Visa policy of Turkmenistan

Policy on permits required to enter Turkmenistan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The visa policy of Turkmenistan is among the most restrictive of any country in the world. Citizens of all countries (except Uzbekistan in certain cases) require a visa to enter Turkmenistan unless they have special passports. To obtain a tourist visa for Turkmenistan, all foreign citizens must supply an invitation letter issued by a travel agency licensed in Turkmenistan.[1] Holders of a letter of invitation issued by a company registered in Turkmenistan with a prior approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may obtain a visa on arrival valid for 10 days, and extendable for another 10 days.[2]

There are plans to introduce electronic visas and abolish the requirement of a letter of invitation. With the goal of allowing smoother business visits and boosting foreign tourism, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow signed a decree on 18 April 2025 that will introduce these changes. The types of electronic visas that will be available, how they will be issued, and how long they will be valid for have yet to be decided.[3][4][5]

Citizens of all countries have the right of visa-free transit through the international transfer area of Ashgabat International Airport.[6]

Visa exemption

  • United Nations United Nations Laissez-Passer — from 2023, foreign citizens with UN passports were allowed up to 30 calendar days from the date of arrival in Turkmenistan without a visa to come to Turkmenistan, stay in it, travel outside it, cross the border, and cross the territory in transit the territory of Turkmenistan. Foreign citizens who are employees of the United Nations or its specialized agencies accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, as well as members of their families, were exempt from visa issuance during the period of work in Turkmenistan.[7][8][9]
  • Uzbekistan Uzbekistan — from November 2025 citizens of Uzbekistan can visit the Shavat-Dashoguz Border Trade Zone without a visa for up to 15 days.[10][11][12][13]

Non-ordinary passports

  Turkmenistan
  Visa not required for holders of diplomatic and service passports
  Visa not required for holders of diplomatic passports
  Visa on arrival for holders of diplomatic passports
  Visa required for holders of diplomatic and service passports
Visa required for ordinary passports of all foreign countries

Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Japan (90 days), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Malaysia,[14] Romania, Russia, Switzerland,[15] Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and holders of diplomatic passports of Estonia, India, Pakistan and Uzbekistan do not require a visa to visit Turkmenistan for up to 30 days (unless otherwise stated).[2] Holders of diplomatic passports of Canada and the United States may obtain a free visa on arrival.[2]

Special permit

A special permit, issued prior to arrival by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is required if visiting the following places: Kerki, Hazar, Dashoguz, Serakhs and Serhetabat.[16]

Admission restrictions

Entry and transit is refused to holders of passports of the following jurisdictions, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight:

Visitor statistics

Ashgabat International Airport

Turkmenistan is among the least visited countries in the world. Very few foreigners are granted a Turkmenistani visa. After gaining its independence in 1991, Turkmenistan was a slightly more open country than it is now. For example, 300,000 foreigners visited the country in 1998. Between 2000 and 2013, however, the number of visas issued decreased significantly, due to isolationist policies and a totalitarian regime.[17]

More information Year, Visitors ...
YearVisitors
1992—1994
No data
1995
Increase 218,000[18]
1996
Decrease 217,000[18]
1997
Increase 257,000[18]
1998
Increase 300,000[18]
1999
No data
2000
Decrease 3,256[19]
2001
Increase 5,200[18]
2002
Increase 10,800[18]
2003
Decrease 8,200[18]
2004
Increase 14,800[18]
2005
Decrease 11,600[18]
2006
Decrease 5,600[18]
2007
Increase 8,177[19]
2008
Increase 9,777[19]
2009
Decrease 7,628[19]
2010
Increase 9,631[19]
2011
Decrease 8,687[19]
2012—2013
No data
2014
Increase More 110,000[20]
2015
Increase More 110,000[20]
2016
Increase More 130,000[20]
2017
Increase More 130,000[20]
2018
Increase More 130,000[20]
Total (1995-1998, 2000-2011 and 2014-2018)More 1,700,000[20]
Close
More information Country ...
Country201820172016201520142011[19]2010[19]2009[19]2008[19]2007[19]2000[19]
UzbekistanIncrease 108,288[21]Increase 105,269[22]Increase 98,176[23]Increase 96,604[24]77,387[25]No dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo data
IranNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataIncrease 3,874Increase 3,397Increase 2,391Increase 2,3552,133122
GermanyNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataDecrease 1,143Decrease 1,277Decrease 1,392Increase 1,5761,338270
United StatesNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataDecrease 531Increase 660Decrease 535Increase 663566430
ItalyNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataDecrease 277Decrease 392Decrease 412Decrease 595600340
JapanNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataDecrease 253Increase 388Decrease 344Decrease 508537282
NetherlandsNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataIncrease 245Decrease 238Decrease 296Increase 43916095
FranceNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataDecrease 212Decrease 230Increase 315Decrease 232682650
OtherNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataDecrease 2,080Increase 2,799Decrease 1,803Increase 3,3132,081999
TotalNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataDecrease 8,697Increase 9,631Decrease 7,628Increase 9,7778,1773,256
Close

Citizens of the Russian Federation

More information Country ...
Country2021[26]2020[26]2019[26]2018[26]2017[26]2016[26]2015[26]2014[26]2013[26]2012[26]2011[26]2010[26]
RussiaDecrease 6,096Decrease 11,322Increase 30,504Increase 28,127Decrease 27,490Increase 29,047Decrease 28,470Decrease 29,530Decrease 34,494Decrease 36,387Decrease 42,66445,052
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Transit

Passengers transiting through Aşgabat International Airport do not require a visa for direct airside transit only within 24 hours.[27][28]

See also

Wikivoyage logo
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Turkmenistan.

References

Links

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