How to Get a Visa for Turkmenistan — A Step-by-Step Guide for CIS Citizens

Turkmenistan's largest cities include Ashgabat, Turkmenabat, Dashoguz, Balkanabat, Turkmenbashi, and Mary. The official language is Turkmen.

The capital, Ashgabat, is often referred to as the "white city" due to its extensive marble architecture. The country is home to several remarkable natural attractions, including the Darvaza Gas Crater in the Karakum Desert, the Kov Ata cave with its underground thermal lake, the Dinosaur Plateau and Yangykala Canyon. Turkmenistan is also home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the ancient cities of Nisa, Kunya Urgench, and Merv.

Citizens of virtually all countries require a visa to enter Turkmenistan unless they hold diplomatic passports or belong to specific border regions of Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan covered by special agreements.

Visa-free entry is generally available only to holders of diplomatic passports from several countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan.

Ordinary citizens of CIS countries must obtain a visa. While approval is never guaranteed, rejection rates have declined significantly over the past decade, making travel to Turkmenistan more accessible than before.

A tourist visa is intended for travelers visiting the country for sightseeing and cultural tourism. To obtain one, applicants must first secure visa support in the form of a Letter of Invitation issued by a licensed Turkmen tour operator. A single-entry tourist visa allows stays of up to 60 days, provided that the tour operator submits a detailed itinerary covering the entire period.

In addition to tourist and transit visas, Turkmenistan also issues student, private, medical, and driver visas.

The most important document for a tourist visa application is visa support, commonly known as the Letter of Invitation — LOI. Only licensed Turkmen travel agencies can issue these invitations. The agency submits the application to the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, which typically reviews it within two to four weeks. Applications are either approved or rejected without explanation.

Documents for visa support should generally be submitted no later than four weeks before arrival and no earlier than three months before the planned trip. The cost of visa support is usually included in the tour package price.

The standard tourist visa application package includes:

— a passport valid for at least six months from the date of application and containing at least one blank page.

— two completed visa application forms in Russian, the form will be on the embassy's website.

— copies of all pages of the domestic passport containing stamps or entries.

— two color passport photos measuring 3×4 cm on a light background, without head coverings or glasses.

— an employment certificate stating position and salary, or a bank statement for unemployed applicants.

— a tourist voucher or official visa support letter from a licensed Turkmen tour operator.

All copies should be submitted in color on A4 paper. Children of any age must travel on their own passport.

Applications may be submitted personally or through an authorized representative holding a notarized power of attorney at the Turkmen embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of residence. Appointments are typically booked through the embassy's official website.

Once visa support has been approved, travelers may obtain their visa:

— at a Turkmen embassy or consulate.

— on arrival at Ashgabat International Airport.

— at selected land border crossings, including "Farab" Bukhara, Uzbekistan; "Shavat" Khiva, Uzbekistan; "Gaudan" and "Serakhs" Iran; "Garabogaz" near Aktau, Kazakhstan.

Visa-on-arrival fees range from $130 to $159. Applying through an embassy is usually cheaper: standard processing takes about one month and costs $45, expedited processing takes 10 business days and costs $75, and urgent processing takes one to two business days at a cost comparable to visa-on-arrival fees. Children under seven pay $15 regardless of processing time, and applicants aged seven to 16 receive a 50 percent discount.

As of April 2026, foreign tourists are no longer required to register with local authorities after entering Turkmenistan.

Visitors are generally required to stay in the hotel specified during the visa application process throughout their trip.

Travel outside major cities and visits to border zones typically require accompaniment by a licensed guide.

Visa approval rates tend to be higher for groups of four or five travelers who book organized tours of at least three days with hotel accommodation. Solo travelers are more likely to face rejection.

Extending a tourist visa inside Turkmenistan is extremely difficult.

The country often limits tourist access during major national holidays, and visa refusals are more common during these periods.

For stays exceeding three months, travelers must provide proof of an HIV-negative test.

The following companies arrange visa support only as part of a booked tour package.

An Ashgabat-based tour operator with more than 28 years of experience. Services include tours, visas, guides, transfers, and accommodation throughout Turkmenistan.

A Central Asia specialist with an office in Tashkent. The company offers hotel bookings, transportation, guides, translators, and visa support for Turkmenistan.

A travel club organizing tours such as "Mysterious Turkmenistan" and "Mysteries of the Ancient East", combining Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan itineraries.

All Turkmen embassies operate through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs platform tmembassy.gov.tm, where visa application forms and consular information are available.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan: mfa.gov.tm.

State Migration Service of Turkmenistan — the agency responsible for reviewing visa support applications and maintaining the official list of licensed tour operators: migration.gov.tm.

Directory of Turkmen Embassies and Consulates Abroad: tmembassy.gov.tm.

The Embassy in Astana: kazakhstan.tmembassy.gov.tm/ru/consular-services/oformlenie-vizy.

The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Astana accepts applications through offices in Astana, Almaty, and the consular office in Aktau. The embassy website also provides access to the official list of licensed tour operators approved by the State Migration Service.

Embassy in Dushanbe: tajikistan.tmembassy.gov.tm

There is no dedicated visa section on the embassy’s website. Applicants should contact the consular department directly or apply through the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan.

Embassy in Baku: azerbaijan.tmembassy.gov.tm

There is no dedicated visa section on the embassy’s website. Applicants should contact the consular department directly for visa-related inquiries.