🇬🇧UNITED KINGDOM

🏳TMGB-TM

Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit TM?

Q: Do I really need a Letter of Invitation?

Yes. A tourist visa cannot be issued without a Letter of Invitation approved by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, arranged through a licensed Turkmen tour operator. This applies even if you plan to get the visa on arrival.

Q: Is there a visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport?

Yes, but only if you already hold a pre-approved Letter of Invitation. It is not a walk-up service and is normally valid for about 10 days, extendable by 10 days.

Q: Has Turkmenistan launched an eVisa yet?

Not yet. A presidential decree in April 2025 authorised electronic visas and the abolition of the LOI requirement, but the eVisa system has no confirmed launch date and the LOI process remains in force as of mid-2026.

Q: How long should I allow before travel?

Allow 6-8 weeks. The Letter of Invitation alone can take 2-3 weeks, and embassy processing adds about another 10 business days.

Q: How much validity does my passport need?

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date from Turkmenistan.

UK ordinary passport holders need a visa to visit Turkmenistan, and they must first obtain a Letter of Invitation (LOI) from a licensed Turkmen travel agency before applying. The visa can then be obtained either at a Turkmenistan embassy or on arrival at Ashgabat Airport (the LOI is still mandatory for visa-on-arrival). Turkmenistan has one of the world's most restrictive visa policies, and there is no visa-free, eVisa, or unrestricted visa-on-arrival channel for British citizens as of 31 May 2026. A UK ordinary passport holder must hold a tourist visa, and the prerequisite step is securing a Letter of Invitation (LOI) issued by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, which is arranged on the traveller's behalf by a licensed Turkmen tour operator (often booked through a UK agency). With the LOI in hand the traveller can either lodge a visa application at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in London (standard processing around 10 business days; express 1-3 days) or collect a visa on arrival at Ashgabat International Airport and some land borders. Even the visa-on-arrival route requires the pre-approved LOI to be presented, so it is not a walk-up service. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned departure date. Turkmenistan enacted Migration Law amendments in April 2025 and a presidential decree to introduce electronic visas and abolish the LOI requirement, but as of mid-2026 the eVisa platform has no confirmed launch date and the LOI system remains fully in force. Travellers should plan 6-8 weeks ahead because the LOI stage alone can take 2-3 weeks.

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.

United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30

Visa type

Tourist visa (Letter of Invitation required; embassy or visa-on-arrival)

Maximum stay

Typically up to 10 days for visa-on-arrival (extendable 10 days); embassy tourist visas commonly issued for the dates on the LOI

per entry

Entries

Single entry (multiple-entry available at higher fee)

from issue date

Visa fee

Visa fee approx. GBP 35-100+ depending on duration/entries; LOI/tour-operator fee approx. USD 100-300

consular fee only

Processing time

LOI: 10-20 working days. Embassy visa: ~10 business days standard, 1-3 days express

standard track

Validity

Visa valid for travel within the period stated on the invitation; passport must be valid 6+ months beyond departure

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Book through a licensed Turkmen tour operator and request a Letter of Invitation (LOI)

Choose a Turkmenistan-licensed travel agency (directly or via a UK agency) and submit your scanned passport bio page, passport photo, home address, occupation and employer. They apply to the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan (SMST) for your LOI. Start 6-8 weeks before travel.

· LOI is mandatory· 2-3 weeks processing

/02

Receive the approved Letter of Invitation

The agency forwards the certified LOI once SMST approves it. Keep both digital and printed copies; the original or photocopy must be carried if you use visa-on-arrival.

· Keep printed copy

/03

Choose your visa channel: embassy or visa-on-arrival

Either apply at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in London with the LOI, or use the LOI to collect a visa on arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (and some land borders). Confirm the land-border option with your operator.

· Embassy or airport

/04

Complete and lodge the visa application

For embassy applications, complete the visa form, attach a recent passport-size photo, your valid passport, the LOI and the fee in GBP. Applications are submitted in person at the Consular Section (Mon-Fri 09:30-12:00, closed Wednesdays).

· In-person submission· Photo required

/05

Pay the visa fee and choose standard or express service

Fees are charged in GBP at the Bank of England rate on the application day and are non-refundable if refused. Standard processing is about 10 business days; express (1-3 days) costs more.

· Non-refundable· Express available

/06

Travel with original documents and register if required

Carry your passport, visa and LOI. On long stays you may need to register with the State Migration Service. Do not overstay - penalties include prosecution and possible imprisonment.

· Carry LOI· No overstay

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items

Personalized checklist

0 / 10 complete

Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure from Turkmenistan

required

Letter of Invitation (LOI) approved by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan

required

Completed Turkmenistan visa application form

required

One recent passport-size colour photograph

required

Photocopy of passport main/bio page

required

Visa fee payable in GBP (non-refundable)

required

Confirmed tour itinerary or hotel booking from the Turkmen operator

recommended

Pre-paid return envelope if applying by post to the London embassy

recommended

Original or copy of the LOI to present at Ashgabat Airport if using visa-on-arrival

required

Proof of onward/return travel and sufficient funds

recommended

Track your progress · save & email a copy

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Letter of Invitation / tour operator feeUSD 100-300Charged by the licensed Turkmen agency; varies by operator and trip

Tourist visa fee (single entry)GBP 35-100Depends on duration; paid in GBP at Bank of England rate on application day

Visa-on-arrival fee at Ashgabat AirportUSD 35-100+Paid in cash on arrival; LOI pre-approval still required

Express / expedited embassy serviceGBP 30-60 extraReduces processing to 1-3 business days

Migration / entry card feeUSD 14 (approx.)Small fee sometimes collected on entry

Total estimateGBP 110 — GBP 400incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Embassy application (London) - standard

~10 business days (plus 2-3 weeks for LOI)

Apply in person at the Consular Section with the approved LOI; visa issued for the invitation dates.

Embassy application - express

1-3 business days (plus LOI time)

Faster embassy turnaround for an additional fee, once the LOI is approved.

Visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport

Issued on arrival

Requires the pre-approved LOI to be presented at the airport; not a walk-up visa.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Highly restrictive visa regime

Turkmenistan requires a visa from citizens of virtually all countries, including the UK, with no visa-free tourist channel.

High

/02

Letter of Invitation mandatory

Tourists cannot obtain a visa without an LOI issued by the State Migration Service via a licensed Turkmen tour operator.

High

/03

eVisa not yet operational

Despite the April 2025 decree to launch electronic visas and abolish the LOI, no eVisa platform is live as of mid-2026.

Medium

/04

Visa-on-arrival is conditional

The airport visa-on-arrival still needs the pre-approved LOI, so travellers cannot simply turn up without prior arrangements.

Medium

/05

Strict overstay enforcement

Using the wrong visa or overstaying can lead to prosecution and imprisonment, so correct documentation is essential.

Low

/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

United Kingdom to Turkmenistan route verified

Confirmed against GOV.UK travel advice and the Embassy of Turkmenistan in London that UK ordinary passport holders need a visa plus a Letter of Invitation; the April 2025 eVisa decree is enacted but the eVisa platform is not yet live.

/09 — The questions