convenient for us.
Thanks a lot, anillos_de_Saturno. We will do our best with the visas, which is a real hassle, since Iran, for example, doesn't start the processing for any visa more than 5 weeks before of projected date of arrival —which would be a problem, since we leave the 1st April and arrive to Iran around the 25th june (after Ukraine, Russia (only a bit), Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan (perhaps also Kirguizistan) and Turkmenistan. We maybe forced to get the Iran visa in Astana or Almaty (if there's a consulate there). Anyway, we would be glad to know any suggestion…
Gratefully,
CM
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Therefore, the following order: Iran—>Armenia—>Georgia—>Azerbaijan—>Georgia (again)—>Turkey should also be correct (we have just realized this would be more convenient for us.Yes, that order should be correct too. However, don't visit Nagorno-Karabakh because you would be denied entry in Azerbaijan. BTW, that way you could apply for your Azerbaijan visa in Batumi (Georgia) which it's said to be the best place to make it now. However, as I told you, the info about visas change and what's valid today can be outdated next week...
You could ask about the Iran visa in the Middle East branch where there are a few good experts in that country. This thread about getting it in Turkey can provide you some tips too. BTW, you can find here a list with all the diplomatic missions of Iran.
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Take a look once again to my post #3 as I've just updated it with some info about the visa for Iran.6
Wow! This is getting harder! We have had a look to the "thread about getting it in Turkey" but don't understand what's the "code/registration number" they talk about there. It seems you should get some code via internet (iranianvisa.com ) and then pay 75 euros or something like that. As Spaniards, do we need this "code/registration number"? When we phined the iranian embassy in Madrid last week they didn't say anything like that…The list of worldwide diplomatic missions of Iran will be really useful, thanks… As I said, our loop will go that way:
Spain, central Europe, Poland, Ukraine, Russia (only a bit), Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan (perhaps also Kirguizistan), Turkmenistan, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (again), Turkey, Southern Europe, Spain (7 months). We think our best net would be to (try to) get the Iran visa in Astana or Almaty or ¿maybe? in Tashkent. Trabzon would not be a possibility because that's on our way back. (And doing the loop the other way around will put us in freezing cold by september-october in Russia-Ukraine-Poland).
Thanks a zillion again, anillos_de_Saturno
CM
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And doing the loop the other way around will put us in freezing cold by september-october in Russia-Ukraine-PolandThe weather in these countries will be actually warmer in september than in april, and the same is possible for october. Especially septemvber will be far from 'freezing cold'. Just a thought...
Matthijs
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Ahhh! That's of paramount importance. We will have to have a look to average temperatures in mid-April's Poland and Ukraine; end of April Russia; and begginings of May Kazakhstan; begginings of June Uzbekistan and so on. Cold and rain/mud might be a problem on the dirty roads we plan to go through most of the time (or even on paved roads as far as we know), but august strong heat in Turkmenistan can also represent a difficulty (even if we support well the heat and prefer it to ice of mountain roads). With our original loop (via Ukraine………Iran) we will get in Turkmenistan by middle June (and enter Iran by the end of that month —so we will get the whole Ramadan period, which was not a major problem two years ago when in Morocco and Mauritania)—.Thanks for your comment, Matthijs; it may prove decisive…
CM
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You're welcome. I am living in Romania, close to the Ukrainian border. Half an hour ago (9 pm local time), it was still 18 degrees. Just a quick look on internet: for south-east Poland they expect till 22 degrees this week, further up north from here, in Kiev, 17 degrees. Not bad for travelling in mid-october i guess :) Of course you never know, but my experience in eastern europe is that september is warmer than april, and october can still be good, although the chance for rain increases (as is in april/may). Either way, it will not be freezing cold in october :)Matthijs
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Yes, you're right; I guess that was only one more of the "idées reçues" or clichés about Central and Northern Europe. The question is that I live in the North of Spain, which is further South than either Poland or Rumania, and we are getting these days 9-10 degrees in the morning… That's why I was making the wrong inference…Thanks a lot for your precision, as I said before it may change the sense of our projected spin…
Take care… :-)
Thomas
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Great, anillos_de_saturno; as usual, you provide us with crucial info. We understand now what is that "number" people ara talking in the thread about getting the visa in Turkey. The question is that we will need a toursit visa of 90 days, since we project a total stay of 70 days in Iran. Do you think this is possible? Even via Iranvisa.com? wIn Iranvisa.com we have seen a limit of 30 days visa. In case of need we could restrict our visit to Iran to 60 days, but it will be a pity to cut it down to only 30 days, because Iran is one of the main goals of this long trip.Anyway, we are very grateful to yoy, anillos_de_saturno. It would be great that the number obtained via Iranvisa.com would be up to 90 days, since the possibility to take it in the consulate of Almaty wil make things much easier. We will imvestigate visa issues in the Iran TT.
Thanks again, anillos_de_saturno, :-)
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As of now there should be no visa requirements for EU citizens entering Armenia, according to this TT-topic.Well, if I'm reading that thread correctly, it would be as of January next year. In any case, if that info is confirmed (there isn't a single link to a source in all that thread), it'll be useful for the OP as he's traveling next year.
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The web of the (British) FCO provides info about when will be in force the new rules for holders of passports issued by an EU country; just in case someone was interested.
