Kyrgyzstan has e-visa policy for Indians. That should make it an easy country to get a visa. But hold your breath. It is not the case. Let me explain why.
Applying for e-visa
Since Kyrgyzstan had an e-visa policy for Indians, I did not worry much about the process. A month before my travel, I applied for the visa. The portal (https://www.evisa.e-gov.kg/ ) itself was simple – I just needed to upload a photo and passport copy and enter my personal and travel details.
While filling in the details, one point caught my attention. The form asked for Inviting organization details. Since I was applying for the tourist visa, I did not bother much and mentioned that it was a self-funded trip. I paid 50$ using a credit card, and I received the confirmation email. So far, so good.
Letter of Invitation
The next day, I got an email that my application was returned and asked me to “upload the invitation letter of the travel agency, which is included in the register approved by the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic”.
It came as a surprise to me. The invitation letter from a travel agency was Soviet-era nonsense, which I thought Kyrgyzstan had got rid of. It was not true for Indian nationals.
I started looking for ways to get this invitation letter. Many Kyrgyzstan travel agencies were providing that letter, but it required me to book a tour (>4-5) days with them, the cost of which ran into hundreds/thousands of dollars. It was not practical for us. At one point, we were even thinking to drop Kyrgyzstan from our plan. It was not difficult as Kyrgyzstan was neither an entry nor an exit point of our Central Asia plan.
Finally, I found a travel agency issuing the Letter of Invitation for money. Unfortunately, I had a pay an amount higher than the visa fee to get that letter. The process was simple. We sent an email, provided personal and travel details and paid money using Paypal. They sent the LOI promptly!!
I uploaded the document and got the visa after five working days.
My friend who applied had payment issues. However, the WhatsApp number provided on the website was very helpful in communicating and solving those issues.
Immigration experience
We entered Kyrgyzstan at Korday land crossing, 30 minutes from Bishkek on the Almaty-Bishkek highway. We showed e-visa and got our passports stamped. No questions asked.
We entered back into Kazakhstan while travelling from Bishkek to Tashkent. We crossed the Kara Balta border checkpost at midnight. The exit was smooth. They asked us to show the visa copy again.
Summary
Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful country with many hiking trails, high-altitude passes, turquoise lakes and off-road journeys. Our focus was the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, and we spent only two days in Kyrgyzstan. We felt sad that we did not give justice to the country and for the money we paid to enter.
Sadanand
Beautiful place. Explained well
aravindgj
Thank you.
dev
Hey! Can you share the name of the agency from where you get the Visa invitation letter ?
aravindgj
Global connect – Uzbekistan tours and travels. You will get the link if you do google search on this. You may find a better deal if you do more research. We did not had time for it.
Kunal Goel
what did you do in there? As well as how did you cover Tajikistan Pamir highway?
aravindgj
Pair highway details here — https://aravindgundumane.com/2023/11/guide-to-the-pamir-highway-trip/
Ekta Aggarwal
I have just had the similar experience of “the invitation letter” and pay for 4-5 day tours with them.
I am on the verge of cancelling my trip, though I have already paid 4.5k Visa fee.
Your story gives me a hope to re-think. How much did you pay Global Connect for the Invitation letter?
Appreciate your help
aravindgj
We paid 75 US$ per head. It is mentioned in their website.
DrPraveen Agarwal
Nomads Yurt does it for 50 USD. If there are more than one person, they can do it for 40 USD.
aravindgj
Thanks for the update.
DrPraveen Agarwal
Nomads Yurt does it for 40-45 USD
Priya Bhat
Praveen could you also, share their contact details? we are desperately looking for how we can get LOI, as it came out all of sudden. and somewhere we read that only 6 organizations do it and are listed.
Priya
Hi Aravind, We have also planned the trip and also booked the flight for 17th of May 2024 to Kyrgyzstan, and we faced the same issue, that they are now asking for a LOI, to be submitted, could please share the name of agency, which offer it for a fee. I know some are asking to book the tour with them, but to you know the agency who gave it for a fee? and how long it took for you to get the LOI? your response would be really helpful.
aravindgj
The agency names are in the comments. You could go to their website and find details.
Rahees
Hello , We are also planning on same day from Almaty to Bishkek by road. Now am trying to contact 2-3 Travel agency to get LOI. Will update you soon.