Travelling has its ups and downs. Getting your visas is definitely one of the downs. Get that stack of photos ready and blocks of passport copies and don't go home without a visa. Insist, insist and insist until they bend. I will be updating this page constanly. Check back often. Last updated: 04-08-05.

Iran - I got my Iranian visa from iranianvisa.com. After paying the 28 euro fee, I received a confirmation number within less than 3 days. I took this number to the embassy in Istanbul and picked up my visa the next day. No hassles or stupid requirements was needed. Two photos, forms to fill out and bank payment receipt. The embassy charged me another 50 euro to give me a 20 day visa. You get three months to enter the country to use your visa. Fee total was: 78 Euro.

Uzbekistan - After getting a LOI (Letter of Invitation) from a travel company (stantours.com) that took 8 days to process, I went to the embassy in Tehran and got a visa within the hour. Two photos, form and $80 USD. The LOI costed me $30 and the visa time granted was only 14 days. The date you put on the LOI is the date you must be in the country. This embassy may not open business day. Check before you leave. Fee total was $110.

Turkmenistan - I applied for a transit visa. Tourist visa is very dificult to get nowadays and requires you to hire a touring company to follow you along. $$$. Go to the embassy in Tehran, give the receptionist a copy of your passport (first page) and a copy of the visa for the next country. Come back in 7-10 days. Give them your passport, two photos, two forms, two copies of your passport and two copies of the visa for the next country and pick up the passport the following day. If you get lucky and meet the right guy, he might be able to do it same day at no extra charge. Same day meaning after the 7-10 day wait.
No rush service available here as opposed to Ankara that can be done in one day. Be prepared to push and elbow your way to the counter. There is no queue concept in Iran and the place will be full of those nasty people that apply for 30 truck drivers at once. Open from 9:30 to 11:00am except on Fridays. Fee was $31 USD.

China - Fill out a form at the Tehran embassy, two photos and pay the rush fee service for double entry visa. Pick up in the afternoon, same day. They might need an introduction letter from your embassy. If you don't have an embassy in Tehran, you are out of luck. Regular service single entry is $65. Open on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The embassy is way up north. Give them a call at 2812500 or http://ir.chineseembassy.org. Fee was $85 for express double entry visa.

Pakistan - This was the most painful visa of all so far. I arrived at the embassy at nine and got out of there at 1pm. The protocol is the following. They need an introduction letter from your embassy. The Brazilian embassy in Tehran can give you one for free and on the spot. Then, the receptionist rejects and tells you no 10 times in a row. If you are persistent and make it through the process, they will have you write a letter to the Ambassador. I wrote down that I wanted to learn cricked among other reasons. You then fill out a form that they will make you fill out meticulously including your email and phone of all hotels that you are staying in Tehran and in Pakistan, purpose of the trip and all that good stuff. At 11, the ambassador interviews you (assuming you made that far), he will talk about terrorism and stuff and you just sit and wait. He will let you go and you can pick up your visa the following day. Maybe in the morning or afternoon. Pakistani Embassy is open everyday except Thursdays and Fridays. It's located around Dr. Fatemi and Kasgar St. Ph. 66944890. Moto taxi from Iman Khomeini sq might cost you 10,000 rials. Fee was $26 USD.

Kyrgyzstan - Also north of Tehran but really close to the Chinese embassy on Narejestan Alley 5th, Bldg 12 right around a gas station on Pasdaran St. Take metro to Mirdamad and Bus to Nobodiah, ask around when you get there. Got there and got to meet the consul when he showed up for work. He took care of me right away when I showed him the letter from my embassy. One photo, form and copy of passport. I did not need an LOI. Moto taxi from Iman Khomeini sq might cost you 25,000 rials but negociate. The fees vary a lot based on time of stay and time of delivery. I paid a 3 day service fee of $75 for a 14 day visa.

India - I received my Indian visa in Islamabad and there was no express service available. It took 7 days and costed me $55 USD. The embassy is located in the diplomatic enclave and no one is alowed inside without going through the proper gate where you take a bus that drops you off to all embassies around. Many people were there and there was no foreign line so be prepared to wait. I only waited about 3 hours.

Cambodia - I received my visa from a travel company that set me up. They stopped at their visa facility instead of dropping me and the other tourists at the border. We ended up paying $25 when at the border of Thailand you get it for $20. Good for a month I think.

Australia - I got my Australian visa in Kuala Lumpur and since they said it would take up to 10 days, I sent my documents by mail from up north. It ended up taking only two days. It costed me $70 USD. The embassy did not have too many people and I was out of there within 10 minutes. Good for multiple travel up to three months each.

Brazilian citizens did not need a visa for all other countries I visited except the ones mentioned above.