Turkmenistan Launches e-Visa System to Streamline Entry and Boost Tourism
Ashgabat, The Gulf Observer: Turkmenistan is set to introduce a new electronic visa (e-Visa) system aimed at significantly simplifying entry procedures for foreign nationals and fostering greater tourism and business engagement. The initiative was officially announced by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan during the international forum titled “Peace, Sustainable Development, and Migration” held in Ashgabat.
Yusup Odeyev, Deputy Head of the Education Department at the State Migration Service, confirmed that the new system forms part of a series of amendments to the country’s migration legislation, which were adopted in April this year. He stated that the e-Visa is defined as a document issued electronically via the digital platform of the State Migration Service.
“The introduction of electronic visas will be an important step in simplifying visa procedures and modernizing the country’s migration system,” Odeyev remarked during the forum.
According to a report published Saturday by the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers, the implementation of the e-Visa system is expected to contribute to the creation of a more open and efficient migration environment.
Odeyev also emphasized that Turkmenistan is actively exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics platforms to enhance its migration system. AI technologies could play a critical role in automating migration flow analysis, facial recognition, biometric data processing, and risk assessment using big data, he noted.
The international forum brought together representatives from migration agencies of Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Experts from countries with established migration management systems — such as Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, and Türkiye — along with officials from international organizations, also participated in the event.
The e-Visa initiative is seen as a key development in Turkmenistan’s broader efforts to modernize its migration infrastructure, strengthen regional connectivity, and encourage greater cross-border mobility.
