Netherlands to Turkmenistan visa requirements

Netherlands passport holders need a visa to enter Turkmenistan. There is no visa-free or simple e-visa channel as of June 2026. You must first obtain a Letter of Invitation (LOI) from a licensed Turkmen tour operator, certified by the State Migration Service, then apply for the visa at a Turkmen embassy or collect it on arrival at Ashgabat airport. Turkmenistan is one of the most restrictive countries in the world to enter, and Dutch (NL) ordinary passport holders are no exception: a visa is mandatory and there is no visa waiver, ETIAS, or Schengen rule involved (Turkmenistan is not in the Schengen area or the EU). The defining feature of the process is the Letter of Invitation (LOI): independent tourism is effectively not permitted, so you must book a guided tour or arrange a host, and a licensed Turkmenistan-based travel agency applies on your behalf to the State Migration Service for an LOI tied to your exact travel dates. LOI approval typically takes 2-6 weeks. With an approved and certified LOI you can either submit a visa application at a Turkmen embassy/consulate, or present the LOI for a visa-on-arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. Visa fees are paid in USD cash and vary by duration and entry type (roughly USD 35-150), plus a separately-priced LOI/agency fee (commonly USD 100-300). Note an important upcoming change: a 2025 law abolishing the LOI requirement and introducing electronic visas has been enacted, but as of June 2026 the e-visa platform is NOT yet operational, fees and categories are undefined, and no launch date is confirmed. Until that system goes live, the traditional LOI-based process described here remains the only route. Travelers should also be aware that special internal travel permits are required for certain border/restricted zones (e.g. Dashoguz, Serakhs, Serhetabat), and passports must be valid at least 6 months.