turkmenistan transit visa?

[mdesloge]

does anyone have any recent information about obtaining one in Dushanbe or Tashkent? I've heard 2nd hand reports of denials due to ferry unreliability

[henryuk]

ferry unreliability?? the only sea route into TM is from the caspian, nearest Visa office to the west is in Ankara I think, they seemed pretty good when I went there. Of course the great and good born leader of the Turkmen people is now dead, so it all might have changed. In theory his death should make access easier, but I haven't heard a peep from my friends in Ashgabat for ages.

Try asking Stantours.com for info. Dave (berghof) is based in Almaty and knows goings on in the region and visa stuff very well indeed

[mdesloge]

StanTours says there have been some problems, nothing specifiic... the problem I heard of (2nd hand report from biker to biker) was in the Westward direction, with people in Turkmenbashi being stuck and overstaying their visas...

[henryuk]

suppose that is a risk, but there are boats running pretty frequently and they are usually mostly empty. Visa running out is not the end of the world - just remember that no-one will detain you for being in their country for too long, they just want rid of you! I cried mechanical failure and they happily extended my visa, and even more happily took 80 bucks for the privelege!
TM was my favourite place in Central Asia, can't wait to go back!

[lordmaciek2]

We have been there in July 2007;
We had a 5 days transit visa and the ferry was 2 days late, so we had only 3 days to cross turkmenistan; I asked the guy in turkmenbashi if I can reset the dates beacause of the ferry - nope, but he told me there is no problem to get a new 5 days transit visa in ashgabat; finally we haven't done this, but was definitely saying its doable in few hours in ashgabat;

those 3 days in turkmenistan were greate, specially Ashgabat and darvaza;

photos from baku->turkmenistan:

MotoSyberia2007

maciek
http://motosyberia.com



maciek

[2cvfred]

We applied for a Turkmenistan transit visa in Dushanbe about 2 hours ago. Very friendly embassy.

We are told to come back to pick it up in three working days and to bring 31US$ (per person). That is for a 5 day transit visa.

We could also get it in two days for 51US$

That is way faster then we expected and I ever heard from somebody else, so we are a bit curious if this is really true. We'll know for sure in 3 days...

Cheers from Dushanbe

[MotoEdde]

See post below...getting an extension is not a big deal. Be friendly with the guys in Ashgabat, and you'll get another 5 day visa.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...sit-visa-27241

The OVIR office for the extension is next to the US embassy. Ask folk for the US embassy and then ask the guard at the US embassy, where the OVIR office is...

HTH

[2cvfred]

Dushanbe is a piece of cake for a turkmenistan transit visa.

Emnbassy is open every day from 9-12 and 14-18.
Requirements:

- 2 pictures
- onward visa (Iran most likely)
- The friendly consul even takes photocopies himself
- You need to supply begin/end date and entry/border

You can keep you passport, three working days later (if you pay extra it is possible in two days) bring in your passport in the morning. At 2pm the same day you can pick up your visa.

Normally he issues 5 days transit visa. But we asked for and got 6 days.

Price: 31US/person (3days processing) or 51US/person express (2days processing)

They moved recently, I'll post the new adress and GPS waypoint later

[2cvfred]

New address of Turkmenistan consulate in Dushanbe:

Achunbabaeva 10
Tel: 2-24-11-62

If you drive north on Rudaki, near the end it makes a bend to the left (big clock on the crossroads; you would go right here for Salsa restaurant). At this crossroad turn left on Karamov and take the second to the right. After 100m there is a small alley to the left, it's there.

It's close the where Lonely Planet's Central Asia map says the brittish embassy is

GPS: N 38° 36.5439 E 68° 46.9191

PS. On our transit visa no entry or exit points are indicated... I guess we can go wherever we want now :-)

[wrinkly]

Originally Posted by 2cvfred

We applied for a Turkmenistan transit visa in Dushanbe about 2 hours ago.

Hi.

Various sources suggest that LOI is required for a Transit Visa. Did you have one?

[MotoEdde]

LOI is not required for a transit visa in Istanbul...as you are not sponsored/invited by a tour company....BUT every embassy for Turkmenistan has the right to interpret the rules their way....welcome to the Stans...

edde

PS...Greet David B(StanTours) for me...he's a great guy and can make things happen for you.

[wrinkly]

Originally Posted by MotoEdde

every embassy for Turkmenistan has the right to interpret the rules their way....welcome to the Stans...

Thanks Edde.

Rather what I thought. I'll be coming the other way so I'll try Almaty or Tashkent embassies. If they ask for them there are worse places to wait for LOI's - providing you can afford Almaty! Currently David Berghoff is saying he can't help with Transit visas, only organised tours.

[MotoEdde]

Almaty is an expensive place to pick up visas and can be troublesome.
Tashkent may be easier for Turkmen, BUT only is you can't get in Almaty. Camp outside Almaty and come into town for the day...ask Phil Flan(on the HUBB)for GPS coordinates of a good spot...

David is right...he can't get a transit visa for you as you have to apply yourself...it may take a week or so to process, BUT you won't be able to pick it up at the border. UNLESS of course their new president has loosened things since May 2007...which was when I was there.

HTH

[Phil Flanagan]

Hi edde !
Hi Wrinkly !


Almaty is expensive. But, just few miles out of town is area of woods (towards ski area) with fast flowing river.
We wildcamped there for a week, no problems. Few local late night lovers/revellers but no issues and darn site cheaper than $100 per night hotels.

I have routes and gps co-ords for our whole journey, most should be on my site ( www.travel.uklinux.net ) but if you need more then drop me a line.

Phil.

[Phil Flanagan]

Hi edde !
Hi Wrinkly !


Almaty is expensive. But, just few miles out of town is area of woods (towards ski area) with fast flowing river.
We wildcamped there for a week, no problems. Few local late night lovers/revellers but no issues and darn site cheaper than $100 per night hotels.

I have routes and gps co-ords for our whole journey, most should be on my site ( www.travel.uklinux.net ) but if you need more then drop me a line.

Phil.