PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Turkmenistan

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans need to apply for a visa before travel to Turkmenistan.

Permitted stay

Set by the visa. Official visa durations range from up to 10 days to up to 12 months. Tourist visas normally match the itinerary in the LOI.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    Tourist (through a licensed travel agency), business, private and transit visas. The new e-visa has tourism (e-TU), business (e-BS) and humanitarian (e-HM) categories.

  • Passport validity

    At least 6 months from the date of departure.

  • How to apply

    Ask a licensed Turkmen travel agency for an LOI; they apply to the State Migration Service. The LOI is valid 3 months from certification. With the LOI, collect the visa at Ashgabat International Airport or at a Turkmen embassy. Official fees range from USD 35 to USD 1,015 depending on length and entries (US embassy schedule). On arrival also expect a USD 14 migration fee and USD 2 per day tourism tax (UK FCDO). Embassy processing is about 10 working days; LOI approval can take up to a month.

  • Where South Africans apply

    No Turkmen embassy in South Africa was found. Use the LOI plus visa on arrival at Ashgabat, or a Turkmen embassy in another country.

  • Travel insurance

    Not published as mandatory. For the new e-visa, insurance is reported as an optional supporting document.

  • Accommodation or invitation

    LOI required for all visas except transit. Register with the State Migration Service within 3 working days if staying longer than 3 days, and register departure. Your hotel or sponsor usually does this. Failing to register can lead to fines, arrest or deportation.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    UK FCDO and the US State Department report a compulsory COVID-19 test on arrival (USD 31). Turkmenistan is not a yellow fever risk country, so South Africa does not require a yellow fever certificate when you return directly.

  • Arrival forms

    Migration card and fees on arrival (USD 14 migration fee, USD 2 per day tourism tax).

  • Extending your stay and overstaying

    Visa extensions go through the State Migration Service. Failure to register or update a visa can mean fines, arrest or deportation.

  • Transit

    Transit visa (about 5 days) available without an LOI, applied for at an embassy with proof of visas for the next country. Airside transit at Ashgabat up to 24 hours without a visa.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Embassy of Turkmenistan in the United States (Official, usa.tmembassy.gov.tm) https://usa.tmembassy.gov.tm/en/consular-services/visa
  2. 2. Embassy of Turkmenistan in the United Kingdom (Official, uk.tmembassy.gov.tm) https://uk.tmembassy.gov.tm/en/consular-services/visa-info
  3. 3. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkmenistan/entry-requirements
  4. 4. US Department of State (Other government, travel.state.gov) https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/turkmenistan.html
  5. 5. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Turkmenistan
  6. 6. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
  7. 7. Visamundi (News and guides, visamundi.co) https://www.visamundi.co/en/blog/turkmenistan-e-visa-launched-on-1-october-2026-with-major-changes/

From doineedavisa.co.za/turkmenistan. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.