Turkmenistan Launches E-Visa: How to Apply Online in 2026 (No Invitation Letter for Tourists)

Turkmenistan now issues electronic visas. Since 1 October 2026, travellers can apply online through the official portal evisa.migration.gov.tm, pay the fee in US dollars and receive the visa by email. For tourists, the letter of invitation that made Turkmenistan one of the hardest countries in the world to visit is no longer on the list of required documents.

That is a big change. Until now, a tourist visa meant going through a licensed Turkmen travel agency, waiting for it to obtain a letter of invitation (LOI) from the State Migration Service, and only then applying for the visa itself — a process that usually took weeks and could be refused without explanation. Here is what the new system covers, what it still does not tell you, and how to get to Turkmenistan from Europe.

Turkmenistan e-visa at a glance

Documents you need

Every e-visa application needs the same three things:

• A scan of your passport’s photo page. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter Turkmenistan.
• A recent colour passport photo on a white background that meets ICAO standards (the portal links to the exact requirements).
• A working email address — status updates, document checks and the finished e-visa all arrive by email.

On top of that, the tourist e-visa (e-TU) lists a travel itinerary or confirmed hotel booking and medical insurance as optional documents. The business e-visa (e-BS) additionally needs an invitation letter from a company registered in Turkmenistan stating your position, and the humanitarian e-visa (e-HM) needs an official letter from the humanitarian organisation or UN agency confirming your assignment.

How to apply, step by step

1. Open evisa.migration.gov.tm and read the “Check Requirements” page.
2. Choose your visa type: e-TU for tourism, e-BS for business or e-HM for humanitarian work.
3. Upload your passport scan and photo, plus any extra documents.
4. Pick a processing speed. The fee is calculated at this stage and depends on what you choose.
5. Pay online in US dollars.
6. Track your application under “Check Visa Status”. The same tool also checks regular, non-electronic visas by their number.
7. Print the e-visa when it arrives and keep a copy on your phone as well.

Two practical tips. Even though a hotel booking is optional for tourists, attaching one costs nothing and gives the officer one less reason to ask questions. And if you renew your passport after the visa is issued, the portal has a “Transfer e-Visa to New Passport” option, so you do not need to apply again.

What the portal does not say yet

The system is days old, and several things that matter for planning are not published:

• The fee. It only appears during the application.
• How long tourists can stay. Only the business visa states a limit (up to 30 days).
• Which nationalities qualify. No eligibility list has been published.
• Which border crossings accept it. Flying into Ashgabat is the safest bet. If you plan to arrive overland — for example from Uzbekistan on a Silk Road trip — confirm with the helpline before you travel.

Official travel advice is also lagging behind: the UK government’s entry page for Turkmenistan still describes the old invitation-letter process. Expect airlines and border staff to catch up gradually, and carry a printed copy of your e-visa.

Registration after you arrive

The e-visa does not remove Turkmenistan’s registration rule. If you stay longer than three working days, you must be registered with the State Migration Service within three days of arrival. Hotels usually do this for their guests.

Registration has gone digital too: a separate portal, rgstr.migration.gov.tm, now lets foreigners and the people or companies hosting them register a place of stay, extend it and deregister online instead of visiting a migration office. Bring some US dollars in cash for small charges on arrival.

Flights to Ashgabat from Europe

Turkmenistan Airlines flies direct to Ashgabat (ASB) from London, Frankfurt and Milan, and several times a day from Istanbul. Turkish Airlines also flies Istanbul – Ashgabat, which makes Istanbul the easiest connection point from the rest of Europe, including the Baltics and Poland.

Most direct flights from London, Frankfurt and Milan land in Ashgabat after midnight local time, between roughly 02:00 and 04:00, so book your first hotel night for the evening before you arrive. Ashgabat is also the hub for domestic flights: Turkmenistan Airlines flies several times a day to Mary, Dashoguz, Turkmenabat and Turkmenbashy on the Caspian coast.

What to see in Turkmenistan

• Ashgabat — the capital entered the Guinness World Records in 2013 for the highest density of white marble buildings in the world.
• The Darvaza gas crater — the burning crater in the Karakum Desert known as the “Gates of Hell”, the country’s most famous sight.
• Ancient Merv — one of the great Silk Road cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Mary (a short domestic flight from Ashgabat).
• Nisa — the Parthian fortresses just outside Ashgabat, also UNESCO-listed.
• Kunya-Urgench — medieval mausoleums and minarets in the north, reached via Dashoguz.

Good to know before you go

• Internet: VPNs are illegal and usually blocked, and many social networks — including YouTube, X, Facebook and WhatsApp — are blocked. Download offline maps and let family know you may be hard to reach.
• Photography: photographing certain buildings is illegal. Check before taking pictures near airports, military sites, police stations, government buildings or embassies, and ask people before photographing them.
• Border areas: access to areas near the borders with Afghanistan and Iran is tightly restricted.
• Roads: avoid driving outside cities at night because of road conditions.

FAQ

Do I still need a letter of invitation to visit Turkmenistan?

Not for the tourist e-visa. The e-TU only requires a passport scan, a photo and an email address. The business (e-BS) and humanitarian (e-HM) e-visas still need an invitation or official letter.

How long does the Turkmenistan e-visa take?

Seven working days on the regular service, three working days on the urgent service and 24 hours on the super-urgent service. Faster processing costs more.

How much does the Turkmenistan e-visa cost?

The fee is not published in advance. It is calculated during the online application based on the visa type and processing speed, quoted in US dollars, and bank charges are added on top.

Where do I apply for the Turkmenistan e-visa?

Only on the official State Migration Service portal, evisa.migration.gov.tm. Be careful with third-party sites that look official — they often charge a large markup for the same application.

Do I need to register after arriving in Turkmenistan?

Yes, if you stay longer than three working days. You must be registered with the State Migration Service within three days of arrival. Hotels usually do this for guests, and it can now also be done online at rgstr.migration.gov.tm.

How do I fly to Turkmenistan from Europe?

Turkmenistan Airlines flies direct to Ashgabat from London, Frankfurt and Milan, and both Turkmenistan Airlines and Turkish Airlines fly from Istanbul. From the Baltics, Poland and most other European cities, the easiest route is a connection in Istanbul.

Sources

Checked on 6 October 2026 against the official e-visa portal of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan (evisa.migration.gov.tm), the Turkmenistan Airlines international timetable, and UK government travel advice for Turkmenistan. Visa rules can change quickly — always confirm on the official portal before you book.