Visa's for world travel for a UK citizen

30/08/05: We have sent our passports off at last! We have applied for Russian & Chinese Visa's via a company called Russia Direct. We chose them because they provide all the supporting documentation for the Russian Visa, saving us having to source it from a travel agent or similar. The total cost for the Russian visa and documents was a very reasonable Ł75 each. The Chinese visa was Ł82.50 each, but we chose their 2 day fast service and also we have asked for a double entry visa.

20/09/05: Dropped my passport off at Thames Consular Services today for my Mongolian Visa. As usual time is tight and I have a window of a few days. Cost Ł75.

22/9/05: My visa is already done, superb service !

30/09/05: Posted Sam's passport off for her Mongolian visa, we really have a very small amount of time left, but hopefully Thames Consular will be as speedy as before.

05/10/05: Sam's passport arrives complete with Mongolian Visa, it cost Ł96 for the high speed service, but we are delighted at how fast it has come back. We are now both set for the first section of our journey.

Visa's, of course are universal and a table follows of what is required (or not) and where.
I take no responsibilty for errors, but if you are a UK citizen it's a rough guide to where you require
a Visa, together with the approximate cost where known. Of course if you use a company to obtain your visa's for you the price will increase accordingly...

VISA REQUIRED	COUNTRY	DETAILS	APPROX COST
Yes	Russia	Tourist Visa, must have invitation which can be provided by Travel Agent if you book accommodation with them, max 1 month, Business visa also available	Ł30
Yes	Mongolia	Tourist visa 30 days	Ł35
Yes	China	Tourist visa 30 days	Ł30
*Yes	Cambodia	Can be issued on Arrival, need 1 passport photo, valid 30 days. Can enter via Poipet in Thailand	$20
* Yes	Laos	15 days issued on arrival at border with Thailand, Huai Xai/Chiang Khong + others	$30 or 1500Baht - Go for the $ it's cheaper
No	Japan	90 day stay allowed. Plus should have fixed date return or onward journey ticket
No	South Korea	90 day stay allowed.
Yes	Vietnam	Can get in Bangkok or London. Some embassies do visa’s with Issue & expiry dates, others with entry and exit dates. We want the 1^st type. Valid 30 days	$50-$100
Yes	India	Multiple entry – 6 months validity, but valid from date of Issue.	Ł30
*Yes	Nepal	Available on arrival with 1 passport photo either 30 days single or 60 days multiple entry. Extension available, but only in 2 places and for 30 days at a time at $1 per day.	$25/$60
Yes/No	Thailand	No visa required, but entry only allowed for 30 days. Otherwise 60 day visa needed, Fine 200B per day of overstay, when you leave - but don't push it too far.	Ł8 visa + (500B departure tax)
Yes	Australia	Electronic Visa, can apply and be approved over the internet in 2 minutes.	A$20
No	New Zealand	6 Months
No	South Africa	90 Days
No	Hong Kong	180 Days
No	Argentina	90 Days
No	Chile	90 Days
Yes/No	USA	Should be part of the Visa Waiver programme, but there restrictions
No	Indonesia	60 days, but must enter via one of 40 approved gateways in to the country - otherwise you need a visa
No	Canada	90 Days
No	Singapore	14 Days
No	Tahiti/French Polynesia	3 Months, onward ticket required