Turkmenistan visa and entry requirements

The UK Foreign Office says your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Turkmenistan; Canada's travel advice says at least 6 months beyond the date on your letter of invitation.

No official source we read lists a vaccination certificate required for entry.

No official source we could read states a travel-insurance requirement for Turkmenistan. The UK Foreign Office advises making sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

No official source we could read states a general return-ticket requirement; the UK government says British nationals entering overland from Iran need special authorisation and confirmation of an onward flight. The UK and Canadian governments say a visa application needs a letter of invitation (for tourists, the UK says, from authorised travel agents), and the UK government says transit-visa holders must enter and leave through the border crossings included on the letter of invitation.

No official source we could read states a proof-of-funds requirement or amount for Turkmenistan.

• Migration fee and registration — Turkmenistan's State Migration Service says foreign citizens and stateless persons arriving in or transiting Turkmenistan pay a registration fee of USD 10 for their stay; children aged 7 to 16 pay 50% and children under 7 are exempt. The UK government says the migration fee on arrival is USD 14, and that all foreign visitors also pay a tourism tax of USD 2 for each day of their stay. It says stays of more than 3 working days must be registered with the State Migration Service within 3 days of arrival, and that your hotel or sponsor will usually do this. Canada's travel advice says you must complete a migration card and pay a migration fee on arrival. (on arrival)

Under the Code of Administrative Offences, a foreigner who violates the rules of stay in Turkmenistan, including by living without a visa after it expires or evading departure after the permitted period, is fined eight to sixteen times the base amount, or administratively expelled with a temporary restriction on entry of up to five years.

Done by the traveller.

Foreign nationals must register with the migration service office at their place of stay within 3 working days after entering Turkmenistan, not counting the day of entry. Foreign nationals in transit whose stay does not exceed five days (not counting the day of entry) are registered only at the migration points of the border checkpoints. Breaking the registration procedure is punished by a fine of eight to sixteen base units, or by administrative expulsion with a temporary entry restriction of up to five years.

If not done: Breaking the registration procedure: fine of eight to sixteen base units, or administrative expulsion with a temporary entry restriction of up to five years (Code of Administrative Offences, art. 383 part 1).

Turkmenistan's customs service says foreign cash may be brought in without limit if it is declared to customs, and that you may take out up to USD 10,000 (or the equivalent), plus foreign cash you brought in and declared, on presenting the import declaration.

• The UK government says Turkmenistan's State Customs Service reports that you may enter with prescription medicines if you have a copy of the prescription with them, but that you could be prosecuted for possessing drugs Turkmenistan may classify as narcotics, such as morphine or strong painkillers, without a prescription or if carrying more than you need without declaring them on arrival.
• The UK government says the tobacco allowance of 2 packs means, for example, 2 packets of cigarettes (40 cigarettes) or 2 cigars.