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🇭🇰Hong Kong (SAR China)
🇹🇲TurkmenistanHK-TM

Hong Kong (SAR China) to Turkmenistan visa requirements

HK ordinary passport holders need a visa for Turkmenistan. You must obtain a Letter of Invitation (LOI) from a licensed Turkmen tour agency, certified by the State Migration Service, then apply for a paper visa at a Turkmen embassy/consulate, or pick up a visa on arrival at Ashgabat airport using the pre-approved LOI. A new e-visa law passed in April 2025 but the online platform is not yet operational as of May 2026. Turkmenistan has one of the world's most restrictive visa regimes, and Hong Kong SAR ordinary passport holders enjoy no exemption. As of 30 May 2026, the standard route requires a Letter of Invitation (LOI) arranged through a licensed Turkmen travel agency and certified by the State Migration Service, after which a tourist visa is issued either at a Turkmen embassy/consulate abroad or as a visa on arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (the VOA still requires the pre-approved invitation). Turkmenistan's parliament amended its Migration Law in April 2025 to create an electronic visa system that would eliminate the LOI requirement, but as of mid-2026 the Presidential decree setting visa categories, fees and durations has not been published and the e-visa portal is not live. Travelers should therefore continue to use the LOI-based process. Airside transit through Ashgabat (under 24 hours, remaining in the transfer area) does not require a visa, but any landside entry does. Conservatively, the verdict is visa-required.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMFLEXIBLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →Hong Kong (PR)Living in Hong Kong (SAR China) as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Tourist visa via Letter of Invitation (embassy or visa on arrival)
Maximum stay
Typically up to 10 days, extendable a further 10 days
per entry
Entries
Single or multiple entry (per LOI/visa class)
from issue date
Visa fee
From USD 35 (single entry); USD 75+ multiple entry
consular fee only
Processing time
LOI ~2-3 weeks; visa issued within days of LOI approval
standard track
Validity
Visa valid for the period stated; LOI valid 3 months from certification
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Book a tour or arrange an LOI sponsor
Contact a licensed Turkmen travel agency or sponsor. Tourist visas require a Letter of Invitation (LOI); individual tourists generally cannot self-sponsor. The agency files for State Migration Service approval.
· LOI required· Licensed agency
/02
Obtain the certified Letter of Invitation
Wait for the State Migration Service to certify the LOI. This typically takes about 2-3 weeks. The LOI is valid for 3 months from certification.
· ~2-3 weeks· Valid 3 months
/03
Choose embassy visa or visa on arrival
Decide whether to collect the visa at a Turkmen embassy/consulate before travel (recommended) or as a visa on arrival at Ashgabat airport using the approved LOI.
· Embassy recommended· VOA needs LOI
/04
Prepare your documents
Assemble a HK passport valid 6+ months with blank pages, the certified LOI (original or copy), a completed application form, and a passport photo (glued, not stapled).
· 6-month validity· Photo glued
/05
Submit application and pay the fee
Apply in person or by mail at a Turkmen embassy/consulate, or present documents at the airport visa desk on arrival. Pay the visa fee (from USD 35 single entry).
· From USD 35· In person or mail
/06
Receive visa and travel
Collect the passport with the visa sticker, or obtain the sticker on arrival. On entry, register if staying beyond 3 working days as required by local rules.
· Register if long stay
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

12 items
Personalized checklist
Hong Kong (SAR China) -> Turkmenistan · Tourist visa via Letter of Invitation (embassy or visa on arrival)
0 / 12 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredHK SAR passport valid at least 6 months beyond departure, with blank pages
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
required
RequiredCertified Letter of Invitation from a licensed Turkmen travel agency / State Migration Service
Signed or stamped letter with host contact details and visit arrangements
required
RequiredCompleted Turkmenistan visa application form
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
required
RequiredOne recent passport-size photo (glued to the form, not stapled)
Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route
required
RequiredCopy of passport bio-data page
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
required
RequiredVisa fee in the required currency (from USD 35)
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
RecommendedConfirmed tour itinerary / hotel bookings
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
recommended
RecommendedReturn or onward flight ticket
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
recommended
RecommendedProof of identity (ID card) when applying at embassy
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
recommended
RecommendedTravel/medical insurance for the duration of stay
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
recommended
RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary
Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it
Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.
RecommendedTravel medical insurance
Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates
Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.
Official sourcesWikipedia - Visa policy of TurkmenistanEmbassy of Turkmenistan (Washington) - Visa requirementsSherpa - Turkmenistan visa for Hong Kongese citizens
Application link included: Wikipedia - Visa policy of Turkmenistan
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Tourist visa (single entry)USD 35-385Depends on validity (10 days to 12 months)
Tourist visa (multiple entry)USD 75-515Depends on validity period
Letter of Invitation / agency service feeUSD 60-150Charged by the licensed tour agency arranging the LOI
Migration / entry registration feeUSD 14 approxPayable on arrival in some cases
Total estimateUSD 95 — USD 550incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

LOI then embassy visa (in advance)
~3-4 weeks total
Agency obtains certified LOI (~2-3 weeks), then visa issued at embassy within days. Most reliable route.
LOI then visa on arrival at Ashgabat
LOI ~2-3 weeks; visa issued at airport on arrival
Requires the approved LOI in hand; visa sticker issued at the airport desk. Carries more risk at check-in.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
No visa-waiver for Hong Kong passports
Turkmenistan grants no visa-free entry to HK SAR ordinary passport holders; only UN laissez-passer holders and limited Uzbek border-zone travel are exempt.
High
/02
Letter of Invitation still mandatory
Despite the 2025 e-visa law, the LOI requirement remains in force because the implementing Presidential decree and online portal are not yet active.
High
/03
E-visa platform not yet operational
The April 2025 Migration Law amendment created an e-visa framework, but as of mid-2026 no launch date is confirmed, so the legacy process applies.
Medium
/04
Restrictive overall visa regime
Turkmenistan is consistently rated among the hardest countries to enter, with tight government control over tourist movement.
Medium
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30 · major
HK to Turkmenistan route verified
Confirmed visa-required status via Turkmen embassy guidance and Wikipedia visa-policy data. The April 2025 e-visa law has not yet produced an operational portal; LOI-based embassy visa and visa on arrival remain the channels for HK passport holders.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can Hong Kong passport holders get a Turkmenistan visa on arrival?—
Yes, but only with a pre-approved Letter of Invitation certified by the State Migration Service. Visa on arrival at Ashgabat airport is not a walk-up service. Obtaining the visa at an embassy in advance is recommended.
Is the Turkmenistan e-visa available yet?+
Do I need a Letter of Invitation?+
How long can I stay?+
Do I need a visa just to transit through Ashgabat?+
How much does a Turkmenistan tourist visa cost?+
/11 — Passport tools

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