Turkmenistan Transit Visa Situation
 

Hi HUBB

I am struggling to find current information on the availability of (5-day) transit visa for Turkmenistan. Planning to go cross from Iran to Uzbekistan in May.
Can anyone shed some light on this issue or even better report on recent personal experiences?

Thx

If you haven't already, check out Caravanistan. Lots of info there.

A lot of travellers postet that they were unable to get transit visa.

And officially they were discontinued.

Only tourist visa with a guide.

Even a very few managed to get transit visa in Iran, but it is like lotto, if you don't get it, you will not be able to apply for tourist after.

Visa requirements relaxed
 

I just read that decision has been made to skip the Letter of Invitation as a prerequisite. Visa will be available via on-line channel without visiting the Embassy.

Read that where?

What type of visa?

EDIT: I just spotted this article online: https://eurasianet.org/turkmenistan-...btaining-visas

I would not get my hopes up, but let's see. The economy is pretty dire by all accounts, but I doubt their are desparate enough to want outsiders roaming around.

My record for the easiest visa I've ever got was Turkmenistan - an assistant at the Kabul embassy in 2009 photocopied my passport and told me I could pick the visa up after 10 days, which I did at the consulate in Mazar-e Sharif. I never even filled an application form.

In 2014 I sent a form to the embassy in London, then picked a transit visa up at the Bekdas border crossing.

So in the past it was actually very easy to get a transit visa. I suspect their 'E-visa' will just mean you don't get a sticker visa at the border.

But who knows, maybe it will be the green light to freely travel Turkmenistan, though I highly doubt it. Even if that happens, from what I reember most of the country outside the main cities/highways is a border zone or restricted area (according the great Bradt Turkmenistan guidebook), so it still might mean taking a guide to see much.