Turkmenistan visa and invitation

When applying for a visa to Turkmenistan, regardless of the visa category, an invitation letter from the host country is required. This rule does not apply to transit only. In this case, the visa of the country of destination must be presented. The invitation is also known as a visa support letter.

Turkmen embassies and consulates recognize only those invitations that have been accredited by the foreigners' affairs authority - more precisely, the department for registration of foreign citizens - in Turkmenistan. Who issues the invitation depends on your intentions.

• If you are traveling to Turkmenistan on business, you will need a business invitation from your Turkmen business partner.
• If you are planning to spend a vacation, you will need a tourist invitation. This can be obtained from a Turkmen tour operator.
• For a private visit, you need a private invitation from a person residing in Turkmenistan.

In addition to the applicant's personal data, the visa support letter usually specifies the purpose of the trip, exact dates of travel, border crossing points and means of transportation, travel itinerary and place of accommodation. In the case of business invitations, the focus is on the interests and contact details of the companies concerned. For information on letter requirements, please contact the Embassy of Turkmenistan directly.

In all cases, the local contact person must obtain authorization from the immigration authorities. Once accredited, these authorities will inform the relevant consulate. The applicant in parallel receives a notarized letter (as a facsimile copy) from the host country and submits it together with other documents to obtain a visa.

Only state-recognized travel agencies and tour operators are authorized to issue a visa support letter. In order to issue an invitation, the responsible persons usually require a copy of the passport, a photograph and personal details of the applicant.

The invitation letter you receive usually contains the following information:

• name and nationality of the traveler
• exact dates of entry and exit
• place(s) of border crossing
• mode of transportation
• detailed information about the itinerary
• name and address of the place of residence in Turkmenistan
• name and address of the travel agency.

In cooperation with the Turkmen travel agency we offer you the opportunity to order a tourist invitation through us by leaving an application on the website.

However, we draw your attention to the fact that Turkmen tour operators make the issuance of visa support letters dependent on the fact that you as a traveler book a “basic tourist service”. This corresponds, for example, to a tour package including excursions and accommodation, invitation and registration.

If you intend to enter Turkmenistan overland with your own transportation and discover this country in Central Asia on your own, you must book a hotel through a Turkmen travel agency to receive an invitation. Please note that an additional fee is usually charged for importing a vehicle at the border.

A transit visa for a period not exceeding 5 working days can be obtained without a letter of invitation. For tourists planning to travel by bicycle or motorcycle through Turkmenistan with visits to neighboring countries such as Iran, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, a transit visa is in many cases a reasonable alternative to a tourist visa. We will be happy to assist you in obtaining the necessary basic visas to neighboring countries.

We will be happy to advise you on issuing invitations to Turkmenistan.