Arrival in Turkmenistan

Entry requirements depend on the purpose, border crossing and length of the stay. A conventional visa application normally requires a valid passport and an invitation, sometimes called an invitation letter, from a sponsor, authorized tour agency or host organization. The sponsor or host submits the invitation through a Turkmenistan embassy or consulate, and the decision can take up to one month. Visa on arrival is available only in limited situations, including Ashgabat International Airport and some land borders, and normally requires an invitation letter. Land-border conditions can change at short notice, so the intended crossing should be confirmed before departure. A 2025 legal framework also provides for an e-Visa applied for through the State Migration Service information system without an invitation. The available categories, procedure, fees and practical rollout are not fully published, so travellers should confirm eligibility and the current application process with the State Migration Service or a Turkmen diplomatic mission. The conventional invitation route remains described in current consular guidance. Transit visas TR1 and TR2 allow a maximum of five days, with the itinerary and border crossings fixed in advance. Visa fees depend on the visa type and duration. A single-entry visa costs USD 20 for up to 10 days, USD 30 for up to 20 days, USD 40 for up to one month and USD 30 for each additional month. A multiple-entry visa costs USD 60 for up to one month and USD 40 for each additional month. A single transit visa for up to five days costs USD 20; a double transit visa for up to five days costs USD 40. An Ashgabat visa surcharge of USD 50, actual service costs and possible bilateral exceptions can apply. Standard processing is listed as 10 calendar days. Urgent processing can take up to three working days and adds 100 percent to the fee. Entry can also involve a USD 14 migration fee and a tourism tax of USD 2 per day. Current travel-advice information has listed a USD 31 SARS-CoV-2 test on arrival; confirm whether this charge and testing requirement still apply before travel. Keep printed and offline copies of the passport, visa or e-Visa, invitation, insurance certificate, prescription documents and any customs declaration because internet and mobile services can be restricted. For a stay of more than three working days, registration with the State Migration Service is normally required within three working days, excluding the day of entry. The registration records the place of stay or place of residence. A hotel, sponsor or other host usually submits the application using the passport, two passport photographs and written confirmation of the accommodation. Tourists and transit travellers staying for no more than five calendar days are generally recorded electronically at the border migration post. Keep the registration proof and check that the recorded address is correct. A move to another accommodation requires new registration, and registration can be extended only after the visa or residence permission has been extended. The host also has duties to complete registration on time, retain the relevant stay documents and arrange departure registration where required. Departure should use the registered border or migration post. Travellers must carry their passport or other identity document and present it to authorities when requested. Foreign nationals may travel only in areas open to them. Border regions, the Caspian coast and other closed zones require permission from the State Migration Service. A visa or registration breach can lead to prosecution, detention or removal from Turkmenistan. Some current travel guidance recommends registering the planned departure with the State Migration Service one day in advance. Customs declarations require careful preparation. Imported cash has no stated limit when it is declared. Exported cash is generally limited to USD 10,000 or money previously declared on entry. Hand luggage up to 60 kilograms, including up to one kilogram of jewellery, is duty-free; amounts above the allowance may incur charges of USD 10 per kilogram or USD 0.20 per gram, depending on the item and applicable assessment. The stated personal allowances include one litre of alcohol and two packets of tobacco. Use the red channel for goods that require declaration. Prescription medicines should be accompanied by a copy of the prescription. Radio and wireless equipment, weapons, cultural or archaeological objects and other controlled goods may require prior permission or may be prohibited. The official currency is the Turkmen manat, or TMT. Card acceptance and international ATMs are limited, and an ATM may charge about three percent. Exchange USD or EUR through an authorized bank or exchange office; black-market exchange is illegal. Clean, new US dollar notes are more likely to be accepted, while old or damaged USD 100 notes may be refused. TMT cannot normally be exchanged back into foreign currency, so convert money in stages rather than exchanging the entire budget at once. Medical care is limited and generally weaker outside Ashgabat. There is no reciprocal health-insurance agreement, so travel insurance covering medical evacuation and sufficient accessible funds are advisable. Ambulance numbers are 03 from a landline and 003 from a mobile phone; police are 02 or 002, fire services are 01 or 001, and the general emergency number is 112. Tap water should not be assumed to be safe, so use bottled or boiled water. Carry medicines with prescription copies, and check controlled-medicine rules in advance because narcotic medicines and strong painkillers can create criminal-law risks.