Do I need a visa for TURKMENISTAN?

The visa policy of Turkmenistan is among the most restrictive in the world. Citizens of all countries (except Uzbekistan in certain cases) require a visa to enter Turkmenistan unless they hold special passports. To obtain a tourist visa, all foreign citizens must supply an invitation letter issued by a travel agency licensed in Turkmenistan.

Holders of a letter of invitation issued by a company registered in Turkmenistan with prior approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may obtain a visa on arrival valid for 10 days, extendable for another 10 days.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedow signed a decree on 18 April 2025 to introduce electronic visas and abolish the invitation letter requirement. Details on types, validity, and issuance are yet to be announced.

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2. Visa Exemptions

2.1 United Nations Laissez-Passer

From 2023, foreign citizens with UN passports are allowed up to 30 calendar days without a visa. Foreign citizens who are employees of the UN or its specialized agencies accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and members of their families, are exempt from visa issuance during their period of work in Turkmenistan.

2.2 Uzbekistan — Border Trade Zone

From November 2025, citizens of Uzbekistan can visit the Shavat-Dashoguz Border Trade Zone without a visa.

3. Non-Ordinary Passports

Holders of diplomatic, official, and service passports of the following countries do not require a visa for up to 30 days (unless otherwise stated):

Diplomatic/Official/Service Passports — Visa-Free (30 days) • Armenia • Azerbaijan • Belarus • Bulgaria • China • Georgia • Hungary • Iran • Japan (90 days) • Kazakhstan • Kyrgyzstan • Malaysia • Moldova • Mongolia • Romania • Russia • Singapore • Slovakia • South Korea • Switzerland • Tajikistan • Turkey • Ukraine • United Arab Emirates

Holders of diplomatic passports of Estonia, India, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan also do not require a visa.

Holders of diplomatic passports of Canada and the United States may obtain a free visa on arrival.

4. Special Permit Requirement

A special permit, issued prior to arrival by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is required if visiting any of the following locations:

Kerki
Hazar
Dashoguz
Serakhs
Serhetabat

5. Admission Restrictions

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

Abkhazia
Northern Cyprus
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Somaliland
South Ossetia
Transnistria

6. Airport Transit

Passengers transiting through Ashgabat International Airport do not require a visa.

7. Visitor Statistics

Turkmenistan is among the least-visited countries in the world. The number of visitors declined drastically after isolationist policies from 2000 onwards. From 2014 onwards there was a recovery to over 110,000 annual visitors.