Turkmenistan e-Visa Launched: What Changed in 2026

In short. Since 1 October 2026 Turkmenistan issues tourist visas electronically. A separate Letter of Invitation (LOI) is no longer needed: when you book a tour, your tour operator files the e-Visa application for you. A standard e-Visa takes 9 business days and costs from $40.

Updated 14 October 2026. We first published this article before the launch. It now describes how the e-Visa works in practice.

What changed

The tourist visa is electronic. Applications go through the official eVISA portal of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan (evisa.migration.gov.tm).

No Letter of Invitation. Until October 2026 a tourist visa required an approved LOI first. This step no longer exists.

No embassy visit. The whole process happens online, and you don't need to go anywhere in person.

How it works when you travel with us

Choose your tour and agree on the route and dates with our team.

Send us three documents: a passport scan, a recent photo and the application form.

We check them and submit your application.

Pay the visa fee by card using a link sent to your email. We send you the e-Visa as soon as it is issued.

The e-Visa is issued for a specific trip arranged by a licensed Turkmen tour operator, so it isn't available without a tour. We arrange it for everyone who travels with us, on private and group tours alike, and our visa support is included in the tour price.

Time and cost

Standard e-Visa: 9 business days, $40 for a single entry, $60 for a double entry.

Express e-Visa: 5 business days, $80 for a single entry, $120 for a double entry.

You pay the fee directly by card. It is not refunded if the visa is refused, which is why we check every document before we submit it.

When to send your documents

From 6 months before your trip and no later than 3 weeks before it. Three weeks leave enough time for processing and, if needed, for replacing a document.