Turkmenistan moves to e-Visas from 1 October 2026

Since 1 October 2026 Turkmenistan accepts new visa applications only through the e-Visa system of the State Migration Service. Tourists no longer need a letter of invitation, and the visa now comes as a digital document.

How we apply for you

We file the application on your behalf through our partner in Turkmenistan. You send us the application details, a colour scan of your passport and a digital photo. You pay nothing to the visa service yourself: we pay the visa fee and add it to your tour invoice.

Standard processing with us takes up to 10 working days, and urgent processing up to 5. Send the documents as early as you can.

Once we have submitted your e-Visa application, cancelling the trip incurs a cancellation fee covering the visa costs. We tell you the amount before we submit the application.

Passport scan and photo

Scan the passport on a proper scanner, because phone photos are not accepted. The whole spread has to be visible, the data page together with the page above it, with no edges cut off.

The photo needs to meet these rules:

• taken within the last 6 months;
• a plain white background without shadows;
• full face, filling 70–80% of the frame;
• a neutral expression with eyes open;
• no headwear, tinted glasses or heavy frames;
• at least 600 DPI, with no filters or retouching.

At the border

The e-Visa reaches you digitally. At the border it is enough to show it on your phone or tablet: the officer scans the QR code and stamps your passport. You may print it as well, though you do not have to. The decision on each visa rests with the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan.

Our Turkmenistan tours

Our Merv, Darvaza and Khiva tour starts in Ashgabat and, after a night by the Darvaza crater, crosses the land border into Khiva. The 23-day Silk Road tour takes in Turkmenistan as one of five countries. All routes are in Turkmenistan tours. Send us your dates, and we will start on the visa as soon as the trip is confirmed.