Turkmenistan e-Visa launched on 1 October 2026 with major changes

The State Migration Service has activated a dedicated e-visa portal, evisa.migration.gov.tm, which now allows travelers to apply for three types of electronic visas. For tourist stays, there is no longer a requirement to submit an invitation letter.

Key announcement revealed the day before launch

The State Migration Service made the announcement on 30 September 2026 that foreign nationals could receive an e-visa from 1 October. On that same day, the agency hosted a briefing in Ashgabat for heads of Turkmen diplomatic missions and representatives of accredited embassies to present the electronic visa program as well as the online registration for foreign visitors. The State News Agency a noted the improvements and highlighted ongoing deployment mechanisms for electronic visa issuance.

This initiative is not new. Parliament approved a change to the migration law in spring 2025 to create the electronic visa and specify that no invitation is required for it. As we explained at the time, Turkmenistan planned to introduce an electronic visa system without a set timeline or implementation details. It took 18 months to progress from law to portal.

Three entry categories under the e-visa program

The portal covers three types of stays, each with a specific category code:

• e-TU: tourism;

• e-BS: business travel, for stays up to 30 days;

• e-HM: humanitarian mission.

Currently, the duration of stay allowed under the tourist visa category is not specified. Travelers will also need to find out which nationalities are eligible and the authorized border crossing points where the e-visa can be used (including the Ashgabat international airport and land border posts) as these details are not yet listed on the portal.

Required documents & exceptions

Regardless of the visa category, three documents are mandatory:

• a scanned copy of the passport’s biodata page, valid for at least six months;

• a recent color passport photo with a white background, compliant with ICAO standards;

• a valid email address, which will receive all notifications and updates.

The most significant change is in the tourist visa category. Until now, all Turkmenistan visas required an invitation letter validated by local authorities—usually arranged through approved travel agencies. Under the e-TU visa, this is no longer mandatory; itinerary planning, hotel reservations, and medical insurance are optional ancillary documents.

However, business and humanitarian visas still require additional supporting materials. The e-BS visa requires a letter of invitation from a company or organization registered in Turkmenistan, including details about the applicant’s position. For the e-HM category, an official letter from a humanitarian organization or a UN agency is necessary.

Processing times, fees & tracking updates

Three processing options are available to applicants: standard processing in 7 business days, urgent processing in 3 business days, and same-day (super urgent) processing in 24 hours.

Notably, the portal does not display a fixed fee schedule. Instead, the cost of the visa is calculated during the application process based on the selected parameters (category, processing time, etc.), and payment is made in US dollars (USD). Additional bank fees may apply for online transactions.

Once the application is submitted, status updates can be checked on the portal, available in English, Russian, and Turkmen. To find a specific application, travelers will need at least two of the following details: last name, passport number, and visa number. The e-visa can also be transferred to a new passport if needed.

For any inquiries, the State Migration Service offers a support hotline (+993 12 380050) and an email address visa@migration.gov.tm

Foreign visitor registration also moves online

The e-visa initiative comes with a second major change: foreign visitor registration is now available online. On rgstr.migration.gov.tm, individuals and host organizations can register stays via a digital platform, avoiding bureaucratic visits to migration offices.

While the e-visa simplifies entry procedures, the online registration process still requires travelers or host entities to submit or update registration details (extension, cancellation, etc.). This means e-visas do not eliminate the need for Turkmenistan’s unique registration requirement but instead adapt the process for remote application.

A move toward regional e-visa adoption, still with restrictions

Turkmenistan now joins its Central Asian neighbors, many of which already have electronic visas or e-travel authorizations. In recent years, Kazakhstan has also adopted a e-travel authorization system despite limited visa-free entry.

Turkmenistan remains one of the region’s most restrictive countries regarding visas. The e-visa does not exempt travelers—visas remain mandatory for nearly all nationalities, and the electronic visa is merely an additional remote application option.

Several unresolved issues persist for travelers seeking clarity on eligible nationalities, allowed stay durations, specific borders points, and detailed fee information. Visamundi will provide updates as more information becomes available.