Turkmenistan is one of the most unique countries in the world, but also one of the least visited. The process for visiting the country has not changed much in the last few years, however there seems to be a lot of confusion and misinformation out there. Those just starting to think about a trip to Turkmenistan might not be familiar with the rules and logistics at all, so this is a great place to start. In this blog, I’ll take you through the answers to some of the questions commonly asked by travelers planning their first trip to Turkmenistan.
How do I visit Turkmenistan?
In order to visit Turkmenistan, all of your plans must be organized by a tour operator like SAIGA Tours. Whether you want to join a group or travel solo, everything must be arranged and approved in advance. Even things like accommodation must be booked through a tour company, so no, you can’t use credit card points to book your own stay (not that there are international hotel chains that would accept points in Ashgabat anyway) or use sites like couch surfer to stay with a local. In fact, you’re not allowed to enter a local’s home at all as a foreigner on a tourist visa, even if they are someone you know or are related to.
The next step is applying for a Letter of Invitation (LOI), which your tour operator will do for you. If you’re traveling with us, we’ll give you a document to fill out with all the information we need for your application. You’ll also need to provide a scan of your passport (not just a photo, but a proper scan as the Turkmen officials can be really picky about this) and a passport picture of yourself. This headshot photo can be taken on your phone, as long as the background is flat and white and there are no shadows on your face. We’ll review your information and passport scan and photos and make sure everything looks good for your application.
After your application is submitted, it can take 2-4 weeks to receive the LOI, if approved. Once you have this document, you’re as good as in. Print it out and present it to immigration when you arrive. You’ll also need to show this document in order to board your flight. When you arrive in Turkmenistan, you’ll show your LOI to the visa counter, then visit the bank counter to pay for your visa, tourist tax, and covid test. Yes, you read that right, in 2026 Turkmenistan still has a mandatory covid test for all arrivals. However, it’s not so important that you actually take the test, and more important that you pay for it. And don’t worry, you’ll pass it. Turkmenistan has somehow never had a positive covid case! Definitely nothing weird there.
Will my LOI work at the land borders?
Yes, you can use your LOI at land borders just the same as you would use it on arrival in Ashgabat. One thing to note is that you need to know which land border you’ll be using ahead of time, as your entry and exit need to be on your LOI. The most popular crossings that people often use on our tours are the Farap border (near Turkmenabat in Turkmenistan and Bukhara in Uzbekistan) and the Shavat border (near Dashoguz in Turkmenistan and Khiva in Uzbekistan). There are also open border crossings with Kazakhstan, Iran, and Afghanistan. If you are planning on traveling in other parts of Central Asia before or after your Turkmenistan trip, you might want to consider crossing the land border, as there are not any direct flights from Ashgabat to other Central Asian cities.
You can read more about one of our land border crossings here: Cross the Land Border at Dashoguz or Konye Urgench .
Do I need to visit an embassy?
No, there is no need to visit an embassy to get your visa for Turkmenistan. With the LOI in hand, you can simply arrive in the country and get your visa. You can visit an embassy if you would like the experience of visiting a Turkmen embassy, but there is really no need to. In 15 years, we’ve never had someone with an approved LOI get turned away by immigration.
Is there an evisa for Turkmenistan?
The Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been talking about an evisa system for over a year now, but it has not been implemented yet. Once it is in place however, it won’t necessarily open things up. Really, it will just add an extra step to the process that is already in place and you will still need to have all of your plans organized by a tour operator and apply for an LOI. It also won’t streamline things on arrival, as you’ll still need to visit the visa counter to get your sticker, and the bank counter to pay your tourist tax and covid test fee.
Do I always need a guide in Turkmenistan?
While you always need to be accompanied outside of Ashgabat, it doesn’t necessarily need to be by a guide. If you are on a group tour of ours, you will automatically have the benefits of having both a local and western guide. If you are doing a private tour, the choice is yours as to whether you want a guide, as just a driver will suffice as an escort. This can be a good way to save on cost if you are traveling solo.
In Ashgabat, you can roam around freely without a guide. You can take taxis, public buses, or even flag down locals to give you a ride. Your accommodation and permits still need to be arranged by a tour company, but at least roaming around Ashgabat on your own can be a bit of a relief for travelers who prefer to be independent. However, while it might seem like you’re alone, there is still someone who is responsible for you and people will be keeping tabs on you.
Is there anyone that can’t visit Turkmenistan?
Most people will be able to visit Turkmenistan and will have their LOI application approved. Even if you have a government job or a military background, you should be fine. We’ve even been able to get human rights lawyers, journalists, and former communist political candidates into the country. If there’s anything about your occupation that we think the Turkmen officials won’t like, we’ll let you know and work with you. If you think there’s something that might block you from getting approved, let us know so we can help you.
The group that has the most trouble getting approved is influencers and anyone with a big online presence. The Turkmen government is very wary of content creators with large followings entering the country and potentially making disparaging posts. However, it is still possible, and we’ve been able to get some big names approved in the past. One thing that can really help your chances if you fall into this category is joining a group tour instead of a private tour. While it might not be the best for your filming needs if you plan to create content, it’s still way better than not getting into the country at all.
There aren’t any nationalities that are strictly forbidden from visiting Turkmenistan, but some nationalities might have more trouble than others.
Can I visit Turkmenistan if I’ve had a rejected or approved LOI in the past?
Having a rejected LOI does hurt your chances of getting an approved LOI in the future. The best thing to do is give it time and wait a couple years before applying again. It’s definitely not impossible and we’ve been able to turn many rejections into approvals on another go.
If you’ve had an approved LOI in the past and chose not to use it for any reason, this too can hurt your chances of getting an LOI approved on another attempt. It’s not that you definitely won’t get approved, but your chances become slimmer, as the officials really dislike an unused LOI.
If you’ve visited Turkmenistan before, it is possible to visit again, though the officials might question your motives in returning to the country, so it still carries slightly more risk. Obviously, our team is constantly in and out of the country with no issue. We have also had guests return for a second Turkmenistan tour with no issue of getting their next LOI approved, and guests that want to return but have been rejected. One thing the authorities will look for is if you posted any Turkmenistan content after your first visit. If so, it might hurt your chances of being approved again if you can’t take it down.
Can I drive my own car into Turkmenistan?
Yes, you can drive your own car into Turkmenistan. You will apply for the LOI all the same, but you will need to include some additional information and photos of your vehicle to get the proper permits (of course we’ll help you with this). You’ll also need to either have a guide ride in your car, or have an escort vehicle follow you with both a driver and guide. You won’t be allowed to drive your car in Ashgabat, even if it iis white. You’ll need to park outside of Ashgabat and be driven into the city. We’ve got plenty of experience driving a vehicle through Turkmenistan, so if this is something you’re interested in, send us an email at [email protected].
Can I get a transit visa?
It is very rare that tourists are issued transit visas these days. The only way to apply for a transit visa is to visit an embassy. The overwhelming majority of transit visas are rejected, or, even more often the embassy won’t accept the application in the first place and will tell the applicant to apply for an LOI. If the application is accepted, it takes about a month to hear if the transit visa is approved, which again is very unlikely.
Can I use more than one tour operator for my trip?
All of your plans must be booked through one company. We often have people reaching out to us who already have their tour arranged with someone else but want to do our Merv Day Trip while they’re in Turkmenistan. As much as we’d like to help them, legally we can’t. Whoever organizes your LOI must arrange all of your plans in Turkmenistan, so keep that in mind while planning your trip.
Where can I fly to and from Ashgabat?
There are a lot of international flight options in and out of Ashgabat. Turkmenistan Airlines flies between Ashgabat and Seoul, Ho Chi Minh, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Istanbul, Milan, London, Frankfurt, and Kazan. Some of these flights only operate once or twice a week, so be sure to check the schedule on the Turkmenistan Airlines schedule. There are daily flights to and from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, and pretty regular flights to Dubai with FlyDubai. China Southern also operates between Ashgabat and Beijing, and S7 has flights to Moscow.
Are there flights to other Central Asian countries from Turkmenistan?
Currently there are no flights between Turkmenistan and other Central Asian cities. The reason for this is because it’s really hard for other Central Asians to get LOIs for Turkmenistan, so there simply isn’t much demand for the flights. There used to be flights from Ashgabat to Tashkent and Almaty, and they are considering reinstating them, but it likely will not happen. If you plan to visit Uzbekistan before or after Turkmenistan, it’s best to use one of the land border crossings. Even if you plan to visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, or Kazakhstan, you might want to consider traveling overland for at least part of your journey.
What are the best Turkmenistan tours?
SAIGA Tours is the best and most experienced foreign tour operator working in Turkmenistan. With more than 15 years of experience, the highest LOI approval rates, and guides that have likely visited Turkmenistan more times than any other foreigner, any SAIGA Turkmenistan tour is the best choice for your Turkmenistan trip. We’ve got group tours running throughout the year. We’ve got 4-day budget tours for those wanting a quick visit, as well as 12-day comprehensive tours for those that want to see as much as possible. Our standard tour covers highlights like Ashgabat, the Gates of Hell, Yangykala Canyon, the village of Nokhur, and much more. Check out all our Turkmenistan Group Tours here.
If your plans don’t fit one of our group tours, reach out to us for a custom private tour at [email protected] .
