Visas

Visas are something you really need to plan as far ahead as possible. Dealing with beaurocracy in other countries in other languages is a pain and you should plan your visas as far as possible in advance.
Research what visas you may or may not need before you leave for all countries you are thinking you may go to. Hopefully you can get a stamp on arrival but sometimes you need to get them in advance and you need to check where and how long in advance you can get them

Visa information changes often and is different for all nationalities so check with the relevant embassy - don't just do what we did without checking!

We normally looked for a website for the UK consulate for the country we were going to as this seemed to have the best information and also in English. US consulates often only give information for US citizens.

Some other sites we checked with were:
Project Visa
Thames Consular
travel.co.za

Brazil

Had visas stamped into our passports on arrival in Rio.

Argentina

Had visa stamped into our passports on the border with Chile. It takes a while and everyone has to get off the bus. All bags are scanned and potentially searched as you cannot take any food stuffs out of or into Chile.

Chile

Had 90 days stamped into our passports on both entries into Chile. You get a tourist card which you must keep with your passport.

USA passport holders have to pay US$100 on arrival for their visa as Chileans are charged US$100 for their US visas. Have a look at the Chilean Consulate in London for details

Bolivia

Maria didn't need a visa with a French passport but I did with a South African one. The rules have changed recently so most guidebooks say South Africans don't need one. If you're unsure, check.
We organised the visa in Puno. We had taken the bus on a Friday from Cuzco and the visa office was meant to be closed by the time we arrived but I tried my luck. The security guard let me in and I told them we wanted to go to Bolivia on Sunday and asked very nicely for a visa. The consul obliged and I had to go downstairs and get a photocopy of my passport and pay US$30 but easily sorted out. 30 days stamped in passport.

Peru

30 days stamped into our passports on arrival in Lima

Mexico

Free visa issued on arrival. Here are details.
If you arrive by air your visa cost is with your flight. You will get a form on the flight.
Also you are asked to put how many days you are staying. You should be able to put the maximum number at 180 regardless of how short your stay is. Check before you leave as our official put down 30 days and luckily we noticed so he could change it.

Barbados

Free visa for South Africans and French stamped in your passport on arrival.
For a list of countries that do require visa see here.

You will get a stamp for only the number of days you fill in on the immigration form. We originally planned to stay for a week and then decided to extend for a few days. We should have asked for 2 weeks at the airport as she only asked whether we had a ticket out but she didn´t ask to see it.

In order to extend you have to go to:
Barbados Immigration Department
Careenage House, The Wharf
Bridgetown,
Barbados
Tel: (246) 426-1011

You need to be there by 08:15 at the latest when the office opens. You will need to join the scrum to get in, get a number and queue. You need to provide a passport photo and proof of your leaving date with BD$50.
You will then need to go back and collect your passport before you leave.

It would be so much easier and cheaper if you tell the immigration person at the airport you may extend and hopefully if you smile enough you may get a longer stamp.

Malaysia

Maria given 90 days and Julian 60 days at immigration before boarding train in Singapore. Asked where we were heading next, we just said Thailand but have heard you may need to prove transport out of Malaysia.

Singapore

30 day visa granted free on arrival

Indonesia

30 day visa granted on arrived for US$25. Had to have proof of transport out of Indonesia which was checked at flight check-in but not asked for when we arrived in Bali.

Australia

Maria (France) can get an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa which is done easily through their website. You pay by credit card and get your confirmation very quickly.
Julian (South African) had to go through a very lengthy process. In the UK they said it would take between 6 and 8 weeks.
So, Julian applied in Bangkok through the Australian Visa Application Centre.
For a short stay visa had to have proof of funds (bank account statements), flight information and a copy of the front page of the passport which you can do at their offices.
They said it would take 10-15 working days but I was going to Vietnam so they said I could apply with a photocopy of my passport and they would contact me when it was approved and I could come in and have the visa added to my passport. they did not contact me and I spent ages in Vietnam trying to get hold of the embassy. Eventually on my return to Bangkok I managed to get an appointment with the embassy to get the visa added in a short time. Normalyl I think you would give it back to VFS and they would do it. It's a new service so they have some communication kinks to remove.

New Zealand

3 month entry stamp on arrival. Had to show return ticket from New Zealand.

Vietnam

Organised through travel agency on corner of entrance to D&D Hotel in Khao San Road, Bangkok.

Need 2 Passport photos
The quicker you want it the more you pay.

We payed 1600 Thai Baht to have it in 3 days. You can pay about 2500 Baht to have it in one day.

Thailand

30 day entry stamp on arrival. Easy. Remember there is a 500 Baht departure tax on all international flights

Dubai

Organised for us as part of our Emirates Airline Bargain Break.

USA

Found out by meeting someone that they had organised their US visa at the Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Maria has a non machine readable passport so had to get a visa. I needed to get a visa anyway.
You have to pay your $100 at a bank in the city and was told the interview would be three weeks away. Phoned the Consulate and pleaded for an earlier interview as we had a plane to catch in a few days time. They luckily agreed and interview was booked for the following day. Went along and queued for a few hour but was given 10 year multiple entry.

So happy to have done this here a they were friendly and able to move forward the interview which is not possible in most places.

India

Organised at the Indian Embassy in Beijing.

Took 7 working days although they said it would be ready in 5.
They fax off your application to your country of residence (in our case UK) and they then fax it to your country (France and South Africa). This all takes time. You will get a six month multiple entry visa valid from the date of issue.
Maria (France) had to pay but mine (South African) was free.

Nepal

Another easy visa.

Organised at the Royal Nepalese Embassy in London.

Visa to be used within 6 months of issue.
Cost 20 pounds for single entry valid for 60 days.
Ready the following day and no queue!

China

Done at the Chinese Consulate in London.

Was told we needed to show tickets in and out of China but they didn't ask to see it at the consulate.

We asked for 30 days but others have told us if you put 60 days you may get it. It will ask where you want to visit. If you enter a long list of places, they may issue a longer visa. Don't put Tibet on your list even if you plan to go there just to avoid the questions. They don't check where you go after you get your visa.

You will need a double / multiple entry visa if you intend to go to Hong Kong and then back to China.

Visa took 3 days and was 30 pounds for a double entry but is more expensive for UK or USA citizens.

You can also easily get a Chinese visa in Hong Kong in 1 or 2 days for cheaper than in the UK from many travel agents. This can also be done in Bangkok by travel agents which is much easier.

Chinese visas need to be explained so you don't get caught out as we did.

If you get a double entry visa, you must enter China both times before the expiry date on your visa (which is three months after issue). This is not the same as entering twice during the 30 days your visa is valid for once you enter China. Our visas expired while the 30 days was still valid, we would have had no problem if we didn't leave China but had to get another visa as we were in Hong Kong. If you have a double entry, you will be given 30 days at each entry. Bear this in mind if you are wanting to stay longer than 30 days. Some people say you can ask for 60 day and just write more places you are going to stay in so it looks like you definately need longer. This seemed to work better in European countries other than the UK, but you can try. If you are going to Hong Kong first, don't bother getting your Chinese visa anywhere else as you can organise it in one day there.

Mongolia

Quick and easy application at the Mongolian Embassy in London.

Was ready the next day, you only need your passport, 2 photos and the application, was 35 pounds. No queue!

Make sure you ask for an entry and exit visa otherwise you will have to pay more when you exit Mongolia.

Russia

Russia is still very communist in the way it handles visa - nothing is easy.

You have to get an official invitation letter from a Russian tour company in order to get your visa. They charge for this service.
You then apply for your visa. We applied at the Russian Consulate in London. They charge depending on how quickly you want it. You also need to have proof of travel insurance that includes Russia.
When you have your visa and arrive in Russia, you need to get your visa registered within 3 days by the people who invited you and then again theoretically at every place you spend more than three days. If you get your visa invitation through a hotel, they may register it for free.

One of the cheaper ones we found was through WaytoRussia.net
They have a good website that explains what you have to do and use a company called Intelservice in Russia who actually does the invitation letter.
They did the visa invitation letter for $30 (next day service) $45 (same day service)
They then fax you the invitation letter.
When we got to St. Petersburg, we didn't realise we had to pay again for the registration, this was not explained to us my WaytoRussia so be ready. We payed 650 roubles (18 Euros) for the registration. Our hostel was offering to so the registration for 35 Euros (don't know how it works with having to get it registered by the company that invited you but this is Russia where things don't always go to plan)
We then went to Moscow and the hostel there registered us again but didn't charge.
You will get a entry slip when you arrive. DON'T LOSE THIS. This is what holds your stamps and you need to show it when you leave.