🇹🇲 Turkmenistan visa requirements for South African citizens
Yes — South African citizens need a visa to enter Turkmenistan, normally arranged through an embassy or consulate before traveling.
Entry rules for South Africa passport holders
South African citizens must obtain a visa before traveling to Turkmenistan. Applications generally go through a Turkmenistan embassy or consulate and require a completed form, passport photos, proof of accommodation and onward travel, and sometimes travel insurance. Start the process several weeks before your planned trip, as processing times vary.
Entry rules can change at short notice. Always confirm current requirements with the official Turkmenistan immigration authority or your nearest embassy before booking.
How this compares
The South African passport ranks #96 worldwide, opening 98 destinations without a visa arranged in advance (60 visa-free, 33 with a visa on arrival and 5 with an eTA). Turkmenistan is not among them — it is one of the 71 destinations that still require an embassy visa or an application before departure.
The arrangement is reciprocal: Turkmen citizens traveling to South Africa face the same requirement (visa required).
Across Central Asia as a whole, 2 of 5 destinations are open to South African travelers without arranging a visa in advance.
About Turkmenistan
- Capital
- Ashgabat
- Region
- Central Asia
- Currency
- Turkmenistan manat (m)
- Languages
- Russian, Turkmen
Planning a trip to Turkmenistan?
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Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Turkmenistan?
Yes — South African citizens need a visa to enter Turkmenistan, normally arranged through an embassy or consulate before traveling.
What currency is used in Turkmenistan?
The currency in Turkmenistan is the Turkmenistan manat (m). The capital city is Ashgabat.
Is this information up to date?
Current status: Visa required for South African citizens traveling to Turkmenistan. This page is built from the open Passport Index dataset, which was last updated on 2025-01-12. Visa rules can change between dataset updates, so always confirm with the Turkmenistan embassy or immigration authority before booking.
More of Asia for South African passport holders
Going the other way? South Africa visa requirements for Turkmen citizens →
Source data last updated 2025-01-12.