Visas & Carnets

Please Note: The information on this page applies mainly to European (EU) Passport Holders.

We are always updating the information on this page.  Please e mail us if you require information not shown.

Where we recommend you not to travel to a country, it is because corrupt police pose a problem with regard to bribes etc.
or other criminal activity is often a problem for travellers....

                                     UK Address                                                     CDP*?                                                            Visa?
Albania 38 Grosvenor Gardens 
London SW1W 0EB		 We strongly recommend you not to travel to Albania No Visa
Austria No Carnet No Visa
Belgium No Carnet No Visa
Bosnia No Carnet No Visa
Bulgaria Can still be a problem despite EU membership No Carnet No Visa
Croatia No Carnet No Visa
Germany No Carnet No Visa
Greece No Carnet No Visa
Holland No Carnet No Visa
Hungary No Carnet No Visa
India India House 
Aldwych 
London  WC2B 4NA		 Carnet 6 month visa valid from day of issue 
best obtained in Pakistan (Islamabad)
Iran 50 Kensington Court 
Kensington High Street 
London W8 5DB		 Carnet Takes 30+ days Best obtained before travelling**
Jordan 6 Upper Philimore Gardens 
London W8 7BH		 Carnet Visa
Kuwait 2 Albert Gate 
London SW1X 7JU		 Carnet Visa
Lebanon Palace Garden Mews 
London W8 4RA		 Carnet Visa can be issued at Syrian Consulate
Luxemburg No Carnet No Visa
Macedonia No Carnet  No Visa info available**
Montenegro c/o Cyprus High Commission 
5 Lexham Gardens 
London W8 5JJ		 Carnet/Yugosalav Insurance
from border post		 Fed Rep of Yugoslavia Visa Req'd
Pakistan 36 Lowndes Square 
London SW1X 9JN		 Carnet Visa available at consulate in Zahedan, Iran (1 hour)
Romania 4 Palace Green 
London W8 4QD		 Can still be a problem despite EU membership No visa
Serbia We strongly recommend you not to travel to Yugoslavia Carnet/Yugoslav Insurance
from border post ($100+)		 Visa before travel
Slovinia No Carnet No Visa
Syria 8 Belgrave Square 
London SW1X 8PH		 Carnet Visa before travelling
Turkey Rutland Lodge 
Rutland Gardens 
London SW7 1 BW		 No Carnet Visa at border no problem
* CDP = Carnet de Passage de Douane.
In effect a document ensuring you pay import duty if you sell your vehicle in a country you are visiting.  It is obtainable from the AA or from your national motoring organisation.  It will require a financial deposit/guarantee of about twice, or possibly four times the original purchase price of your vehicle, which will be returned to you after you return with the vehicle and the completed documents, to your home country.  The vehicle will have to be produced to a Customs officer, who will check the chassis number etc.

It is possible to purchase an insurance policy to cover such an amount. Contact  Cambell Irvine Ltd  of London.  I believe they are in Earls Court Road.  However, when we tried, we were told by them that they could give us a reply in 24 hours. We were not actually given a decision by them as to wether or not they could cover the risk for us, until five days before we were due to leave.  They took ten days to give us a refusal!  We then had the problem of rushing around to find an alternative.  Try them if you wish, but we were unimpressed.  They are the insurance company used by the AA.  So your alternative is to come up with the cash deposit!

You will find the Dutch ANWB  much less demanding than the AA, in terms of a cash deposit, and more helpful in the event of a problem whilst travelling.  You don't have to be an ANWB member to obtain the Carnet de Passage from them.

The German ADAC organisation is probably the cheapest.  Again, you don't have to be either a German citizen, or one of their members.

The refund of the deposit, plus interest  by the way, is a really good way of putting something by for your return!
.

Kosovo is being run by the UN, and only a passport is required.

Due to George Bush's "war on terror", the situation in Iraq and US threats of military action over the Iranian Nuclear program, foreigners are once more viewed with suspicion in Iran and are likely to be frequently stopped and questioned by the police.   The Iranian secret service, identifiable by their black leather jackets and dark glasses (honest!) will often be loitering around you & your vehicle.  Visa's, we are told, are once more difficult to get in Europe.   We advise applying in Turkey if you are refused.

Iranian Embassy
Tahran cd. 10
Kavaklidere
Ankara

Telephone: + 90 312 4274320  and + 90 312 4274324

Fax: + 90 312 4682823

Please Note: Possession of a GPS (undeniably a U.S. Military application!) and a camera are sufficient to get a conviction for spying in Iran (and some other countries), if you are found within sight of a 'restricted' or military area.  This often includes border posts.

Summary of problems...

Albania.     Armed criminals (often organised syndicates) abound.  Foreigners are considered fair targets.
Bulgaria.  Criminals posing as policemen demanding money.  Policemen posing as criminals demanding money.
Romania.   As above.
Serbia.       Police consider ordinary people as subservient to them.  Treat foreigners with suspicion; tend to bully everyone.  Insurance is expensive & has to be purchased at the border before entry is granted.  ($210 for our truck!)

We recommend you have an International Driving Permit, (available from your local motoring organisation) and an insurance Green Card.
You will also require the registration document of your vehicle.   Make sure it is in the name of someone traveling with the vehicle (preferably the driver). An International Vehicle Identity Document (translation) is also advisable.  Not all border guards read English!  Available from AA or your national automobile agency.

We advise you to consult your own government for more detailed information.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth web site can be accessed from our 'Links' page.