Is it easier for a westerner to obtain a Chinese tourist visa in Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan?

6/2/2016 2:22:58 PM

In addition to what you say, the procedures for Chinese visa are also quite volatile over time, so be sure to check the sources for updates and try your luck.

The best info I found is on the excellent Caravanistan site for China-visa. There you find a section with the latest updates on getting visa on the road from not only Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan but also Usbekistan, Tajikistan and pretty much every other country around that part of the planet. For Almaty (Kazakhstan) there is also a forum where you can read and post the latest updates and here for Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). Make sure to read up to the last page.

In the Almaty forum you find the following entry from May 2016

From Bishkek and Almaty, Chinese visa sounds tricky. It seems since februry [sic!] 2016 rules have changed again.

On the next page in the same forum there is the report as of May 2016 from two Frenchies suggesting that it is possible to get “business” visa from an agent in Bishkek. Cost at least 150$ for the “invitation letter” and time required unclear from the post. (You then convert the business visa to something else once in China as described on Caravanistan, the point is to get in. Details for the agent in the forum). As it appears the way they issue the visa you do have to fly, i.e. no overland (if you already have a visa from home or elsewhere the land borders are open, unlike some travel agents may tell you, see top of the caravanistan page).

Having only seen the stans from 30k+ feet above the ground I can not do a comparison but summarize what is said in the sources. If you actually want to travel around there, make sure you to check them yourself and have a backup-plan or two at hand. As of today it seems defs easier to get the visa from home if possible.

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Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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