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Turkmenistan to Introduce E-Visa System, Easing Travel for Foreign Visitors

22 April 2025

In a significant shift aimed at boosting international tourism and streamlining travel procedures, Turkmenistan has announced plans to implement an electronic visa (e-Visa) system for foreign nationals. This development marks a major step toward modernizing the country's immigration policy, which has long been considered one of the most restrictive in the world.

Until now, travelers wishing to visit Turkmenistan were required to obtain a letter of invitation and undergo a complex visa application process, often involving long waiting times and bureaucratic hurdles. The new e-Visa format will eliminate the need for foreign citizens to secure an invitation when applying for entry into the country through this digital system.

The amendments to the country’s Law on Migration were signed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and officially published on the website of the State Publishing Service of Turkmenistan. According to the new legal provisions, both foreign citizens and stateless individuals will be able to apply for their e-Visas through the online platform of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan.

While the legal groundwork for the e-Visa system has been established, the technical implementation is still underway. Authorities have yet to announce a precise launch date for the new system, but experts suggest it could take up to six months before the platform is fully operational. Once the system is in place, it is expected to significantly reduce processing times and simplify travel to Turkmenistan for tourists, businesspeople, and international partners alike.

The upcoming e-Visa program is anticipated to support Turkmenistan’s growing interest in developing its tourism sector. With its rich cultural heritage, majestic desert landscapes, and unique architectural landmarks — from the marble-clad capital Ashgabat to the fiery gas crater of Darvaza — Turkmenistan is gradually opening up to the world.

Travel agencies and international travelers have welcomed the announcement as a long-awaited improvement. The move could lead to an increase in foreign arrivals, new tourism investment opportunities, and greater cultural exchange between Turkmenistan and the global community.

As the rollout of the e-Visa platform progresses, the government has promised to provide timely updates regarding the functionality and timeline of the system. Travelers are advised to monitor official announcements and consult with embassies or travel professionals for the latest information.

This policy shift represents a promising milestone in Turkmenistan’s journey toward greater openness, making it more accessible to travelers eager to explore one of Central Asia’s most enigmatic destinations.

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Did you know?

Uzbekistan is one of only two countries in the world to be ‘double landlocked’ (landlocked and totally surrounded by other landlocked countries). Liechtenstein is double landlocked by 2 countries whilst Uzbekistan is surrounded by 5!

Did you know that Uzbekistan lies in the very heart of Eurasia, the coordinates for Uzbekistan are 41.0000° N, 69.0000°

Uzbekistan is home to the Muruntan gold mine, one of the largest open pit gold mines in the world! The country has 4th largest reserves of gold in the world after South Africa, USA and Russia

Uzbekistan is the world capital of melons. They have in excess of 150 different varieties, which form a staple part of the local diet, served fresh in the summer and eaten dried through the winter.

It is Uzbek tradition that the most respected guest be seated farthest from the house’s entrance.

Tashkent’s metro features chandeliers, marble pillars and ceilings, granite, and engraved metal. It has been called one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

The Uzbek master chef is able to cook in just one caldron enough plov to serve a thousand men.

When you are a host to someone, it is your duty to fill their cups with for the whole time they are with you. What you must not do, however, is to fill their cup more than half-full. If you do that as a mistake, say it is a mistake immediately. Doing it means you want them to leave. Wow! Amazing, right?

To Uzbeks, respect means a whole lot. For this reason they love it if, even as foreigners, you endeavour to add the respectful suffix opa after a woman's name; and aka after a man's. Example: Linda-opa and David-aka. You could also use hon and jon respectively.

Having been an historic crossroads for centuries as part of various ancient empires, Uzbekistan’s food is very eclectic. It has its roots in Iranian, Arab, Indian, Russian and Chinese cuisine.

Though identified with the Persia, the Zoroastrism probably originated in Bactria or Sogdiana. Many distinguished scholars share an opinion that Zoroastrianism had originated in the ancient Khorezm. Indeed, today in the world there were found 63 Zoroastrian monuments, including those in Iran, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thirty-eight of them are in Uzbekistan, whereas 17 of these monuments are located in Khorezm.

One of Islam's most sacred relics - the world's oldest Koran that was compiled in Medina by Othman, the third caliph or Muslim leader, is kept in Tashkent. It was completed in the year 651, only 19 years after Muhammad's death.

Tashkent is the only megapolis in the world where public transport is totally comprised of Mercedes buses. And due to low urban air polution it is one of the few cities where one can still see the stars in the sky.

You would be surprised to know that modern TV was born in Tashkent. No joke! The picture of moving objects was transmitted by radio first time in the world in Tashkent on 26 of July 1928 by inventors B.P. Grabovsky and I.F. Belansky.

Uzbekistan is the only country in the world all of whose neighbours have their names ending in STAN. This is also the only country in Central Asia that borders all of the countries of this region

Uzbeks are the third populous Turkik ethnicity in the world after Turks and Azeris (leaving both in Azerbaijan and Iran)

Did you know that there was silk money in Khiva? Super interesting right? Of course, but the best part of having silk money was that it could be sewn into your clothing.

Famous Islamic physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna in the Latin world) who was born near Bukhara was the one of the first people to advocate using women’s hair as suture material – about 1400 years ago.

Uzbekistan has a long and bloody history. The most notorious leader of Uzbekistan was Timur (or Tamerlane) who claimed descent from Genghis Khan. His military campaigns have been credited for wiping out some 5% of the world’s population at the time.

If you have thought that some of the Islamic architecture in Uzbekistan resembles that from Northern India, then that is because Timur’s great great great Grandson, Babur Beg, was the founder of the Moghul Empire that ruled much of India for almost four centuries! Babur’s great great Grandson was Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal.

Uzbekistan was once a rum producig country. There is still a real arboretum in Denau (city near Termez on the border with Afghanistan), grown from a selection station that studied the prospects of plant growing in the unusual for the Soviet Union subtropical climate of Surkhandarya region: only here in the whole of the USSR sugar cane was grown and even rum was produced!

Uzbekistan has been ranked one of the safest countries in the world, according to a new global poll. The annual Gallup Global Law and Order asked if people felt safe walking at night and whether they had been victims of crime. The survey placed Uzbekistan 5th out of 135 countries, while the UK was 21st and the US 35th. Top five safest countries:

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Iceland
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Uzbekistan

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