Info on getting visas

tywy

I'm looking to travel on the Trans Mongolian Express from Moscow to Beijing in August.

I think I need to get 3 visas, the Russian visa seems fairly straight forward once you have an invite. The next one I need is the Mongolian Transit Visa as I don't plan to get off the train in Mongolia. How do I go about getting this? Also I need to get a visa for China, just a holiday one. How do I go about getting this?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Random

You could try contacting the relevent embassys or consulates on Dublin? Not sure where you'd get the numbers though.. 11850 ?

Galadriel

I'm doing the trans-siberian in August aswell, I have just booked the train through a russian agency so they will organise the the papers I need to get a visa through the Russian Embassy here, its in Dublin 14.

I haven't applied for my mongolian one yet but I think you have to do it through the Embassy in the UK as they don't have one here, think its an easy enough one to get though.

Davidth88

Hi,

Chinese embassy has a web site with all the forms on

http://ie.china-embassy.org/eng/

I have used them a few times , make sure you have everything in order and be prepared to queue , take a brolly because you may be queuing outside the visa place is in a converted garage in the driveway of the embassy , get there about 10-15 mins before opening .

Mongolia ... no idea , wouldn't surprise me if the nearest embassy is in London

Have a great trip , something I have always wanted to do !

tywy

Do I need to be there myself? Or could my boyfriend go with both our passports, forms etc.

crybaby

boyfriend can go by himself, just make sure you have everything sorted out, alot of embassies like you to pay by bank draft or postal order so make sure to check that out

Davidth88

Hi,

Cash works in the Chinese Embassy.

They are very picky on the details , so make sure everything is in order. For example they say one photo, give them two and they give you a very stern look and hand them both back and say ONE PHOTO ONLY, and expect you to cut them up.

Don't expect service with a smile

Jimmy81

The nearest Mongolian embassy is in London:
http://www.embassyofmongolia.co.uk/

I have been looking in to this myself, you need to send over your passport, the form and fee and they will send it back with the visa. The only thing is, the form for the transit visa seems a lot more complicated than the tourist one and is only £5stg cheaper, so it might be a lot less hassle to go for the tourist visa. I havent applied for mine yet, so if anyone has any first hand experience please post it up

The other option is was looking at was going through a Visa agency, http://www.visafirst.com will get you a visa for €120. It seems a bit expensive, but getting it through the embassy in london will cost you about €60 for the visa and you will want to be sending your passport by registered post at least, so the agency might not be the worst idea.

In any case, please post up here how you get one with each visa, as I will be doing the same trip myself soon.

Thanks.

Galadriel

Ok I really should have looked into the whole visa thing sooner, didn't realise I would have to send my passport off! I am leaving for Russia on the 7th August, will send off my passport this week for the Mongolian visa.

I plan on staying in Mongolia for 7 nights, then fly to Beijing Airport to fly straight home, would I still need a visa for China?

Galadriel

Ok just found this on the Chinese Embassy website:

Visas are not required of aliens , who hold final destination tickets and have booked seats on international airliners flying directly through China, and will stay in a transit city for less than 24 hours without leaving the airport.

Jimmy81

Galadriel wrote:

Ok I really should have looked into the whole visa thing sooner, didn't realise I would have to send my passport off! I am leaving for Russia on the 7th August, will send off my passport this week for the Mongolian visa.

I plan on staying in Mongolia for 7 nights, then fly to Beijing Airport to fly straight home, would I still need a visa for China?

When you get everything sorted, would you mind posting up here how you got on with each visa/embassy and any problems you had?
Id appreciate it, thanks.

Galadriel

No problem will do!!

tywy

Don't think the the mongolian embassy takes THAT long to process your visa. We're only booking our tickets now for the trans siberian... we're planning on leaving Dublin on August 14th or something...

Galadriel

I am posting my passport off tomorrow, I am using http://www.visafirst.com as Jimmy81 suggested, they charge 120euro and it will be returned to you in 10 working days, but for piece of mind I'll pay the extra 30euro to get it back in 5 days. Spending it directly to the UK embassy actually works out nearly the same price, Visafirst has an office on College Green so least its nearer!

Who are you booking your train ticket through? I got mine through the Russian Agency Svezhy Veter for around 240euro.

Jimmy81

Galadriel wrote:

I am posting my passport off tomorrow, I am using http://www.visafirst.com as Jimmy81 suggested, they charge 120euro and it will be returned to you in 10 working days, but for piece of mind I'll pay the extra 30euro to get it back in 5 days. Spending it directly to the UK embassy actually works out nearly the same price, Visafirst has an office on College Green so least its nearer!

Who are you booking your train ticket through? I got mine through the Russian Agency Svezhy Veter for around 240euro.

I will be booking mine with that agency as well. Did you have any problems with them or was it all cool? I wont be able to book it until about 45 days before I go tho.

tywy

Our ticket is gonna cost $608 I think. That's a 1st class ticket from Moscow to UB and then a 1st class ticket from UB to Beijing.

I think we are gonna try and book a train ticket from St Petersburg to Moscow with them too.

They see reputable enough, they are recommended on a good few sites.

JoeSchmoe

might be a bit late for you people travelling but for anyone else looking for info on Mongolian visas they can be got in Ireland, at the mongolian Consulate which is in Westmoreland st 01 6773322