One day after officially launching its electronic visa system, Turkmenistan has unveiled its new e-Visa portal. The platform now provides details on available visa categories, required documents and processing times ranging from 24 hours to seven business days. For tourists, notably, no letter of invitation appears among the mandatory documents.
Long known for its highly restrictive entry procedures, Turkmenistan is beginning to simplify its requirements. As of October 1, 2026, the State Migration Service is officially rolling out its electronic visa, or e-Visa, system. A dedicated online application portal also appears to have been created, while foreign nationals can now complete registration procedures online.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has revived plans for a single tourist visa covering Central Asia. According to the president, the initiative now has the backing of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, although no agreement or launch timeline has yet been announced.
Turkmenistan’s Parliament is currently reviewing a draft bill aimed at introducing an electronic visa system—a move that could signal a significant shift for a country known for having one of the most restrictive visa policies in the region. During the eighth session of the Mejlis‘ (the national Parliament) seventh convocation,
Travel freely through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, on a single visa? This is the proposal put forward by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. This project to unify the “Stans”, inspired by the Schengen model, could mark a key stage in the regional integration of Central Asia. Central Asia,
