Turkmenistan Transit - latest info on how?

[Declan]

Hi All,
I have 4/5 visas in place necessary for a trip from Ireland to Kyrgyzstan. I'm struggling to find out the exact requirements for my Turkmen transit visa (Iran to Uzbekistan via Darvaza). Even the embassy in London are giving me conflicting information. No need for LOI according to their website. Nor does the website inform of costs - they say contact the Embassy before submitting documents. So I telephoned to find out the costs and in the course of that conversation was told that whilst I do need an LOI for transit they would make it for me free of charge if I submit my details to them which I duly did but only to get back a standard email regarding the requirements as per their website which does not mention LOI for transit! I asked for clarification but no reply from them and don't want to piss them off with repeated enquiries.

Has anybody got recent experience of the procedure? I'd particularly like to hear about London embassy experiences but will be very appreciative for any info.

Thanks!

[duibhceK]

You do not need an LOI for a transit visum.
You DO need proof of your visa for the country you are traveling to after Turkmenistan (in your case Uzbekistan). Some embassies also require proof of a visa for the country you are entering from (Iran in this case). Other than that and filling out the form there isn't much else you can do. Except wait and pray, Turkmen visa are sometimes a lottery. We struggling to get ours sorted at the moment as well.

[eurasiaoverland]

In 2014 the Turkmenistan Embassy in London gave me a visa authorisation letter. It is not an LOI, perhaps you are getting confused.



This letter allows you to get a visa at the border. I did not have to pay anything to the embassy in London, only send them scans of my passport, and my Kazakhstan and Iranian visas, and they sent the letter by email while I was on the road.

Then, at the Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan border, a visa was put in my passport. It cost $35.

Very simple and efficient.

[Declan]

Originally Posted by eurasiaoverland

In 2014 the Turkmenistan Embassy in London gave me a visa authorisation letter. It is not an LOI, perhaps you are getting confused.

This letter allows you to get a visa at the border. I did not have to pay anything to the embassy in London, only send them scans of my passport, and my Kazakhstan and Iranian visas, and they sent the letter by email while I was on the road.

Then, at the Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan border, a visa was put in my passport. It cost $35.

Very simple and efficient.

Ah, this makes sense. Thanks eurasiaoverland. I had read somewhere of a code system whereby you present your prearranged document at the border which has a code on it, on your document possibly AS455549.

Did you initially have to submit an application form and questionnaire to London as well a your scanned passport and visas of neighboring countrys in order to get that document and if so I wonder can all that be done by email?

Appreciate the help.

[eurasiaoverland]

Yep, I filled in an application form and posted it to the embassy along with the passport and visa photocopies. Never went to the embassy at all.

[Declan]

Originally Posted by eurasiaoverland

Yep, I filled in an application form and posted it to the embassy along with the passport and visa photocopies. Never went to the embassy at all.

Thanks eurasiaoverland. Appreciate the help

[Declan]

Just posted the following to the Turkmenistan Embassy in London :

1. Completed visa application form, signed with photograph
2. Completed questionnaire, signed with photograph
3. Copies of my passport first page
4. Copies of my Iranian visa taken from my passport
5. Copies of my Uzbekistan visa taken from my passport
6. Polite letter outlining the itinerary and dates requesting Visa authorization letter.

Requested the visa authorization letter by e-mail if possible but included an addressed envelope just in case.

Will keep posted on outcome!

Again, appreciate the help.

[Declan]

Originally Posted by Declan

Just posted the following to the Turkmenistan Embassy in London :

1. Completed visa application form, signed with photograph
2. Completed questionnaire, signed with photograph
3. Copies of my passport first page
4. Copies of my Iranian visa taken from my passport
5. Copies of my Uzbekistan visa taken from my passport
6. Polite letter outlining the itinerary and dates requesting Visa authorization letter.

Requested the visa authorization letter by e-mail if possible but included an addressed envelope just in case.

Will keep posted on outcome!

Again, appreciate the help.

Telephoned the Turkmenistan Embassy in London yesterday. They told me that all is good and just as eurasiaoverland said the document will be emailed to me in the next few days!

Thanks for all the help.