Turkmenistan LOI — Letter of Invitation Explained
A Letter of Invitation (LOI) from a licensed Turkmenistan tour operator is required before you can apply for a tourist visa. Here is exactly what it is, how long it takes, and how we prepare it for every trip we book.
Tours That Include Your LOI
Every tour below includes the Letter of Invitation as part of the booking — we submit it to the State Migration Service on your behalf as soon as your dates are confirmed.
New Tour
4-Day Turkmenistan Transit Tour from Bukhara to Khiva or Nukus via Merv, Overnight Train & Darvaza
3-Day Turkmenistan Transit Tour from Bukhara to Khiva or Nukus via Merv, Overnight Train & Darvaza
8-day tour "Main attractions of Turkmenistan": Yangi-Kala Canyon, Merv and Darvaza Crater
2-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Ancient Merv and Turkmenabat
4-day Turkmenistan tour from Bukhara to Iran/Ashgabat: Merv, Darvaza and Ashgabat
Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Khiva/Nukus (5 days): Turkmenabat, Merv, Ashgabat, Darvaza, and Kunya-Urgench
Upcoming Departures
Join a guaranteed small-group departure — your LOI is handled as part of the booking.
How We Get Your LOI
The LOI process runs in the background as soon as you confirm your trip:
1. Send your passport details
Full name, passport number and nationality as they appear on your passport — small errors can delay processing.
2. We submit to the State Migration Service
As your licensed local sponsor, we file the invitation request with your travel dates and itinerary.
3. Processing takes 15–20 business days
We recommend starting at least 6–8 weeks before your trip to leave buffer time.
4. Use the LOI to apply for your visa
Once issued, you use the LOI to apply at an embassy, or in some cases collect the visa on arrival — we confirm which applies to your nationality.
What You Need to Know About the LOI
What it actually is
An official invitation letter issued by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan through a licensed local sponsor, required to apply for a tourist visa.
Why you can't get one without a sponsor
An LOI requires a licensed local operator to act as your sponsor — in practice this means booking a tour with an operator like us.
What happens if something is wrong
Rejections are rare but possible if documents are incomplete or inconsistent — we review every application before submission to minimize this risk.
How it differs from the visa itself
The LOI is the invitation that lets you apply; the visa is a separate document issued afterward, usually at an embassy or on arrival.
Not Sure Which Visa Type You Need?
The LOI is specifically for tourist visas. Transit and some business visas follow different rules — see our full visa guide to check which applies to your trip.
Start Your LOI Today
Processing takes 15–20 business days, so the earlier you start, the more flexible your travel dates. We reply within 24 hours.
