Visa policy of Turkmenistan
The visa policy of Turkmenistan is among the most restrictive of any country in the world. Citizens of all countries require a visa to enter Turkmenistan unless they have special passports. To obtain a tourist visa for Turkmenistan, all foreign citizens must supply an invitation letter issued by a travel agency licensed in Turkmenistan. Holders of a letter of invitation issued by a company registered in Turkmenistan with a prior approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may obtain a visa on arrival valid for 10 days, and extendable for another 10 days.
There are plans to introduce electronic visas and abolish the requirement of a letter of invitiation. With the goal of allowing smoother business visits and boosting foreign tourism, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow signed a decree on 18 April 2025 that will introduce these changes. The types of electronic visas that will be available, how they will be issued, and how long they will be valid for have yet to be decided.
Visa exemption
- United Nations Laissez-Passer — from 2023, foreign citizens with UN passports were allowed up to 30 calendar days from the date of arrival in Turkmenistan without a visa to come to Turkmenistan, stay in it, travel outside it, cross the border, and cross the territory in transit the territory of Turkmenistan. Foreign citizens who are employees of the United Nations or its specialized agencies accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, as well as members of their families, were exempt from visa issuance during the period of work in Turkmenistan.
- Uzbekistan — from November 2025 citizens of Uzbekistan can visit the Shavat-Dashoguz Border Trade Zone without a visa.
Non-ordinary passports
Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Malaysia, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and holders of diplomatic passports of Estonia, India, Pakistan and Uzbekistan do not require a visa to visit Turkmenistan for up to 30 days. Holders of diplomatic passports of Canada and the United States may obtain a free visa on arrival.Special permit
A special permit, issued prior to arrival by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is required if visiting the following places: Kerki, Hazar, Dashoguz, Serakhs and Serhetabat.Admission restrictions
Entry and transit is refused to holders of passports of the following jurisdictions, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight:Visitor statistics
Turkmenistan is among the least visited countries in the world. Very few foreigners are granted a Turkmenistani visa. After gaining its independence in 1991, Turkmenistan was a slightly more open country than it is now. For example, 300,000 foreigners visited the country in 1998. Between 2000 and 2013, however, the number of visas issued decreased significantly, due to isolationist policies and a totalitarian regime.| Year | Visitors |
| 1992—1994 | No data |
| 1995 | 218,000 |
| 1996 | 217,000 |
| 1997 | 257,000 |
| 1998 | 300,000 |
| 1999 | No data |
| 2000 | 3,256 |
| 2001 | 5,200 |
| 2002 | 10,800 |
| 2003 | 8,200 |
| 2004 | 14,800 |
| 2005 | 11,600 |
| 2006 | 5,600 |
| 2007 | 8,177 |
| 2008 | 9,777 |
| 2009 | 7,628 |
| 2010 | 9,631 |
| 2011 | 8,687 |
| 2012—2013 | No data |
| 2014 | More 110,000 |
| 2015 | More 110,000 |
| 2016 | More 130,000 |
| 2017 | More 130,000 |
| 2018 | More 130,000 |
| Total | More 1,700,000 |
| Country | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2000 |
 UzbekistanincreaseincreaseincreaseincreaseTransitPassengers transiting through Aşgabat International Airport do not require a visa.Links* |