Visa to Turkmenistan

With all the territorial and historical proximity to our vast country, Turkmenistan is surprising and, admittedly, annoyingly strict in matters of visa policy. Russian citizens need a visa to visit the country, which can be obtained either directly at the border or in advance at the embassy in Moscow. Consular fees for urgency among Turkmens are among the highest in the world. Otherwise, the package of documents is standard, the “reserve” of the passport is 6 months, an invitation or a voucher is required. In addition, it is worth taking out a medical insurance policy for the entire duration of the trip. Let it be better not to be useful than to be left without qualified assistance in case of an accident. According to populationmonster, Ashgabat is one of the largest cities in Turkmenistan.

Tourist visa to Turkmenistan: general information

Do they give multivisa?	give at least a month
Term of receipt	about 10 working days
Validity limit	more than 6 months from the end of the trip

• The cost of a regular visa: 35$

• Express Visa: 120$

• Visa fees: 15$

Do Russians need a visa to Turkmenistan

Without a visa, Russians cannot get to Turkmenistan even in emergency cases (death of close relatives) and when using the local airport as a transfer point. Fortunately, our compatriots do not have to receive a “pass to the country” through the consulate. If the duration of the trip does not exceed 10 days, you can apply for a visa directly at the airport in Ashgabat. To obtain a “fast” visa at the airport, you need a passport and a number of documents (list below). The fee in this case will be 62 USD. The prices on the page are for October 2022.

If the trip lasts more than 10 days, Russians should apply for a full package of documents for a standard tourist visa.

Types of visas

• express visa (at the border): issued at the Ashgabat airport upon arrival in Turkmenistan. It can be used as a transit (a tourist makes a transfer in the country) or a tourist (if the period of stay in Turkmenistan does not exceed 10 days);
• tourist visa: can be single and multiple with different validity periods, issued for a period of 10 days, issued through the consular department of the Embassy of Turkmenistan;
• visa for treatment: it differs from a tourist visa only in a set of documents, it can also be single and multiple;
• visitor visa: needed if the purpose of the entrant is to visit parents or the graves of close relatives. Requires a special set of documents.

Applying for a visa yourself

Visas are issued only by the consular department of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Russia. Documents can be submitted in person or through a representative (dactyloscopy is not required). The representative must have a power of attorney to submit documents. Enrollment is required.

On the day of submission of documents, a consular fee is paid (the amount depends on the urgency of obtaining a visa and the period for which it is received) plus a fixed 15 USD “for the implementation of consular actions”. From children under 7 years old, they take only 15 USD for issuing a visa, from children 7-16 years old – half the amount that an adult would pay for a visa.

The consulate of Turkmenistan can issue a visa on the day of application (in this case, it is better to plan a trip to the institution in the early morning and prepare an additional payment). Non-urgent visas are issued within 10 working days.

Visa centers are ready to take on all the obligations for the formation and submission of a package of documents to the consulate. Their services will cost from 3000 RUB.

Applying for a visa at the border

To obtain a 10-day visa upon arrival at Ashgabat International Airport, you must provide:

• international passport;
• the original or a photocopy of an invitation from a legal or natural person, issued in the prescribed manner and agreed with the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan.

Visa processing fee at the border: 55 USD. Also, the tourist fills in and pays at the airport for a boarding card – an analogue of an immigration one (12 USD). If he does not have an open visa or the necessary documents to obtain a visa at the airport, he can be immediately deported to his homeland at his own expense.

Within 3 working days after arrival, it is obligatory to register a passport with the Department of Tourism and Sports of Turkmenistan. The visa can be extended on the spot by contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, paying an additional fee of 35 USD.

If a tourist does not have an open visa or the necessary documents to obtain a visa at the airport, he can be immediately deported to his homeland at his own expense.

Documents for a visa to Turkmenistan

Required documents for obtaining a visa to Turkmenistan:

1. Questionnaire

2 completed on the computer and printed questionnaires;

2. international passport

Valid for 6 months on the date of applying to the consulate, 2 photocopies of the page with personal data;

3. Photo

2 photos (see photo requirements below);

4. Insurance policy

Health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR, which can be obtained online;

5. Photocopy of the national passport

Photocopies of the pages of the internal passport with any marks;

6. Help from the place of work

Certificate from work with the prescribed position and salary (at least 400 USD);

7. For pensioners

Copy of pension certificate;

8. A voucher from a Turkmen travel company or an original invitation from an individual or legal entity

The travel company must have a license for the right to carry out tourism activities, the original invitation from an individual or legal entity must be issued according to the established model and certified by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan;

Those who travel to Turkmenistan for a period of more than 3 months must have a certificate of absence of HIV infection (not “older” than 1 month).

Traveling for treatment to the standard package, you must additionally attach an application for obtaining a visa, originals and copies of an invitation from a sanatorium, a referral and a sanatorium-resort card from a clinic at the place of residence. Those wishing to visit their parents must also submit an application, a personal sheet, a birth certificate or other document confirming kinship, a photocopy of the parents’ internal passport (all pages with marks), a marriage / divorce certificate. For those who go to the graves of relatives – also a copy of the relative’s death certificate and a certificate of burial (if available).

To apply for a visa for the purpose of leaving by telegram about the death of a close relative (urgent visa), they will require an application, a personal sheet, a completed application form, a copy of the passport (all pages with marks), a birth certificate of the person leaving, a copy of the internal passport of the deceased citizen of Turkmenistan (all pages with marks, the passport must be issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan).

Visa processing for children

The child must have their own passport. If the child travels at the invitation with parents or other relatives, he must be included in this invitation (a copy of the document is provided to the consulate). You will also need the original and a photocopy of the birth certificate, copies of the parents’ passports, copies of the certificate of marriage or divorce, the original consent to leave the child from the second parent if the child is traveling with only one of the parents, and the original consent from both parents if he is traveling with third parties, 2 color photos 3 x 4 cm.

Photo Requirements

The Embassy of Turkmenistan does not impose strict requirements for a photo for a visa. The only thing that is clearly indicated is the size (3 x 4 cm) and that the pictures must be in color. Otherwise, it is better to follow the general rules: matte paper, full-face shot, the head (occupies up to 80% of the area), neck and upper shoulders are visible, the look is directed at the camera, the hair does not hide the face.

The background is plain light, there are no strangers or objects in the frame (even if it is a picture of a child). It is better to choose glasses in a light frame and make sure that it does not close your eyes, and the glasses do not glare. Hats are allowed for religious reasons, but they should also not hide the temples, forehead and cheeks.

Consular fee

Payment of the consular fee is made in US dollars (in banknotes without defects after 1995 issue). The amount of payment depends on the duration of the trip and for a single entry visa it is 35 USD for a stay of up to 10 days, 45 USD for up to 20 days, 55 USD for up to 1 month and plus 30 USD for each subsequent month.

The cost of a multiple entry visa: stay up to 1 month – 75 USD, up to 2 months – 115 USD, up to 3 months – 155 USD and plus 40 USD for each next month.

An additional consular fee is charged for an urgent visa: processing on the day of submission of documents – 120 USD, within 2 working days – 90 USD, within 4 working days – 60 USD; within a period of more than 4 and less than 10 working days – 30 USD.

All those who apply for a visa pay an additional 15 USD for the implementation of consular activities.

For children under 7 years of age, the main consular fee is not charged, they take a fixed 15 USD from a visa. For children from 7 to 16 years old, the consular fee is reduced by 50%.

Terms of registration

Visa processing takes up to 10 calendar days. Urgent visa – same day or 2-4 working days. If additional documents are required, the period may be extended up to 30 days. Also, the Embassy of Turkmenistan has the right to refuse a visa without explanation. Fees are non-refundable.

Visa validity periods

Turkmen visas are valid for the period for which they are issued. At the same time, the number of days of stay in the country is not limited. It is only necessary, if necessary, to renew it in a timely manner at the Immigration Service of Turkmenistan.