Turkmenistan Eases Visa Rules to Attract More Visitors

April 23, 2025 | 11:06 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Turkmenistan has long been one of the most closed-off countries in the world and rarely visited. The average annual visits to the country are only 15,000 tourists. However, this is no longer the case. The country, bordering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, has adopted a law that will implement electronic visas and facilitate entry for foreigners.

This gas-rich Central Asian country separated from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, its government has imposed strict entry requirements for potential visitors. All foreign nationals must obtain a visa in advance and submit an official 'letter of invitation.' Despite meeting all the requirements, many are rejected for unclear reasons.

Simplified Visa

With the new law to be implemented, visa application requirements will no longer be as cumbersome. Foreign nationals can fill out a simplified online form. A visa support letter is no longer required.

As reported by Independent, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the ease of obtaining a visa is being implemented because the country, which relies on gas reserves as a source of income, wants to expand its regional trade network. In March, the country began to implement a long-negotiated gas exchange agreement with Turkey. This agreement marks a significant step in energy cooperation between the two countries. It is also the first time the capital city of Ashgabat has sent gas westward through a route passing through Russia.

Viewing the 'Gates of Hell'

One of the most famous tourist attractions in the country is the Darvaza Crater, a flaming natural gas crater known as the "Gates of Hell." The desert crater, located about 260 kilometers north of the capital, has been burning for several decades. It has become one of the most sought-after sights for tourists visiting Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen Turkmenportal news site stated that the approximately 60-meter wide and 20-meter deep crater formed after a Soviet gas drilling collapse in 1971. In an attempt to prevent gas spreading, geologists set the forest on fire, hoping the gas would burn out within a few weeks. However, their calculations were wrong. The fire pit continued to burn and became one of the most intriguing and mysterious tourist attractions in the world. The sight of the flaming crater, especially at night, creates an extraordinary and almost mystical impression.

INDEPENDENT | METRO.CO.UK

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