India to Turkmenistan visa requirements

Indian ordinary passport holders need a visa to enter Turkmenistan. There is no visa-free entry or working e-visa for Indians as of mid-2026. You must first obtain a Letter of Invitation (LOI) / Visa Verification Number approved by Turkmenistan's State Migration Service through a licensed Turkmen tour operator, then apply at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in New Delhi. A India (IN) ordinary passport holder must obtain a tourist visa before travelling to Turkmenistan (TM); there is no visa-free regime, and visa-on-arrival is only available to travellers who already hold a Foreign Ministry-approved invitation. The mandatory first step is a Letter of Invitation (LOI), or Visa Verification Number, issued by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan and arranged through a licensed local travel agency. The LOI is valid for 3 months from issue. Once approved, the applicant submits the visa application at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in New Delhi (C-11 West End Colony) with a passport valid at least 6 months, a recent photo glued to the 2009-edition application form, and the LOI/verification number. Standard processing is about 10 business days, with a 1-3 business-day urgent option for double the fee. A single-entry 1-month tourist visa costs about USD 55 (USD 95 urgent). For stays over one month an HIV/AIDS certificate dated within the prior month is required. Turkmenistan amended its migration law in April 2025 to introduce electronic visas and remove the invitation-letter requirement, but as of early-mid 2026 the e-visa platform is NOT operational and no launch date, fee, or category list has been published, so the LOI-plus-embassy route remains the only practical channel. Diplomatic passport holders (not ordinary travellers) enjoy 30-day visa-free entry. Travellers should plan 3-4 weeks of lead time including the LOI step.