Turkmenistan e-visa: what is confirmed, checked on
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UK government advice: You must have a visa to visit Turkmenistan.
UK government advice: On 1 October 2026 Turkmenistan introduced an electronic (e-visa) system for tourists …
UK government advice: You cannot apply for one of these visas directly. Your tour agency or event organiser will continue to act as a sponsor.
A Turkmen official source has not yet stated who applies; the UK government says a sponsor is required.
Who needs a visa
UK government advice: You must have a visa to visit Turkmenistan.
Who applies
UK government advice: You cannot apply for one of these visas directly. Your tour agency or event organiser will continue to act as a sponsor.
In order to request a tourist visa, applicants are kindly requested to contact a travel agency in the UK or Turkmenistan (list to be downloaded at the website).
Your agency acts as your sponsor; ask it which documents it needs from you.
What you need
- your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Turkmenistan.
- Passport biographical page scan (valid ≥ 6 months from entry date)
UK government advice: You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Government of Ireland advice: Passport cards cannot be used.
reported as “Travel documents must, at the time of entry, still be valid for at least six months beyond the requested stay and have at least two blank pages.” by Turkmenistan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise
The steps
- Choose a listed agency and message it.
- Ask it which documents it needs from you.
- However, when the visa is approved and paid for through your sponsor, you will receive an e-visa that can be printed off or presented electronically on arrival.
- The Turkmen authorities recommend carrying a paper printout of the visa.
Fees and processing time
reported as “Processing times (working days): Regular — 7 days; Urgent — 3 days; Super Urgent — 24 hours” by State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, e-visa portal, "Before You Apply"
reported as “The fee is calculated during the application process and depends on the application parameters. All fees are quoted in USD (United States Dollars)” by State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, e-visa portal, "Fee and Payments"
No official source we read covers this; ask your agency.
At the border
Official sources state different arrival fees; both are shown with their dates.
- On arrival, you must pay a migration fee of 14 US dollars. All foreign visitors must also pay a ‘tourism tax’ of 2 US dollars for each day of their stay in Turkmenistan. Hotels include the tax as a separate item on your bill. You may be charged additional taxes on entry. Bring enough cash (US dollars) to cover unexpected charges.
- All foreigners entering Turkmenistan must register at the border on entry. The consular fee is 25 USD. On top of this there is a registration fee of about 15 USD, payable in TMT. Foreign tourists and visitors must pay a tourism fee of 2 USD per night in addition to the cost of their accommodation.
- All travellers entering Turkmenistan must undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, which costs 31 US dollars cash. Confirm the latest requirements with your Turkmen sponsor.
- While Turkmenistan doesn't require COVID-19 vaccination, all travellers arriving by air must undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, which costs about 31 US dollars, to be paid in cash.
After arrival
UK government advice: If you're staying in the country for more than 3 working days, you must register with the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan within 3 days of your arrival. Your hotel or sponsor will usually register you.
Registration on arrival, in detail
UK government advice: If you have the wrong visa or if you overstay your visa, you could be prosecuted and possibly imprisoned.
What we could not confirm
Who applies: no Turkmen official statement found yet; the UK government says a tour agency acts as sponsor.
The official e-visa portal could not be read without a browser.
Whether e-visa holders must be accompanied by a guide.
No official source we read covers this; ask your agency.
Not every official source names the sponsor step.
- You cannot apply for one of these visas directly. Your tour agency or event organiser will continue to act as a sponsor.
- Turkmenistan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise, : this source describes it differently; its words are not repeated here. Ask your agency.
Whether a visa on arrival exists: official sources differ.
- There is no visa on arrival
- Turkmenistan travel advice, : this source describes it differently; its words are not repeated here. Ask your agency.
- МИД России, Консульский департамент: «Туркменистан — Информация о стране», : this source describes it differently; its words are not repeated here. Ask your agency.
Official advice: UK government (FCDO), updated · Government of Canada, updated · Ireland (DFA), updated — checked by us on .
Sources
- Turkmenistan travel advice ()
- Embassy of Turkmenistan in the UK, Visa-info ()
- State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, e-visa portal, tab "Tourist" (e-TU) ()
- Ireland DFA, Turkmenistan travel advice ()
- Turkmenistan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise ()
- МИД России, Консульский департамент: «Туркменистан — Информация о стране» ()