United Kingdom passport → Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan visa for British citizens

Visa required

Visa required

British citizens need a visa for Turkmenistan, arranged before the trip. Everyone needs a visa arranged through a sponsor in Turkmenistan: since 1 October 2026 tourist visas are electronic but are applied for only by a licensed tour agency, never by the traveller. Bring US dollars in cash for arrival fees.

Official details are shown in English.

Status
Visa required
Max stay
Not fixed in our data
Last checked
30 October 2026

What it means in practice

Apply well before the trip: visa processing for Turkmenistan depends on the embassy or consulate handling your application. The length of stay is the one printed on your visa.

How Turkmenistan counts your stay: As stated on the visa. If you stay more than 3 working days, register with the State Migration Service within 3 days of arrival; the hotel or sponsor usually does it (passport, 2 photos and accommodation confirmation).

Before you go

Official details are shown in English.

  • Visa with sponsor (tourist e-visa or invitation) — Cost: Visa fee plus US$50 if issued on arrival; Processing: Up to a month for embassy applications; Stay: As stated on the visa. Apply on the official site
  • Tourist e-visa via a tour agency — Before travel; allow up to a month; Set by the agency and visa fee; extra US$50 if the visa is issued on arrival. Book a tour with a Turkmen agency that acts as your sponsor. Once approved and paid, you receive an e-visa to print or show on arrival. For any purpose other than tourism or a conference, the inviting organisation obtains a letter of invitation, and you get the visa at a Turkmen embassy or on arrival. Embassy decisions are made in Ashgabat and can take up to a month. Official site
  • Transit visa (overland, under 5 days) (optional) — Get the invitation letter before travel; can take up to a month; Visa fee at the border. For overland transit only, not tourism. The State Migration Service issues the letter of invitation; the visa is converted at the land border, only at the crossings named in the letter. It cannot be changed to a tourist visa or bought at Baku seaport. Not needed for flight layovers airside. Official site

At the border

Official details are shown in English.

  • Passport valid at least 6 months after your planned departure
  • Migration fee US$14 on arrival; tourism tax US$2 per day, usually added to the hotel bill
  • A COVID-19 test (US$31 cash) has been charged to all arrivals; confirm current rules with your sponsor
  • Entering by car: up to US$150
  • Crossings can close without notice

How to avoid overstaying

  • Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
  • Extend before you run out. Only through your sponsor; overstaying is a criminal offence.
  • What overstaying costs. Only through your sponsor; overstaying is a criminal offence.

Good to know

Official details are shown in English.

  • Entering from Iran overland needs special authorisation from the Government of Turkmenistan and an onward flight; visa fees of US$70–100 are paid in cash on arrival.
  • Bring enough US dollars in cash: further taxes may be charged at entry.

Questions

Do British citizens need a visa for Turkmenistan?

British citizens need a visa for Turkmenistan, arranged before the trip.

Can I extend my stay in Turkmenistan?

Only through your sponsor; overstaying is a criminal offence.

What do I need at the border in Turkmenistan?

Passport valid at least 6 months after your planned departure; Migration fee US$14 on arrival; tourism tax US$2 per day, usually added to the hotel bill; A COVID-19 test (US$31 cash) has been charged to all arrivals; confirm current rules with your sponsor.

When was this checked?

Bordr last checked the entry rules for Turkmenistan against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.

Sources and last check

Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.

Includes visa data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 1 November 2026; Bordr's official-source checks take precedence.

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