Application for Turkmenistan Business Visa

You can apply for a business visa when you plan to enter Turkmenistan for business-related activities such as attending conferences, meetings, or seminars. However, the entire timeline for obtaining a business visa is lengthy. Sometimes, the Letter of Invitation takes up to a month to be processed, approved, and emailed to your account from the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan. Once you receive it and submit your completed application, the process is referred to Ashgabat for the final decision -- which may take up to 20 days (although the standard time is 10 business days approximately). So, plan in advance and apply for a business visa at least 6 weeks prior to your intended entry date into Turkmenistan.

Under the worst scenario that you lose your passport, it is damaged or has expired, and you cannot get a new passport before your exit date, you can apply for an emergency travel document (ETD) at the British Consulate in Turkmenistan. If you are under 16 years, your parent or guardian has to apply for an ETD. However, always consider getting a replacement passport if your stay period is more than 3 weeks.But, you cannot enter or transit Turkmenistan using a UK ETD. If you get the ETD issued in Turkmenistan, you also require to obtain an exit visa from the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan or Department of Visa and Registration. This process can take up to 5 business days.

A soft or hard copy of the original business support letter must be obtained from your company and printed on the company’s letterhead. It must be addressed to The Consulate of Turkmenistan, Visa Section and signed by your senior manager. It should specify your employment status and your position in the company. You also need to ensure that it exactly defines the nature of the business to be conducted in Turkmenistan, which may be business meetings, contract negotiations, or others. Additionally, it needs to include the names and addresses of companies to be contacted in Turkmenistan. In this document, also mention the type and desired validity of the visa along with the guarantee that you have sufficient funds for travel.

The Turkmen Embassy issues both work permits and business visas to UK citizens. However, there is a vast difference between the two. A business visa allows you to conduct business activities while in the country without any monetary gain. A work permit is applicable when you enter the country for employment purposes. For this visa, you need to submit an Employment Invitation Letter instead of aBusiness Letter. This letter will be issued by the sponsoring company in Turkmenistan and must contain your biodata along with the salary being offered, salary structure, and duration of the contract. Therefore, before going ahead with your application, please ensure that you are clear about your exact purpose -- work or business. Do note that all categories, whether business or work visa, need to be accompanied by a letter of invitation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Turkmenistan