Italy to Turkmenistan visa requirements

Italian passport holders need a visa to enter Turkmenistan. There is no visa-free, e-visa, or simple visa-on-arrival channel: a Letter of Invitation (LOI) certified by Turkmenistan's State Migration Service is mandatory, arranged through a licensed Turkmen tour operator before you travel. Turkmenistan is one of the most restrictive countries in the world to enter and requires a visa from all Italian (and EU) ordinary passport holders. There is no visa waiver agreement with Italy or the EU. The cornerstone of the process is a Letter of Invitation (LOI) that must be obtained through a licensed Turkmen travel agency and certified by the State Migration Service (SMS) — this typically takes 10-15 business days and should be started 6-8 weeks before travel. Once the LOI is approved, you either collect a visa at a Turkmen embassy/consulate or pick up a visa-on-arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (the VOA still requires the pre-approved certified LOI; it is not a walk-up channel). A long-promised e-visa system was authorized by presidential decree in April 2025 and was intended to abolish the LOI requirement, but as of mid-2026 the platform is still not operational and no implementation date has been confirmed, so the traditional LOI-based process remains in force. Turkmenistan is not part of the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply. After arrival, travelers staying more than three working days must register with the SMS within three working days and pay a registration fee. Travelers should treat this as a 'visa-required' destination and plan well ahead.