Entry/Exit Requirements
"American citizens must have a valid passport and visa and/or
letter of invitation from the Government of Turkmenistan to enter
and exit Turkmenistan. Each traveler’s passport must be valid
for at least 6 months following the date of the application. Under
Turkmenistani law, a traveler with a stamped and approved invitation
letter may also obtain a visa at the Ashgabat International Airport
upon arrival in Turkmenistan; however, some travelers have reported
difficulties with airlines not boarding passengers who only have
approved invitation letters in lieu of a visa for onward travel
to Turkmenistan. Travelers are strongly recommended to obtain a
visa before traveling.
Any traveler arriving without a visa or without the documents
necessary to obtain a visa will be denied entry and may be held
at the airport or border until the traveler has secured transportation
out of Turkmenistan. The U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat is unable to intervene
with Turkmenistani authorities regarding the admission of private
travelers to Turkmenistan. Travelers departing Turkmenistan must
have a current valid visa or they will be denied exit until they
have extended the validity of the visa through their departure date.
Upon arrival at an airport or border entry point, foreigners will
be charged approximately $12 for an immigration card issued by Turkmen
authorities. All foreigners are required to carry this immigration
card for the duration of their stay in Turkmenistan. Authorities
will collect the immigration card upon departure. Those departing
Turkmenistan from the Ashgabat airport and flying with a non-Turkmenistani
flagged carrier are required to pay a $25 departure fee.
In addition to the immigration requirements mentioned above, foreigners
are subject to local registration requirements. Americans who plan
to stay more than three working days in Turkmenistan must register
with the SSRF. SSRF offices are located in all of Turkmenistan's
five major cities: Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Mary, Turkmenabat and Turkmenbashy.
One day prior to their departure from Turkmenistan, foreigners must
return to an SSRF office to register the departure. Foreigners should
be registered and deregistered at the SSRF in the city in which
their sponsoring organization is located. Foreigners who fail to
register their departure may be prevented by immigration authorities
from leaving the country until they have done so. The penalties
for remaining in Turkmenistan with an expired visa or for failing
to register with SSRF include fines, arrest, and/or deportation.
Foreigners who are deported for these violations may be prohibited
from returning to Turkmenistan for up to five years. American citizens
in Turkmenistan are strongly urged to ensure that their visas do
not expire and that they register with SSRF upon arrival and upon
departure." - US State Dept
For non-US Citizen requirements, please contact
us for updated information.
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