Asia and Oceania

Visas

The following requirements are subject to change. You should consult the Turkmen Embassy in London as to precise regulations and required documentation well in advance of your intended travel date.

British nationals require a visa to enter Turkmenistan.  A Letter of Invitation, certified by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan is needed from a private individual or company to support the visa application.  For tourists, these can be obtained from authorised travel agents (a list is available from the British Embassy in Ashgabat).  Businessmen visiting for the first time have to obtain letters from relevant ministries, departments or companies they wish to co-operate with in the country, unless the visit is made to attend an exhibition or other event, in which case the organiser normally provides visa support.

Without prior approval from the Turkmen authorities, it is not possible to enter Turkmenistan.  It is not possible to buy a visa on arrival at either Ashgabat airport or the ferry port at Turkmenbashi. If you break your journey or attempt to enter Turkmenistan without the appropriate visa you can be assured of a long and uncomfortable wait in the offices of the Immigration Service at the airport or ferry port.

All foreign nationals, including British nationals, require visas to transit Turkmenistan by train.

All visa applications made at Turkmen Embassies overseas are referred to Ashgabat for a decision.  This can take 20 days or more.  There is an accelerated 24 hours service, but a supplementary fee of approximately US$150 will be charged.

Passport validity

There should be at least six months validity remaining on your passport when you apply for a Turkmen visa.

Caspian Sea ferry services

 

Similarly, if you intend to travel from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan across the Caspian Sea you should be aware that it is not possible to buy a visa on arrival at Baku seaport.  You should therefore ensure that you have a valid visa to enter Azerbaijan if you take the ferry, although this rule does not apply if you are entering Azerbaijan by air (see Travel advice: Azerbaijan for more detail).

 

On arrival

On arrival, you have to complete a migration card and pay a US$12 migration fee ($10 fee plus $2 Admin charge).  The authorities will retain one copy of the card. The other must be handed over on departure and so must be kept safe for the duration of your stay. There is also a US$25 departure tax.

Registration

 

You must register within three days of arrival, with the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan at their office at 57 Azadi Street, Ashgabat.  This registration procedure is to be carried out by your employers, inviting organisation or individual.  Tourists will be registered by their Turkmen travel agent.  Registration is for the period of the visa.  If you are not staying in Ashgabat, you should register at the local velayat office of your place of residence (there is no need to register both in Ashgabat and regionally).  You should bring two passport size photos for registration purposes.  The State Migration Service of Turkmenistan requires a letter from your host organisation or individual confirming your departure from Turkmenistan.  The local registration authorities have abolished the requirement for a de-registration stamp in the passport itself.  Non-compliance with this requirement could lead to prosecution and possible detention.

 

If you are staying for more than three days it is advisable that you register with the British Embassy in Ashgabat for the duration of your stay (tel: +99 312 36 34 98; fax: +99 312 36 34 65; email beasb@online.tm.  Online registration is also available under "consular services" on the Embassy website at:  http://ukinturkmenistan.fco.gov.uk

Transiting Turkmenistan

 

If you are transiting the country, you can be registered at entry and exit points if your stay is not longer than five days and you hold a valid transit visa.  Transit visitors cannot change their visas in-country, and need to notify the authorities if they intend to vary their route through the country.

 

For stays over three months

 

If you are entering Turkmenistan for employment, study or private purposes for a stay of over three months, you must produce an HIV certificate.

 

Travelling with children

 

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Turkmen Embassy in London.