South AfricaTurkmenistan

Turkmenistan visa for South African citizens

Visa required

Turkmenistan requires South African citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.

Where to apply
No mission in your country

Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index

Which Turkmenistan visa?

Tourist visa (TU) and other entry visas on an invitation letter

Key facts

Maximum stay
As stated in the visa; fees are set by duration.
Fee
US$40
Processing time
10 calendar days; 3 working days urgently at double fee.

All visa types for Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan’s tourist visa costs US$40 at the standard rate published by its authorities. Processing time, as Turkmenistan states it: 10 calendar days; 3 working days urgently at double fee. Longest stay on the tourist visa: As stated in the visa; fees are set by duration.

Where South African citizens apply for a visa for Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan has no embassy or consulate in South Africa on our records; applications usually go through a mission in a neighbouring country or an online portal.

Measured from Pretoria, Turkmen embassies and consulates are closest in Abu Dhabi Island and Internal Islands City, the United Arab Emirates (6,252 km), Tehran, Iran (7,267 km) and Ankara, Turkey (7,314 km). Which post accepts applications from residents of South Africa is decided by Turkmenistan, so confirm it with the mission or the official visa portal before booking an appointment.

Turkmen citizens travelling to South Africa

TurkmenistanSouth Africa Visa required South Africa visa for citizens of Turkmenistan

Travel advice for Turkmenistan

  • US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
  • UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
  • German Foreign Office No travel warning

What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.

For a trip from South Africa to Turkmenistan, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Turkmenistan at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 20 August 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Turkmenistan (updated 21 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Turkmenistan (updated 29 October 2026). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.

Good to know

How long South African citizens can stay in Turkmenistan

How long South African citizens may stay in Turkmenistan is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How South African citizens apply

Turkmenistan has no embassy or career consulate in South Africa. South African citizens apply through a mission of Turkmenistan accredited to South Africa from abroad; the official visa portal of Turkmenistan names the right place.

Turkmenistan’s neighbours for South African citizens

Afghanistan and Uzbekistan require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

Turkmen citizens travelling to South Africa

South Africa requires Turkmen citizens to hold a visa issued in advance. The rule is the same in both directions between South Africa and Turkmenistan.

Frequently asked questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan requires South African citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.

Is there an embassy of Turkmenistan in South Africa?

No. Turkmenistan has no embassy in South Africa. The nearest Turkmen embassy is in Abu Dhabi Island and Internal Islands City, the United Arab Emirates, 6,252 km from Pretoria.

How much does the Turkmenistan tourist visa cost?

Turkmenistan’s official sources give a standard fee of US$40 for the tourist visa. Processing time: 10 calendar days; 3 working days urgently at double fee.

Do Turkmen citizens need a visa for South Africa?

South Africa requires Turkmen citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.

Can South African citizens enter Turkmenistan visa-free?

No; South African citizens need a visa for Turkmenistan obtained in advance.

Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.