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EDIT July, 2009 If you’re looking for the embassy make sure to read the comments on this post for other reader’s tips. Here’s a first-hand account from June 29, 2009 from Wendy:
The prices I was quoted were 455RMB for processing in five business days (meaning if you hand it in on Monday then you pick it up the next Monday) or 735RMB for 3 business days. They don?t give receipts, which is a bit scary, but so far all has gone well.
You?ll need a photo, a photocopy of your passport (you can get one at the Central Asian hotel), and they?ll give you a blank piece of paper to write your story of why you want to come to Kyrgyzstan. The entrance to the consulate is just to the left of the main entrance of the hotel (there is a small metal sign).
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I had a hard time figuring out where the consulate to The Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) was located in Urumqi since no maps or guides include it. Here’s some information to consider if you’re looking for it’s new location at The Central Asia Hotel (no longer next to the Kazak consulate).
Because I had such a hard time, based on information from message boards, I took a taxi from the railway station to the Hua Ling Binguan, which most drivers should know, for 13 yuan. It’s a fancy, large hotel Northwest of Hongshan Park. I went inside and asked at the front desk where the Kyrgyz Consulate was and the woman took me outside and pointed me in the right direction. It’s located in The Central Asian hotel, a 6- ish story mustard yellow building at the crossroads of the two large highways. Because it’s basically on the highway frontage roads it seems hard to get to but you can follow the main road South from the hotel, keeping on the hotel-side of the street, and follow the frontage road that wraps around until it reaches the hotel. The road is small and filled with welders and shops selling tubing and sheet metal.
Alternately, you could take the 109 bus. I can not advise on any of the other buses, because I didn’t ride them and the routes aren’t evident on maps. From the train station I took the #2 until it’s running North and the stops match up with the #109. I switched and the bus heads North and turns quite a bit before getting on the expressway. When it turns East to head onto the expressway you can see the consulate behind you. The bus turns back and exits the roundabout onto the frontage road right in front of The Central Asian Hotel. There is no bus stop here and I’m not sure if buses will stop if you ask. The bus turns into a small bus depot where it ends and you can get off. From here you need to go out, turn left and hike 5-10 minutes back to reach the consulate.
I was told that the consulate is open Monday through Friday from 11:30–1:30 (Beijing time) for applications with pickup at 1pm. A 3-day turnaround costs $112 and 5-day turnaround costs $56. Weekend days don’t count, however, when I applied on a Thursday he told me he would give me the visa on Friday if I paid the higher fee. Because I only paid $56 (in RMB) I had to wait the whole weekend and the full 5 business days.
Please note any changes or information you might have that would help in the comments.
10 responses to “Kyrgyz Consulate Revealed!”
very descriptive, thank you very much for helping me out and i will for sure print this page off for reference! theres even pictures!! haha thanks!
Thanks a lot! I was wondering if you have the Kyrgyz consulate’s phone number?
kirk
Sorry, I don’t have the number. You can try searching on Lonely Planet’s thorntree http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com
I remember them speaking a little English but not much so it might be difficult to communicate over the phone.
Are you sure that it was the consulate and not a travel agency acting as a proxy??? They claim to be the consulate and ask you to book tours, and meanwhile, they handle your visa issue. Is that possible???
No, it was not a travel agency. Are you having trouble finding it or something? I was there in August of 2006 so that’s how recent my information is.
I was there just last Monday picking up my expedited visa (952rmb), I found it really easily too (thanks megan!) and it is a full on consulate. It is very clean, has modern cabinetry, walnut wood floors with modern black leather couches and a window the agents sit behind with chrome bars acting as landes for lining up. The hotel it’s in looks quite drab from a distance but when you get up close it’s actually pretty new and is seemingly upmarket.
It was a supremely nice consulate and they were very efficient (I was worried when I didn’t get a receipt on Friday but when I showed up on Monday the guy waved me over and even remembered to give me the 50rmb change he owed me). More guidebooks need this info because this is a fully functional consular visa section and they have their s**t together.
btw, congrats on 1 year living out of a bag! I’m at 362 days myself but only 18 countries to your 21… slow down!
Josh,
Good to hear my info’s still relevant. As for country count, well, I think on this recent one year it’s only been 12 (not including Tibet). Overall though, I’m around 46. I rushed around Europe in the 90’s and did smaller trips around Scandanavia, Turkey, Greece and Peru before my first RTW.
Thanks so much for this! My husband and I just applied for our visas at the consulate today (June 29,2009) and never would have found it without this info.
FYI, the prices I was quoted were 455RMB for processing in five business days (meaning if you hand it in on Monday then you pick it up the next Monday) or 735RMB for 3 business days. They don’t give receipts, which is a bit scary, but so far all has gone well.
You’ll need a photo, a photocopy of your passport (you can get one at the Central Asian hotel), and they’ll give you a blank piece of paper to write your story of why you want to come to Kyrgyzstan. The entrance to the consulate is just to the left of the main entrance of the hotel (there is a small metal sign).
BTW, trying to get hail a taxi from this area was a pain in the a**! We ended up taking a random bus just to get somewhere else, and then hailed a taxi from there.
Wendy,
Thanks for the update, that’s totally invaluable! I get a lot of people coming by this post so I really appreciate the update. It is in a really weird location and I also remember having to go to the main road to get a taxi. Actually, I think I took the bus back (I was pretty confidant in Urumqi buses by that point and even transferred with no problem!) and you can pick up the bus along the main road closer to the fancy pink hotel I mention in the post.
I hope you’re enjoying Kyrgyzstan!