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Security Alert May 17, 2024

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Turkmenistan Travel Advisory

Travel advisory january 22, 2024, turkmenistan - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Updated to reflect new Travel Advisory level and “if you decide to travel” section.

Exercise normal precautions in Turkmenistan.

Please read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Turkmenistan.

If you decide to travel to Turkmenistan:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter/X .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Turkmenistan.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel. 

Travel Advisory Levels

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Turkmenistan Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to Turkmenistan

Closed for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Required in public spaces.

Turkmenistan entry details and exceptions

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Can I travel to Turkmenistan from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, will not be allowed to enter Turkmenistan.

Can I travel to Turkmenistan if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Turkmenistan without restrictions.

Can I travel to Turkmenistan without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States will not be allowed to enter Turkmenistan.

Do I need to wear a mask in Turkmenistan?

Mask usage in Turkmenistan is required in public spaces.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Turkmenistan?

Restaurants in Turkmenistan are . Bars in Turkmenistan are .

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Turkmenistan

Latest update.

Reconsider your need to travel to Turkmenistan overall due to entry restrictions and limited transportation options.

Higher levels apply in some areas.

Turkmenistan (PDF 228.78 KB)

Asia (PDF 2.21 MB)

Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies.

Call 03 or go to the hospital.

Call 02 or go to the local police station.

Advice levels

Reconsider your need to travel to Turkmenistan overall.

Do not travel to the region bordering Afghanistan.

Do not travel to the region bordering Afghanistan due to political and civil unrest and the high threat of violence.

See Safety .

• Pickpocketing, mugging and theft occurs. The risk is higher on trains and at markets. Don't go out alone, especially at night. Criminals target travellers using unofficial taxis. Always book a licensed taxi. Don't get into taxis that are already occupied. 
• Terrorism is a threat worldwide. Targets may include places popular with foreigners. Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places. Monitor the media and follow the advice of local authorities.
• Demonstrations can turn violent. Avoid large gatherings and protests. Monitor the media and follow the advice of local authorities.
• Police and other local officials have reportedly harassed, mistreated and extorted foreigners.
• Earthquakes are a higher risk in the south-west and north-east regions. Register with the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System  to receive alerts on major disasters.
• If you travel to the region bordering Afghanistan despite our advice, monitor local and international media for updates. The security situation is extremely dangerous. Consular help is extremely limited.

Full travel advice:  Safety

• Some sleeping tablets and medications containing codeine may be restricted. Check legal limits before you travel and declare all prescription medication and other restricted items on arrival.
• Infectious diseases include cholera, hepatitis, measles, tuberculosis, typhoid and COVID-19. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Avoid raw or undercooked food.
• Medical facilities are limited. Medicines and equipment are often in short supply. You may need to pay cash up-front to receive treatment.

Full travel advice:  Health

• You must always carry ID. Security officials often ask for proof of identity. Ask for identification if you are unsure the person is an official.
• Penalties for drug offences are severe and can include long prison sentences.
• It's illegal to have same sex relationships.
• Obvious displays of affection, even between married couples, may offend. Police may harass or detain you.
• It's illegal to drive with a blood alcohol reading over 0%. It's illegal to smoke in restaurants, hotels and public spaces or gift tobacco.
• It's illegal to photograph sensitive sites. Take care when taking photos of infrastructure. 

Law enforcement agencies in Turkmenistan cooperate closely with agencies in Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS) countries. If you commit an offence in one of these countries, you may be detained in another (including at the border) and extradited for prosecution.

• Turkmenistan doesn't recognise dual nationality. This may limit consular help we can give to dual nationals who travel on a Turkmen passport.
• Several informal restrictions have been introduced on women's appearance and behaviour. There have been some reports of women not being allowed to sit in the front seat of cars and take rides with male drivers who are not their family members.

Full travel advice:  Local laws

• You need a visa for Turkmenistan, even if you're only transiting. Get a visa before you arrive. There are penalties for overstaying your visa. Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Turkmenistan for the latest details.
• Some regular international commercial flights are now operating into and out of the country. You must take a COVID-19 (PCR) test on arrival, and if you have a positive test result, you may be required to quarantine in a state-run facility or at your place of residence under medical supervision.
• Inter-regional travel can be restricted at short notice.
• If you're travelling with a child, you may need evidence of parental, custodial or access rights. You may also need a letter of consent from any non-travelling parent.
• Customs rules control the import or export of items, including jewellery, musical instruments, antiques and protected animals. It's illegal to export artefacts or cultural items, including carpets, without a certificate from the Ministry of Culture.
• You must declare any foreign currency when you arrive and depart. Exchange any unspent local currency before you leave. You may not be able to exchange local currency outside Turkmenistan.

Full travel advice:  Travel

Local contacts

• The  Consular Services Charter  details what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
• Australia doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Turkmenistan. Contact the  Australian Embassy in Russia  for consular help.
• To stay up to date with local information, follow the Embassy's social media accounts.

Full travel advice:  Local contacts

Full advice

Crime in Turkmenistan includes:

• pickpocketing

The risk is higher:

• on trains, particularly overnight services

People travelling in unofficial taxis have been  robbed .

To protect yourself from crime in taxis:

• ask staff at hotels, restaurants or places of entertainment to book a licensed taxi for you
• avoid getting into taxis that are already occupied

The risk of crime is also higher at night.

Crime risks are higher for women.

To protect yourself from crime:

• avoid travelling or walking alone, especially at night
• avoid isolated areas
• pay attention to your surroundings
• avoid using public transport
• keep valuables out of sight

Police and other local officials have reportedly harassed, mistreated and extorted foreigners. Ask for identification if you are unsure the person is an official.

Cyber security

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you're connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

More information:  

• Cyber security when travelling overseas  

Civil unrest and political tension

Demonstrations and protests.

Public protests and events that attract large groups of people can turn violent. 

To stay safe during civil unrest:

• avoid large gatherings and protests
• monitor the media for possible unrest
• follow the advice of local authorities

Be prepared to change your travel plans in case of disruptions.

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

To protect yourself from terrorism:

• be alert to possible threats, especially in public places
• take care near possible targets
• report suspicious activity or items to the police
• monitor the media for new threats
• take official warnings seriously

If there's an attack, leave the area as soon as it's safe.

• Terrorist threats

Afghanistan border

The security situation is extremely dangerous in the region bordering Afghanistan due to:

• militant activity
• clashes between militants and Afghan forces
• drug smuggling
• smuggling of other goods

The security situation could get worse without warning.

We are extremely limited in the consular help we can provide to Australians in these border regions.

If you travel to this region despite our advice, monitor local and international media for updates.

Climate and natural disasters

Turkmenistan can experience  natural disasters  and  severe weather .

Earthquakes

Earthquakes  are a higher risk in the south-west and north-east regions.

Register with the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System  to receive alerts on major disasters.

Severe weather

Flooding  can occur in the Chardzhou region.

To stay safe during a natural disaster or severe weather:

• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof location
• keep in regular contact with friends and family
• monitor media for updates
• earthquakes
• severe weather

Kidnapping can happen anywhere, anytime, including in destinations that are typically at lower risk.  

The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it doesn't make payments or concessions to kidnappers. 

More information: 

• Kidnapping  

Travel insurance

Get comprehensive  travel insurance  before you leave. 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. 

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your  nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate  to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips  (Healthdirect Australia)

Medications

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

Some sleeping tablets and medications containing codeine are controlled in Turkmenistan.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Turkmenistan. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medicine is
• your required dosage
• that it's for personal use

Declare all prescription medication and other restricted items on arrival.

Ask DFAT to  authenticate  medical documents if needed.

You could be refused entry, prosecuted or charged if you:

• carry amounts over the legal limit
• don't have a prescription for medication you're carrying
• don't declare medication and other restricted items, even if you have a prescription

Health risks

Waterborne, foodborne, parasitic and other  infectious diseases  are common, including:

• tuberculosis

Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.

To protect yourself from illness:

• drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
• avoid ice cubes
• avoid raw and undercooked food, such as salads

Get urgent medical attention if you suspect food poisoning, or if you have a fever or diarrhoea.

Medical care

Medical facilities.

Medical facilities are limited in Turkmenistan.

Medicines and equipment are often in short supply.

You may need to pay cash up-front to doctors and hospitals, even for emergency care.

If you become seriously ill or injured, you'll be evacuated to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our  Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Proof of identity

Always carry ID. Security officials often ask for proof of identity.

Internal security may target foreigners with extra security checks and increased scrutiny. Internal security may question you or search your home or car.

Penalties for drug offences are severe. They can include long prison sentences.

• Carrying or using drugs

Several informal restrictions have been introduced on women's appearance and behaviour. There have been some reports of women not being allowed to sit in the front seat of cars and ride with male drivers who are not their family members.

In Turkmenistan it's illegal to:

• have sexual relations between males
• drive with a blood alcohol reading over 0%
• smoke in restaurants, hotels and public spaces
• gift tobacco

It's also illegal to take photos of sensitive sites, such as:

• military zones, assets and personnel
• transportation facilities
• government buildings

Penalties can be severe and can include:

• imprisonment
• your equipment being confiscated
• LGBTQIA+ travellers

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

Dual citizenship

Turkmenistan doesn't recognise dual nationality. The government prohibits dual citizenship for all adults.

If you're a dual citizen and you travel on your Turkmen passport, this limits the  consular services  we can give if you're arrested or detained.

Always travel on your  Australian passport .

Australian-Turkmen dual nationals may be required to perform military service in Turkmenistan.

If you're a dual national, seek advice from an embassy or consulate of Turkmenistan before you travel.

• Dual nationals

Local customs

Obvious displays of affection, even between married couples, may offend. Police may harass or detain you. Avoid public displays of affection.

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is observed in Turkmenistan. Respect religious and cultural customs and laws at this time.

During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking may be illegal in public during the day. If you're not fasting, avoid these activities around people who are. Seek local advice to avoid offence.

Explore our Ramadan page to learn more, including dates for Ramadan.

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

You need a visa to enter Turkmenistan, even if you're only transiting.

You must get a visa before you arrive.

Make sure you have the right visa for the purpose of your visit, especially for business and work visas.

Before you travel, make sure your visa has the correct:

• passport number
• date of birth

Turkmen visas specify:

• the validity of the visa
• the number of entries you're allowed to make
• how long you can stay

You can only stay in Turkmenistan for the number of days shown on your visa.

There are penalties for infringing your visa, including:

• deportation

Transit visas

Transit visa holders must:

• register at entry and exit points
• let authorities know of any changes to their route through the country

You can't change a transit visa to another class of visa once you're in Turkmenistan.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

There is no embassy or consulate of Turkmenistan in Australia. See the Turkmenistan Government's  list of embassies and consular offices .

Border measures

Some regular international commercial flights are now operating into and out of Turkmenistan. 

You must take a COVID-19 (PCR) test on arrival, and if you have a positive test result, you may be required to quarantine in a state-run facility or at your place of residence under medical supervision.

Contact your airline or the nearest  embassy or consulate  to confirm entry and quarantine requirements. There is no embassy or consulate of Turkmenistan in Australia. See the Turkmenistan Government's  list of embassies and consular offices .

Other formalities

When you arrive, you must:

• present a migration card
• pay a registration fee
• register with the  State Migration Service  within 3 working days of arrival, not counting the arrival date

If you don't register, or if you stay in Turkmenistan with an expired visa, you may face:

All foreign citizens, except accredited diplomats, must pay a tourist fee for each day of their stay. Your hotel may include the fee in your bill.

Adults travelling with a child may need evidence of parental, custodial or access rights. They may also need a letter of consent from any non-travelling parent.

Import and export

Customs rules control the import or export of:

• musical instruments
• protected animals

You need a certificate from the Carpet Museum in central Ashgabat to export carpets from Turkmenistan. It must show that the carpet has no historical value. You may be able to get this certificate in some private shops.

• State Migration Service of Turkmenistan  

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting  a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the  Australian Passport Information Service .
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

Passport with 'X' gender identifier

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers. 

• LGBTQIA+ travellers  

The official currency is the Turkmen Manat (TMM).

Declare any foreign currency when you arrive and depart.

Turkmenistan is largely a cash-based economy.

Traveller's cheques are only accepted in some major hotels.

There are very few ATMs in Ashgabat, and none outside the capital city.

US dollars can be readily exchanged. Make sure banknotes are in good condition and aren't counterfeit. Only use authorised foreign exchange providers.

Exchange any unspent local currency before you leave. You may not be able to exchange local currency outside Turkmenistan.

Local travel

Driving permit.

You must have a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Turkmenistan.

Road travel

Road travel between regions of Turkmenistan can be restricted at short notice.

Designated restricted zones are closed to foreigners who don't have government permission. These zones include:

• regions bordering Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan
• areas of the Caspian Sea coast
• areas of Dashoguz

Road conditions and driving standards are poor.

Avalanches and landslides can make road conditions dangerous, particularly during winter and spring.

Driving at night is dangerous due to a lack of lighting.

Access to service stations can be limited in rural areas.

Random police checks and security checkpoints on roads are common. Carry certified copies of your passport and visa.

• Driving or riding

Only use licensed, official taxis. These are yellow and clearly identified.

Negotiate your fare with the driver before you travel to avoid disagreement.

Rail travel

Rail travel can be unreliable and dangerous due to criminal activity.

To protect yourself on trains:

• store your valuables in a safe place
• don't leave luggage in your compartment unattended
• lock your compartment door from the inside

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check  Turkmenistan's air safety profile  with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Consular contacts

Read the  Consular Services Charter  for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas. 

Australia doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Turkmenistan. The  Australian Embassy in Russia  provides consular assistance to Australians in Turkmenistan.

Australian Embassy, Moscow

13 Kropotkinsky Pereulok Moscow 119034 Russia Phone: (+7 495) 956-6070 Website:  russia.embassy.gov.au X:  @PosolAustralia

Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia

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Turkmenistan Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

There are no notices currently in effect for Turkmenistan.

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Turkmenistan.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages traveling to Turkmenistan.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Rabid dogs are commonly found in Turkmenistan. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Turkmenistan, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available. 

Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.

Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include

• Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
• Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
• Visitors to rural areas

Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Turkmenistan. 

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Typhoid - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Typhoid

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Avoid bug bites.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever

• Tick bite 
• Touching the body fluids of a person or animal infected with CCHF
• Avoid Bug Bites

Leishmaniasis

• Sand fly bite

Airborne & droplet

• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Counsel your patients on actions they can take on their trip to stay healthy and safe.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Turkmenistan. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Turkmenistan include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Turkmenistan’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Turkmenistan may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Turkmenistan, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Remind your patients to pack health and safety items. Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Turkmenistan for a list of health-related items they should consider packing.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

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• Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan Coronavirus - Travel Advice

Last updated: August 28, 2023   

Turkmenistan and Coronavirus 

In Turkmenistan, main tourist destinations, shops, bars, restaurants, beauty salons, hotels, and mosques are currently open. Public gatherings are limited, and wearing masks in public remains mandatory.

Turkmenistan Covid-19 Travel Restrictions

All international flights and domestic railway travel resumed in March 2023, and the land borders are open. According to current regulations, a visa is required to enter Turkmenistan, just as it was before the pandemic. Tourists will also be required to undergo a PCR test upon arrival (cost of the PCR test is $33, and it must be paid in cash on site).

Introducing Turkmenistan

About turkmenistan.

• Images of Turkmenistan
• History, language & culture
• Weather & geography
• Doing business & staying in touch

Plan your trip

• Travel to Turkmenistan
• Where to stay

While you’re there

• Things to see & do
• Shopping & nightlife
• Food & drink
• Getting around

Before you go

• Passport & visa
• Public Holidays
• Money & duty free

Book your flights

Turkmenistan travel guide

It’s an accomplished geographer who can confidently point to Turkmenistan on a map. Despite being similar in size to Spain, this Central Asian nation remains well under most people’s radar.

There are two reasons for this. One is that Turkmenistan is a country comprised largely of barren desert and untamed terrain – hardly a big draw for tourists. But the main reason for its obscurity can be traced to Turkmenistan’s autocratic government, which has been compared to the regime of North Korea.

At the helm of this ex-Soviet state is President Berdymukhamedov, who promotes a Kim Jong-un style personality cult in which he and his inner circle enjoy absolute power over every aspect of life. Consequently, according to Human Rights Watch, Turkmenistan is one of the most repressed countries in the world, a place where "human rights defenders and other activists face the constant threat of government reprisals.”

If you’re not put off by repressive regimes, Turkmenistan is a destination that offers one thing most others don’t: the chance to travel across the country without seeing other travellers. The isolation is palpable.

The brave few who do make it here usually arrive via the capital, Ashgabat. This modern city was built in 1948 after an earthquake destroyed the previous incarnation. Visitors can learn more about this devastating event at the touching Earthquake Museum, one of the city’s finer attractions.

Many of Ashgabat’s other landmarks take on a Soviet flavour – Independence Square, the Arch of Neutrality, numerous Lenin statues – but there are also mosques, galleries and gardens. The Altyn Asyr bazaar is worth a visit too, especially if you’re in the market for a Turkmen carpet.

Outside the capital, almost all of the country’s attractions lie around the fringes of the desert. Some of the world’s most powerful empires settled here and their crumbling legacies can be seen at the Parthian Fortress of Nisa, Kunya-Urgench and Merv, which are all UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites. And quiet ones at that.

488,100 sq km (188,456 sq miles).

5,438,670 (UN estimate 2016).

10.7 per sq km.

President Serdar Berdymukhammedov since 2022.

Travel Advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

• advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks
• information for women, LGBT+ and disabled travellers

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Turkmenistan set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Turkmenistan Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

Many international scheduled commercial flights to and from Turkmenistan have not resumed since the suspension under COVID-19 rules.

Confirm the latest requirements with your Turkmen sponsor, or with the embassy that issued your visa if you have one. Check with your travel company or airline for changes.

You’ll be given a COVID-19 test when you enter Turkmenistan. This costs about 31 US dollars.

If you test positive, you’ll have to quarantine for 7 days in a hospital. You’ll be charged for your stay.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Turkmenistan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ more than 6 months after the end-date on your visa.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You will need a visa to enter and travel through Turkmenistan as a visitor. If you have the wrong visa or if you overstay your visa, you could be prosecuted and possibly imprisoned.

Applying for a visa

Contact the Turkmenistan Embassy in London at least a month ahead of your intended travel date.

You need a letter of invitation to support your application. For tourist visits, authorised travel agents can provide these letters. If you are travelling on business , you need letters from relevant government ministries or companies you want to do business with. If you want to attend an exhibition or event, the organiser normally provides visa support.

You should keep your letter of invitation with you when you are in Turkmenistan .

The Turkmenistan Embassy will refer your visa application to Ashgabat for a decision, which can take up to a month. There is an accelerated 24-hour service costing about 150 US dollars.

Transit visas and travelling through Turkmenistan by car

You can use a transit visa if you will be in Turkmenistan for less than 5 days. You cannot change your transit visa to a tourist visa, and you must notify the authorities if you intend to change your route. Border officials may close Turkmen border crossings without notice.

You cannot buy a transit visa at Baku seaport. If you want to travel to Azerbaijan by sea, you need to have visas for both Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

You’ll be charged up to 150 US dollars to bring a car into Turkmenistan by land or sea.

Vaccination requirements

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Turkmenistan guide .

Registering with the authorities

If you’re staying for more than 3 days, you must register with the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan within 3 days of your arrival.

In Ashgabat, register at the office at 57 Azadi Street. If you’re not staying in Ashgabat, you should register at the local department office. Ask your hotel manager or employer as they will need to confirm your departure date in writing. In most cases they will register your stay on your behalf. You must provide 2 passport-size photos.

Tourism tax

On arrival, you must pay a migration fee of 14 US dollars. All foreign visitors except diplomats are also charged a ‘tourism tax’ of 2 US dollars for each day of their stay in Turkmenistan. Hotels include the tax as a separate item on your bill.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Turkmenistan . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

‘Tobacco products to the amount of 2 packs’ means you can bring one of:

• 2 packets of cigarettes – a total of 40 cigarettes
• 2 packs of tobacco each weighing no more than a packet of cigarettes

It is illegal to give tobacco products as a gift. If you are caught, you could be fined.

Taking money into Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is largely a cash-based society. Carry cash and pay in the national currency, manat. Some larger hotels accept US dollars, but other outlets are only allowed to accept manat. There are harsh penalties for them if they take your payment in other currencies.

You can exchange cash US dollars and euros for manat easily at a bank or money exchange. Bring new, clean notes as exchanges will reject damaged or marked notes. Other currencies are difficult to exchange. Manat cannot be re-converted, so exchange only as much as you need.

There are a limited number of international ATMs in Ashgabat, but they can run out of manat notes. There’s a 3% withdrawal charge for each transaction.

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in Turkmenistan

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Turkmenistan, attacks cannot be ruled out.

You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public places, including those visited by foreigners.

Restricted zones

Turkmen land border crossings can be subject to occasional and unannounced closures. The borders with Afghanistan and Iran are particularly sensitive.

The Caspian port of Turkmenbashi, and the ancient Silk Road city of Merv (Mary) are not in restricted areas. Check with your local tour guide before travelling outside the capital.

Laws and cultural differences

Personal id.

Police sometimes carry out checks of identity documents. Carry a copy of the photo page of your passport at all times and keep your passport separately in a safe place.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. Get more advice from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts. During this time, do not:

• eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in a car or taxi
• play loud music or dance
• wear revealing clothes
• swear in public

You should also:

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants
• be aware that if hotels and restaurants are providing food or drink in fasting hours, they may separate you from Islamic guests, for example with screens
• be aware that driving may be erratic, particularly when people are trying to get home at dusk
• be patient and show tolerance

Alcohol laws and bans

It is illegal to drink alcohol in:

• parks or public squares
• forests or beaches
• train stations, airports or sea ports
• underpasses
• government offices

Smoking and e-cigarette bans

It is illegal to smoke outside or in any communal spaces unless they contain a designated smoking area.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

If you’re found guilty of possession or use of illegal drugs, you could face a lengthy prison sentence in very basic conditions.

Using cameras in secure areas

Check before taking photographs of or near airports, military barracks, police stations, government buildings or embassies. The guards at the presidential palace may tell you not to take pictures of it. The Turkmen can be sensitive about having their picture taken without their consent.

Internet and mobile network

Internet connections outside the larger hotels can be unreliable. Many social media apps and websites, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp are blocked. Access to Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail is often difficult. VPNs are illegal in Turkmenistan and are usually blocked as soon as the authorities identify them.

There is a single state-owned mobile telephone provider, Altyn Asyr, which uses the TM CELL brand. Altyn Asyr does not provide a roaming service and the quality of the network is low.

Relationships with Turkmens

The Turkmen authorities sometimes prosecute Turkmen women if they start a sexual relationship with a foreign man. They could give the foreign man a fine and deport him.

LGBT+ travellers

Male same-sex activity is illegal, punishable by a prison sentence. Same-sex relationships generally meet with disapproval in Turkmen society. Avoid showing affection in public.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .

Transport risks

Road travel.

If you are planning to drive a hire car or a UK vehicle, see information on driving abroad . The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.

You’ll need to have both the correct version of the international driving permit ( IDP ) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.

Driving standards are poor. Road travel at night outside cities is particularly dangerous because of the condition of the roads. There is a 60km/h speed limit in much of Ashgabat, enforced by both static speed cameras and police with mobile speed cameras. There are no signs warning of speed cameras.

Licensed taxis are clearly identified and are white or yellow. Avoid unlicensed taxis.

Although taxis have meters, drivers will usually ask foreign nationals for a fee of around 20 manat. They might also ask for payment in US dollars, but this is illegal. Most taxi drivers do not speak much English.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

Earthquakes.

There is a risk of earthquakes – usually tremors, but stronger earthquakes happen regularly. Ashgabat was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1948, when up to 100,000 people were killed.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake .

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Call 03 from a landline or 003 from a mobile and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccinations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on health risks and recommended vaccinations in TravelHealthPro’s Turkmenistan guide
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on NHS travel vaccinations page

Air quality in cities in Turkmenistan can deteriorate from time to time. Minimise your exposure by staying indoors in an air-conditioned environment. Wash all fruit, vegetables and other foods that might have been exposed, and regularly damp-dust indoor surfaces.

Typhoid and hepatitis A are endemic. You should drink or use only boiled and filtered or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.

In the summer temperatures regularly reach 45°C in the shade, so drink plenty of water in the summer and avoid sunburn.

If you intend to enter Turkmenistan with medicines, whether prescription or non-prescription, you should check in advance the prohibited medicines and the legal quantities of medicines that are allowed into the country.

You could be prosecuted for possession of some drugs such as tramadol or morphine or even strong painkillers if you do not have a prescription, or if you’re carrying more than you need for your visit and do not declare them on arrival.

TravelHealthPro explains best practice when travelling with medicines .

Healthcare facilities in Turkmenistan

There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between the UK and Turkmenistan.

The quality of medical care is poor, and it is a lot more expensive than in the UK. Anything other than basic or emergency treatment, particularly outside Ashgabat, is usually best avoided. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

FCDO has a list of English-speaking doctors in Turkmenistan .

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro .

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Turkmenistan

• 03 from landline
• 003 from mobile
• 01 from landline
• 001 from mobile
• 02 from landline
• 002 from mobile

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans , including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers , funeral directors and translators and interpreters
• dealing with a death in Turkmenistan
• being arrested or imprisoned in Turkmenistan
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis , such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

You can also contact FCDO online .

Help abroad in an emergency

If you’re in Turkmenistan and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British Embassy in Ashgabat .

FCDO in London

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Book a Hotel

© Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved 2024

Turkmenistan: Coronavirus Pandemic Country Profile

Research and data: Edouard Mathieu, Hannah Ritchie, Lucas Rodés-Guirao, Cameron Appel, Daniel Gavrilov, Charlie Giattino, Joe Hasell, Bobbie Macdonald, Saloni Dattani, Diana Beltekian, Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, and Max Roser

• Coronavirus
• Data explorer
• Hospitalizations

Vaccinations

• Mortality risk
• Excess mortality
• Policy responses

Build on top of our work freely

• All our code is open-source
• All our research and visualizations are free for everyone to use for all purposes

Select countries to show in all charts

Confirmed cases.

• What is the daily number of confirmed cases?
• Daily confirmed cases: how do they compare to other countries?
• What is the cumulative number of confirmed cases?
• Cumulative confirmed cases: how do they compare to other countries?
• Biweekly cases : where are confirmed cases increasing or falling?
• Global cases in comparison: how are cases changing across the world?

Turkmenistan: What is the daily number of confirmed cases?

Related charts:.

Which world regions have the most daily confirmed cases?

This chart shows the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per day . This is shown as the seven-day rolling average.

What is important to note about these case figures?

• The reported case figures on a given date do not necessarily show the number of new cases on that day – this is due to delays in reporting.
• The number of confirmed cases is lower than the true number of infections – this is due to limited testing. In a separate post we discuss how models of COVID-19 help us estimate the true number of infections .

→ We provide more detail on these points in our page on Cases of COVID-19 .

Five quick reminders on how to interact with this chart

• By clicking on Edit countries and regions you can show and compare the data for any country in the world you are interested in.
• If you click on the title of the chart, the chart will open in a new tab. You can then copy-paste the URL and share it.
• You can switch the chart to a logarithmic axis by clicking on ‘LOG’.
• If you move both ends of the time-slider to a single point you will see a bar chart for that point in time.
• Map view: switch to a global map of confirmed cases using the ‘MAP’ tab at the bottom of the chart.

Turkmenistan: Daily confirmed cases: how do they compare to other countries?

Differences in the population size between different countries are often large. To compare countries, it is insightful to look at the number of confirmed cases per million people – this is what the chart shows.

Keep in mind that in countries that do very little testing the actual number of cases can be much higher than the number of confirmed cases shown here.

Three tips on how to interact with this map

• By clicking on any country on the map you see the change over time in this country.
• By moving the time slider (below the map) you can see how the global situation has changed over time.
• You can focus on a particular world region using the dropdown menu to the top-right of the map.

Turkmenistan: What is the cumulative number of confirmed cases?

Which world regions have the most cumulative confirmed cases?

How do the number of tests compare to the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases?

The previous charts looked at the number of confirmed cases per day – this chart shows the cumulative number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In all our charts you can download the data

We want everyone to build on top of our work and therefore we always make all our data available for download. Click on the ‘Download’-tab at the bottom of the chart to download the shown data for all countries in a .csv file.

Turkmenistan: Cumulative confirmed cases: how do they compare to other countries?

This chart shows the cumulative number of confirmed cases per million people.

Turkmenistan: Biweekly cases : where are confirmed cases increasing or falling?

Why is it useful to look at biweekly changes in confirmed cases.

For all global data sources on the pandemic, daily data does not necessarily refer to the number of new confirmed cases on that day – but to the cases  reported  on that day.

Since reporting can vary significantly from day to day – irrespectively of any actual variation of cases – it is helpful to look at a longer time span that is less affected by the daily variation in reporting. This provides a clearer picture of where the pandemic is accelerating, staying the same, or reducing.

The first map here provides figures on the number of confirmed cases in the last two weeks. To enable comparisons across countries it is expressed per million people of the population.

And the second map shows the percentage change (growth rate) over this period: blue are all those countries in which the case count in the last two weeks was lower than in the two weeks before. In red countries the case count has increased.

What is the weekly number of confirmed cases?

What is the weekly change (growth rate) in confirmed cases?

Turkmenistan: Global cases in comparison: how are cases changing across the world?

In our page on COVID-19 cases , we provide charts and maps on how the number and change in cases compare across the world.

Confirmed deaths

• What is the daily number of confirmed deaths?
• Daily confirmed deaths: how do they compare to other countries?
• What is the cumulative number of confirmed deaths?
• Cumulative confirmed deaths: how do they compare to other countries?
• Biweekly deaths : where are confirmed deaths increasing or falling?
• Global deaths in comparison: how are deaths changing across the world?

Turkmenistan: What is the daily number of confirmed deaths?

Which world regions have the most daily confirmed deaths?

This chart shows t he number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths per day .

Three points on confirmed death figures to keep in mind

All three points are true for all currently available international data sources on COVID-19 deaths:

• The actual death toll from COVID-19 is likely to be higher than the number of confirmed deaths – this is due to limited testing and challenges in the attribution of the cause of death. The difference between confirmed deaths and actual deaths varies by country.
• How COVID-19 deaths are determined and recorded may differ between countries.
• The death figures on a given date do not necessarily show the number of new deaths on that day, but the deaths  reported  on that day. Since reporting can vary significantly from day to day – irrespectively of any actual variation of deaths – it is helpful to view the seven-day rolling average of the daily figures as we do in the chart here.

→ We provide more detail on these three points in our page on Deaths from COVID-19 .

Turkmenistan: Daily confirmed deaths: how do they compare to other countries?

This chart shows the daily confirmed deaths per million people of a country’s population.

Why adjust for the size of the population?

Differences in the population size between countries are often large, and the COVID-19 death count in more populous countries tends to be higher . Because of this it can be insightful to know how the number of confirmed deaths in a country compares to the number of people who live there, especially when comparing across countries.

For instance, if 1,000 people died in Iceland, out of a population of about 340,000, that would have a far bigger impact than the same number dying in the United States, with its population of 331 million. 1 This difference in impact is clear when comparing deaths per million people of each country’s population – in this example it would be roughly 3 deaths/million people in the US compared to a staggering 2,941 deaths/million people in Iceland.

Turkmenistan: What is the cumulative number of confirmed deaths?

Which world regions have the most cumulative confirmed deaths?

The previous charts looked at the number of confirmed deaths per day – this chart shows the cumulative number of confirmed deaths since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turkmenistan: Cumulative confirmed deaths: how do they compare to other countries?

This chart shows the cumulative number of confirmed deaths per million people.

Turkmenistan: Biweekly deaths : where are confirmed deaths increasing or falling?

Why is it useful to look at biweekly changes in deaths.

For all global data sources on the pandemic, daily data does not necessarily refer to deaths on that day – but to the deaths  reported  on that day.

Since reporting can vary significantly from day to day – irrespectively of any actual variation of deaths – it is helpful to look at a longer time span that is less affected by the daily variation in reporting. This provides a clearer picture of where the pandemic is accelerating, staying the same, or reducing.

The first map here provides figures on the number of confirmed deaths in the last two weeks. To enable comparisons across countries it is expressed per million people of the population.

And the second map shows the percentage change (growth rate) over this period: blue are all those countries in which the death count in the last two weeks was lower than in the two weeks before. In red countries the death count has increased.

What is the weekly number of confirmed deaths?

What is the weekly change (growth rate) in confirmed deaths?

Turkmenistan: Global deaths in comparison: how are deaths changing across the world?

In our page on COVID-19 deaths , we provide charts and maps on how the number and change in deaths compare across the world.

• How many COVID-19 vaccine doses are administered daily ?
• How many COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in total ?
• What share of the population has received  at least one dose  of the COVID-19 vaccine?
• What share of the population has  completed the initial vaccination protocol ?
• Global vaccinations in comparison: which countries are vaccinating most rapidly?

Turkmenistan: How many COVID-19 vaccine doses are administered daily ?

How many vaccine doses are administered each day (not population adjusted)?

This chart shows the daily number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people in a given population . This is shown as the rolling seven-day average. Note that this is counted as a single dose, and may not equal the total number of people vaccinated, depending on the specific dose regime (e.g., people receive multiple doses).

Turkmenistan: How many COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in total ?

How many vaccine doses have been administered in total (not population adjusted)?

This chart shows the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people within a given population. Note that this is counted as a single dose, and may not equal the total number of people vaccinated, depending on the specific dose regime as several available COVID vaccines require multiple doses.

Turkmenistan: What share of the population has received  at least one dose  of the COVID-19 vaccine?

How many people have received at least one vaccine dose?

This chart shows the share of the total population that has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This may not equal the share with a complete initial protocol if the vaccine requires two doses. If a person receives the first dose of a 2-dose vaccine, this metric goes up by 1. If they receive the second dose, the metric stays the same.

Turkmenistan: What share of the population has  completed the initial vaccination protocol ?

How many people have completed the initial vaccination protocol?

The following chart shows the share of the total population that has completed the initial vaccination protocol. If a person receives the first dose of a 2-dose vaccine, this metric stays the same. If they receive the second dose, the metric goes up by 1.

This data is only available for countries which report the breakdown of doses administered by first and second doses.

Turkmenistan: Global vaccinations in comparison: which countries are vaccinating most rapidly?

In our page on COVID-19 vaccinations, we provide maps and charts on how the number of people vaccinated compares across the world.

Testing for COVID-19

• The positive rate
• The scale of testing compared to the scale of the outbreak
• How many tests are performed each day ?
• Global testing in comparison: how is testing changing across the world?

Turkmenistan: The positive rate

Here we show the share of reported tests returning a positive result – known as the positive rate.

The positive rate can be a good metric for how adequately countries are testing because it can indicate the level of testing relative to the size of the outbreak. To be able to properly monitor and control the spread of the virus, countries with more widespread outbreaks need to do more testing.

It can also be helpful to think of the positive rate the other way around:

How many tests have countries done for each confirmed case in total across the outbreak?

Turkmenistan: The scale of testing compared to the scale of the outbreak

How do daily tests and daily new confirmed cases compare when not adjusted for population ?

This scatter chart provides another way of seeing the extent of testing relative to the scale of the outbreak in different countries.

The chart shows the daily number of tests (vertical axis) against the daily number of new confirmed cases (horizontal axis), both per million people.

Turkmenistan: How many tests are performed each day ?

This chart shows the number of  daily  tests per thousand people. Because the number of tests is often volatile from day to day, we show the figures as a seven-day rolling average.

What is counted as a test?

The number of tests does not refer to the same thing in each country – one difference is that some countries report the number of people tested, while others report the number of tests (which can be higher if the same person is tested more than once). And other countries report their testing data in a way that leaves it unclear what the test count refers to exactly.

We indicate the differences in the chart and explain them in detail in our accompanying  source descriptions .

Turkmenistan: Global testing in comparison: how is testing changing across the world?

In our page on COVID-19 testing , we provide charts and maps on how the number and change in tests compare across the world.

Case fatality rate

• What does the data on deaths and cases tell us about the mortality risk of COVID-19?
• The case fatality rate
• Learn in more detail about the mortality risk of COVID-19

Turkmenistan: What does the data on deaths and cases tell us about the mortality risk of COVID-19?

To understand the risks and respond appropriately we would also want to know the mortality risk of COVID-19 – the likelihood that someone who is infected with the disease will die from it.

We look into this question in more detail on our page about the mortality risk of COVID-19 , where we explain that this requires us to know – or estimate – the number of total cases and the final number of deaths for a given infected population.

Because these are not known , we discuss what the current data on confirmed deaths and cases can and can not tell us about the risk of death. This chart shows both those metrics.

Turkmenistan: The case fatality rate

Related chart:.

How do the cumulative number of confirmed deaths and cases compare?

The case fatality rate is simply the ratio of the two metrics shown in the chart above.

The case fatality rate is the number of confirmed deaths divided by the number of confirmed cases.

This chart here plots the CFR calculated in just that way. 

During an outbreak – and especially when the total number of cases is not known – one has to be very careful in interpreting the CFR . We wrote a  detailed explainer  on what can and can not be said based on current CFR figures.

Turkmenistan: Learn in more detail about the mortality risk of COVID-19

Learn what we know about the mortality risk of COVID-19 and explore the data used to calculate it.

Government Responses

• Government Stringency Index

To understand how governments have responded to the pandemic, we rely on data from the Oxford Coronavirus Government Response Tracker  (OxCGRT), which is published and managed by researchers at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.

This tracker collects publicly available information on 17 indicators of government responses, spanning containment and closure policies (such as school closures and restrictions in movement); economic policies; and health system policies (such as testing regimes).

How have countries responded to the pandemic?

Travel bans, stay-at-home restrictions, school closures – how have countries responded to the pandemic? Explore the data on all policy measures.

Turkmenistan: Government Stringency Index

The chart here shows how governmental response has changed over time. It shows the Government Stringency Index – a composite measure of the strictness of policy responses.

The index on any given day is calculated as the mean score of nine policy measures, each taking a value between 0 and 100. See the authors’  full description  of how this index is calculated.

A higher score indicates a stricter government response (i.e. 100 = strictest response).

The OxCGRT project calculates this index using nine specific measures, including:

• school and workplace closures;
• restrictions on public gatherings;
• transport restrictions;
• and stay-at-home requirements.

You can see all of these separately on our page on policy responses . There you can also compare these responses in countries across the world.

Our World in Data is free and accessible for everyone.

Help us do this work by making a donation.

Coronavirus: Why has Turkmenistan reported no cases?

• Published 7 April 2020

The mass cycle rally is billed as a highlight of the day of health on 7 April

As the Covid-19 map gets covered by growing red circles, several countries still haven't registered a single case of infection, including one of the most repressive states in the world - Turkmenistan. Many experts are concerned its government may be hiding the truth, which could disrupt attempts to end the pandemic.

While the world battles coronavirus and more and more countries lock down their populations, Turkmenistan is holding a mass cycling rally to mark World Health Day on Tuesday.

The Central Asian country claims it still has zero coronavirus cases. But can we trust the figures provided by a government renowned for censorship?

"Official health statistics from Turkmenistan are notoriously unreliable," said Professor Martin McKee from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who has studied the Turkmen healthcare system.

"For the past decade they have claimed to have no people living with HIV/Aids, a figure that is not plausible. We also know that, in the 2000s, they suppressed evidence of a series of outbreaks, including plague."

Many in Turkmenistan are even afraid of suggesting Covid-19 may already be in the country.

"My acquaintance who works in a state agency told me that I shouldn't say that the virus is here or that I heard about it, otherwise I may get into trouble," said a resident of the capital Ashgabat, who asked to remain anonymous.

In February, Turkmen hospitals did have posters about coronavirus but they were removed

The Turkmen authorities are, however, working on tackling a possible outbreak.

Together with UN agencies in the country, they are discussing a plan of action.

The UN Resident Co-ordinator, Elena Panova, told the BBC that this plan included country level co-ordination, risk communication, case investigation, laboratory diagnostics and other measures.

When I asked her whether the UN trusted the official figures showing Turkmenistan had no confirmed Covid-19 cases, Ms Panova avoided giving a straight answer.

"We are relying on official information because this is what all countries are doing," she said. "There is no question of trust because that's the way it works."

Ms Panova said early measures on restricting travel might have contributed to lack of confirmed cases.

Berdymukhamedov ridiculed for exercise video

Turkmen president drifts into pole position at rally

How the rumour mill 'killed off' a president

All you need to know about Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan did indeed close most of its land border crossings more than a month ago.

It also cancelled flights to China and some other countries in early February and started diverting all international flights from the capital to Turkmenabat in the north-east, where a quarantine zone was created.

However, according to several residents, some people were able bribe their way out of the zone and avoid two weeks of isolation in a tent.

Ms Panova said everyone arriving in the country and those showing symptoms were being tested for Covid-19. However, she could not give exact figures of how many tests were conducted a day and how many test kits Turkmenistan had overall.

"What we understand in talking to government officials is that they have sufficient tests."

But how ready is the health system to deal with a coronavirus outbreak?

"We don't know," Ms Panova admitted. "We've been told that they have a certain level of preparedness and we don't doubt it... as the hospitals here are very well equipped."

"However, if there is an outbreak that's a huge pressure on the health system like in any other country. So, irrespective of how much you've prepared, it usually is insufficient. That's why we're already talking to them about procuring ventilators, and also other types of equipment."

There is some sense of awareness of the outbreak among the public. Movement between cities has been restricted and those who enter Ashgabat must now have a doctor's note.

President Berdymukhamedov is frequently seen cycling or in other sporty pursuits

Markets and offices are being fumigated with smoke from a type of grass called yuzarlik, used in herbal remedies, after President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said burning it would ward off the virus - despite there being no evidence.

But unlike most of the world, daily life in Turkmenistan continues as normal.

Cafes and restaurants are open. Crowds gather for weddings. Nobody wears masks and mass events are going ahead.

It appears the country is in denial about admitting the major threat posed by coronavirus.

A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?

AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise

LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area

MAPS AND CHARTS: Visual guide to the outbreak

VIDEO: The 20-second hand wash

Why might that be? The World Health Day mass cycle may provide an explanation.

President Berdymukhamedov is the biggest star and the main focus of the annual event.

The image of health is part of his cult of personality. State TV regularly shows him lifting weights in the gym, or cycling on his bike. He is the main driver of "health and happiness" campaigns in which state employees wearing identical uniforms do their morning exercises.

The main message of all these events is that the nation is healthy, and thus happy, thanks to the president.

Mr Berdymukhamedov proclaimed his presidency as the "era of might and happiness". And an outbreak of Covid-19 could expose how hollow his messages are.

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Four ways to protect yourself from coronavirus

It is for this reason the Turkmen government might try to conceal an outbreak, even if its citizens do get infected.

And that is what worries Prof McKee.

"We have seen how the Covid-19 infection moved rapidly from China to all parts of the world. In this globalised economy that we now live in, every country is only as secure as the weakest country in the world," he said.

"Even if other countries manage to get the epidemic under control, there is a risk of continued seeding of infections from those countries that have failed to. It seems that Turkmenistan may well be another example."

More on this story

Turkmen president ridiculed for exercise video

• Published 16 December 2019

Turkmenator 2: The cult of personality

• Published 10 November 2017

Turkmen leader hurt in riding fall

• Published 30 April 2013

Turkmenistan Profile

• Published 3 July 2013

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• Get involved

UNDP supports Turkmenistan in development of the tourism statistics

December 18, 2020.

Ashgabat, 16-18 December 2020: The joint project between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan “Strengthening institutional and statistical capacity on national accounts” and the joint project between the UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan “Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Avaza” together with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO ) conducted a three-day online seminar on tourism and tourism statistics.

The aim of the seminar is to discuss with participants the impact of the tourism sector on economic development, especially its role in promoting sustainable development, as well as the exchange of experience and knowledge between stakeholders.

More than 30 representatives of the UNDP, State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, “Turkmenhowayollary” agency (Turkmenistan Airlines), the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan and tourism agencies took part in the seminar.

“It should be noted that with the outbreak of global pandemic and its impact on development of the world economy, development of tourism and its influence on both the world and the national economy is gaining ever importance in terms of building back better in post pandemic world. Tourism is gradually turning into a large independent branch of the national economy, becoming one of the subjects of world integration processes”, noted Mr. Akmyrat Danatarov, UNDP Programme Analyst for Governance, Economic Diversification, and Inclusive Growth.

During the seminar participants discussed the general assessment of the tourism sector of Turkmenistan and legislation, especially in comparison with regional and global standards and current trends, the potential of cultural tourism in Turkmenistan and assessment of the development potential of the Silk Road heritage corridors located within the borders of modern Turkmenistan. International experts from the United Nations World Tourism Organization Mr. Patrick Fritz and Dr. Gaygysyz Jorayev made presentations on the impact of COVID-19 on Tourism and UN WTO Response, relationship between tourism, economic growth and the protection of tourism resources, tourism-related statistics and datasets, turning data into research, and research into strategy and evidence-based tourism planning, facts-based tourism planning.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Turkmenistan travel advice

Latest updates: The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Last updated: May 6, 2024 10:24 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, turkmenistan - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Turkmenistan due to heightened tensions throughout the region and crime.

Border with Afghanistan - Avoid all travel

Avoid all travel to within 5 km of the border with Afghanistan due to the dangerous security situation and the risk of terrorism.

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Border areas with Afghanistan

The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan border has transit points for drugs and other smuggled goods. The security situation in Afghanistan is extremely unpredictable due to ongoing insurgency, terrorist attacks, kidnapping and a high crime rate. You should not travel near or attempt to cross the border.

Border with Kazakhstan

The border between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan is currently closed to traffic.

Street crime, such as mugging and pickpocketing, occurs. Acts of banditry occur in remote areas. Remain vigilant and ensure that your personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure. Don ’ t travel alone, and avoid showing signs of affluence. Alcohol-related incidents, including bar fights and drunk driving, are common. At nightclubs, drinks should never be left unattended, and drinks should never be accepted from unknown people.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations occur. regularly.

Participants to minority religious gatherings have been the target of police raids, arbitrary arrests and beatings.

Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation. 

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Identification

There is a significant police and military presence throughout Turkmenistan. Carry your original passport, a photocopy of the passport or other photo ID at all times, as officials frequently request proof of identity. Cooperate with police authorities if stopped for questioning. Leave a photocopy of your passport with a relative or a friend at home.

Chesckpoints

Security personnel maintain checkpoints on major roads and may place visitors under surveillance. Foreigners are often subjected to questioning and car and home searches. Hotel rooms, telephones, e-mail and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. Some foreigners have been detained. 

Curfews may be imposed, and areas may be cordoned off on short notice. The violation of a curfew can result in immediate deportation and a ban against returning to Turkmenistan for five years.

Women’s safety

Women should not travel alone in Turkmenistan.

There are sensitivities around relationships between foreign men and local women, and Turkmen authorities are known to take action against both.

Advice for women travellers

Tourist facilities

Tourist facilities are limited, especially outside Ashgabat. Many goods and services are not available.

Telecommunications

Cellular reception is poor outside of major cities.

Internet connections outside the larger hotels can be unreliable and many social media sites, including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, are blocked.

Some messaging Apps, such as WhatsApp, are also blocked.

Road safety

Driving standards are poor. Rural roads are often in disrepair and unlit. Animals frequently wander onto the road. Random traffic police checks and roadblocks are common.

There is no roadside assistance in Turkmenistan.

Public transportation

Don’t travel or use public transportation after dark.

Use only officially marked taxis and pre-negotiate the fare. Avoid shared taxis.

Avoid travel by train, as service is slow and crime is prevalent. If you must travel by train, store your personal belongings in a safe place and do not leave the compartment unattended. Secure your door from the inside.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Turkmen authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date on your letter of invitation.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: required Business visa: required Student visa: required

Letter of invitation

You must present a letter of invitation in support of your visa application. Obtain this letter from the person you intend to visit, from the company for which you will be working, or from an authorized travel agency in Turkmenistan. The person/organization inviting you must submit a request to the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan (SMS).

State Migration Service of Turkmenistan

Migration card

You must complete a migration card and pay a migration fee upon arrival at an airport or border crossing. Border officials will provide you with a copy of this card, which you must carry with you and return to border officials upon departure. Failure to produce the card or return it on exit can result in fines and departure delays.

Registration

If you plan to stay for more than three working days, you must register your arrival with the SMS. You must also deregister with the SMS prior to departure. Failure to register properly can result in fines, arrest and/or deportation. If you are deported for these violations, authorities will bar your return to Turkmenistan for up to five years.

Border areas

Areas bordering Iran, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, including the city of Dashoguz and areas of the Caspian coast, are restricted zones. You must obtain permission from the Government of Turkmenistan to travel to these areas. Submit applications to travel to these areas at least 10 working days before your intended date of travel. 

Health entry requirements

You must produce a negative result on an HIV test certificate if you intend to remain in Turkmenistan for longer than three months.

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is not required to enter this country.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.  

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

Medical services and facilities

Avoid medical clinics as they often lack basic drugs and equipment and have poor hygiene standards. Most health-care providers only accept cash payments.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Medications

If travelling with prescription medication, check with the Government of Turkmenistan to ensure that the medication is legal in Turkmenistan.

Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and heavy fines. 

Drugs, alcohol and travel

It is against the law to smoke outside in Turkmenistan, except in designated smoking areas.

Prostitution

Prostitution is illegal.

Authorities will generally consider any Turkmen woman leaving a club with a foreign man late at night to be a prostitute. On that basis, the foreigner may be detained.

Lèse-majesté

Avoid publicly discussing politics or criticizing the country’s current and previous leaders.

Photography

Photography of military installations, police stations, airports, government buildings and other sensitive sites may result in a penalty.

Seek permission from local authorities before taking photographs.

Communications

Satellite phones and other forms of communication are illegal. 

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

The laws of Turkmenistan prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers should carefully consider the risks of travelling to Turkmenistan.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Turkmenistan.

If local authorities consider you a citizen of Turkmenistan, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services. This will prevent us from providing you with those services.

Travellers with dual citizenship

Canadians with Turkmen citizenship may be subject to national obligations, such as taxes. Check your status with the Embassy of the Republic of Turkmenistan in Washington, D.C., prior to departure.

Dual Turkmen–Canadian citizens are likely to have a difficult time returning to Canada after visiting Turkmenistan, and it might be necessary for them to renounce Turkmen citizenship in order to be allowed to depart. The renunciation process can take six months or longer.

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Turkmenistan.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Turkmenistan, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Turkmen court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Turkmenistan to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• The Hague Convention - Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

In 2025, the lunar month of Ramadan is expected to begin on or around February 28.

In public, between sunrise and sunset, be discreet when:

Cultural objects, such as woven carpets and artefacts, must be authenticated by the Ministry of Culture prior to departure.

Failure to do so will result in confiscation and/or a fine that may be greater than the value of the item in question.

Drinking and driving is strictly forbidden. Drivers may be fined or jailed if any amount of alcohol is detected.

You should carry an international driving permit.

Foreigners residing in Turkmenistan must apply for a local driver’s licence with the Road Police Department. 

International Driving Permit

Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan

The currency is the new Turkmenistan manat (TMT).

The economy is primarily cash-based. A few hotels and restaurants in Ashgabat accept credit cards (specifically American Express and Visa) and traveller’s cheques in U.S. dollars. U.S. currency and euros can be exchanged into the local currency at banks and exchange bureaus. Since there are few international ATMs in the country, you may find it difficult to obtain cash.

You must declare all foreign currency you bring into the country.

Turkmenistan is located in an active seismic zone.

Heavy rains may trigger floods and landslides.

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• police: 02 (002 from mobile)
• medical assistance: 03 (003 from mobile)
• firefighters: 01 (001 from mobile)

Consular assistance

There is no resident Canadian government office in Turkmenistan. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information from the Embassy of Canada to Kazakhstan, in Astana.

Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to Kazakhstan, in Astana, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

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• v.22(2); 2020 Dec

COVID-19 in Turkmenistan

Aynabat yaylymova.

Founder and Executive Director of Saglyk.org

Turkmenistan, with a population of about 6 million, has, as of October 1, 2020, reported no SARS-CoV-2 infections, nor any COVID-19 related deaths. 1 There are no daily updates and barely any testing. However, there are reports of more deaths from acute respiratory illnesses than normal, and the autocratic government, known for endemic corruption, puts these down to dust and air pollution. 2

Despite the government’s refusal to acknowledge that COVID-19 is present in the country, reports of cases circulate among friends, in social media, and by civil society organizations, and efforts are being made to track COVID deaths. 3 The pandemic and related insecurity arising from fear of disease and lack of any information are affecting the Turkmen people’s physical and mental health. Despite known deaths in neighbouring countries, within its borders all the public hears is that “there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.”

To Turkmens, this denial of their right to information, to health care, and to transparency is normal. The public has not seen any public health data from the government in the last 29 years since it became an independent country in 1991. The Ministry of Health and the State Committee on Statistics, TurkmenStat, do not provide any statistics that concern human development in Turkmenistan. 4 It has not reported any HIV infections since independence. 5 Public health data is missing in the government’s reports to the World Health Organization (WHO). Some UN country reports have acknowledged a significant difference between local and international data being reported. 6

The Soviet healthcare system that was inherited at independence is now struggling to cope with a chronic shortage of healthcare workers, medicines, other health supplies and poor management. 7 Ranked 101 out of 195 in the 2019 Global Health Security Index, Turkmenistan is poorly prepared to cope with a pandemic. 8 People’s rights to healthcare have been unfulfilled for so long, there is little confidence or trust in the population that the health system is able to help them.

Relying on civil society

In response to this pernicious and perilous, situation, alternative networks have emerged over the years to provide public health information. Since February 2020, Saglyk.org, a non-government organization founded in 2009, has been providing the public with science-based information on COVID-19, in the Turkmen language. 9 The organization has also repeatedly sought to engage the Ministry of Health and WHO, and to provide science-based and ideology-free information, but Saglyk has received no replies to its requests. 10

The government acknowledged the risk of COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and in March was closing borders and quarantining those entering Turkmenistan. 11 The country’s small population and relative geographical isolation may have actually curbed the spread of the virus, but without access to data and scientific information letting people know how to protect themselves, the government squandered its opportunity, and failed to uphold its obligations, to keep the people safe.

In April, a WHO expert mission announced it would visit Turkmenistan but it took three months, according to the organization, to clear logistical issues. The 10-day mission took place in July and at its conclusion released a statement noting there were no confirmed cases, but advising the country to act as if COVID-19 is present in the country. 12 The WHO Head of Mission did not dispute the ministry’s report of increased pneumonia cases in the country. The WHO statement was disappointing for the population that had been hopeful it might nudge the government to embrace reality and fulfill human rights. Saglyk.org released a statement to the public on the government and WHO’s actions and expressing concern that the government and WHO were masking the public health emergency in Turkmenistan. 13

Saglyk has also found that doctors received no information about the pandemic, nor medical treatment or prevention protocols, until mid-August. Despite ongoing reports of pneumonia, the lack of testing for COVID-19 removes any possibility of confirming the presence of the disease. On August 7, 2020, the head of WHO Europe, Hans Kluge, tweeted that he was alarmed by the increase of pneumonia cases in the country and proposed that COVID-19 tests from Turkmen patients be conducted in WHO reference labs outside Turkmenistan. He also said that the President of Turkmenistan agreed to the plan. 14 Yet, this news was not covered by the state media and on August 31, Saglyk wrote to WHO Turkmenistan asking for any update on the agreed upon testing. WHO responded that they are once again having logistical difficulties gaining access to the country. Many people who likely are COVID-19 positive choose to suffer at home and avoid contact with the healthcare system due to its state of disrepair and corrupt practices.

The failure in communication and management of the pandemic has brought the public’s trust to an all-time low. For the community, it is embarrassing that Turkmenistan has become a butt of jokes in international media. 15 The Turkmen public watch governments of neighbouring countries providing COVID-19 data to their population but receive no similar data to help keep themselves safe from the virus.

The public and civil society are looking to WHO and other UN agencies to prevent deaths in Turkmenistan by not accepting or supporting Turkmen practices that defy reason, logic, science, and human rights, and continue to destroy trust.

Meanwhile it remains up to civil society in Turkmenistan to continue undertaking the state’s duties to inform and educate the public, and to hold the government and WHO to account for acting in ways that are resulting in preventable loss of human life in Turkmenistan.

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Turkmenistan

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• Covid-19: Turkmenistan...

Covid-19: Turkmenistan becomes first country to make vaccination mandatory for all adults

Read our latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

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• Peer review

Turkmenistan will legally require all residents over 18 to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, the country’s health ministry said on 7 July. Only those with medical contraindications will be exempted.

Turkmenistan’s vaccine laws will be the strictest in the world, surpassing those of Saudi Arabia, which since March has operated a broad “no jab, no job” policy in both public and private sectors.

Turkmenistan also announced new mask and social distancing requirements, although it has yet to acknowledge any covid-19 deaths. The government of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has drawn criticism from the World Health Organization for its refusal to provide data on covid cases and deaths, a stance it now shares only with North Korea. Other formerly reluctant countries like Tanzania and Nicaragua have begun reporting.

Berdymukhamedov reiterated his claim that his country is covid-free at a televised government meeting on 29 June, but in the same comments he repeated previous complaints about a need for more effective vaccines.

Turkmenistan’s announcement follows recent moves in neighbouring Russia and Kazakhstan to require vaccination from broad categories of workers, as a third—or in some cases fourth—wave appears to be gathering strength in the region.

Kazakhstan has required all employers from a broad range of industries—including transport, retail, banking, and communications—to vaccinate their workers since 2 July. Since mid-June, it has required businesses in the hospitality, education, healthcare, and entertainment sectors to ensure that 60% of staff are vaccinated.

Other countries

But other, less centralised countries are also moving towards mandatory vaccination of large sectors of their populations. Greece will next week announce which categories of jobs are to be included in new national vaccine laws, government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni said on 8 July.

France’s government said on 7 July that it was preparing a law to make coronavirus vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers. “It’s a question of responsibility. We will have a mandatory vaccination for the people that are, every day, in contact with the most fragile people in the French population,” finance minister Bruno Le Maire told CNBC.

Fiji’s government said on 9 July that it will enforce vaccination for all employees. “It does not matter if you are the chief executive of a company, a sole trader, or a salaried employee,” said Fiji's prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, in a televised speech. “You must be vaccinated to continue working or else that business will risk being shut down. No jabs, no job—that is what the science tells us is safest and that is now the policy of government and enforced through law.” 1

Latvia’s government is currently advancing legislation which would make vaccination mandatory for public service employees, health workers, social workers, and teachers, among others. It will also authorise private employers to dismiss staff who have not obtained vaccination certificates by 15 September. Opposition parties have vowed to block the law. 2

In Turkmenistan, the number of current cases remains a state secret, but neighbouring Iran is reporting a major surge, as are Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. There are no reliable statistics from Turkmenistan, which some experts say is overestimating its population by a factor of two to hide massive depopulation in recent years, as workers fled to Russia, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. 3 The country refused to release the results of its last census in 2012.

The central Asian countries with the highest vaccination rates are Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, where 23% and 21% of the populations have received at least one dose. That figure falls to 3.7% in Tajikistan, 2.3% in Armenia, and 1.9% in Kyrgyzstan. Turkmenistan does not release figures. Most countries in the region have used Russian and Chinese vaccines, as well as limited supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Research published in May by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that central Asia and Eastern Europe are the regions hardest hit by the covid-19 pandemic, but that governments there have seriously undercounted cases and deaths. 4

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ's website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

• ↵ Panapasa G. No jabs, no job: Fiji threatens unvaccinated workers with sack. Guardian. 9 July 2021. www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/09/no-jabs-no-job-fiji-threatens-unvaccinated-workers-with-sack .
• ↵ Opposition MPs planning to demand popular vote on “mandatory vaccination.” Baltic Times. 8 July 2021. www.baltictimes.com/opposition_mps_planning_to_demand_popular_vote_on__mandatory_vaccination_ .
• ↵ Sources: Turkmenistan in a state of depopulation. There are 2.7 million population left in the country. Radio Azatlyk. 2 July 2021. https://rus.azathabar.com/a/turkmenistan-in-state-of-depopulation-with-under-three-million-people/31338392.html .
• ↵ Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Estimation of excess mortality due to covid-19. 13 May 2021. www.healthdata.org/special-analysis/estimation-excess-mortality-due-covid-19-and-scalars-reported-covid-19-deaths .

COVID-19 Response in Turkmenistan Strengthened with World Bank Financing

ASHGABAT, July 9, 2021  – The World Bank has approved $20 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for the  Turkmenistan COVID-19 Response Project . The financing will reinforce the country’s response efforts and preparedness against the health and social risks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular, the World Bank will support priority activities under the National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan , which strengthen country-level coordination, upgrade risk communication and community outreach, and reinforce testing, response capacities, infection prevention and control, and case management practices in health care facilities.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented threat to hard-won development gains around the world, including in Turkmenistan, calling for urgent and decisive actions,” said Jan-Peter Olters, World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan and Turkmenistan . “By collaborating on the COVID-19 response, Turkmenistan will be better prepared to improve the quality of, and increase the access to, healthcare and adopt a more holistic approach to delivering health services effectively and inclusively.”

Turkmenistan will improve and upgrade its capacity to respond to COVID-19 with project activities focusing on strengthening and improving access to healthcare services and providing COVID-19-related care to all citizens, including vulnerable population groups. The proposed investments are expected to generate benefits beyond pandemic response, including by improving information systems to monitor infectious diseases, establishing a solid capacity for infection control in health facilities, and introducing innovations in provision of health services.

In addition, the project will support procurement of medical, diagnostic, waste management equipment, and critical supplies, such as testing kits, laboratory reagents, and medicine. Medical staff will receive training in COVID-19 care and infection prevention, as well as longer-term capacity-building in critical care provision. To support these efforts, the project will partner with other development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant UN agencies.

By procuring climate-smart laboratory technology, the project contributes to overarching climate change objectives. In the longer term the project will provide training activities for public health specialists to enhance their ability to detect future outbreaks, including those caused by climate-related diseases.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and its Division for Sanitary and Epidemiological Safety and Control will play a key role in the coordination and implementation of project activities. The Government of Turkmenistan will partner with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that will act as Project Implementing Entity.

The World Bank , one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries respond to the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19. This includes  $12 billion  to help low- and middle-income countries purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments, and strengthen vaccination systems. The financing builds on the broader World Bank Group COVID-19 response , which is helping more than 100 countries strengthen health systems, support the poorest households, and create supportive conditions to maintain livelihoods and jobs for those hit hardest.

Drukair sees surge in tourist arrivals, improving financial performance after Covid-19

Sherab Lhamo

Drukair’s financial performance improved post-Covid-19, driven by a rise in tourist arrivals. Although not fully recovered from pandemic losses, first-quarter 2024 data shows a 23 percent increase in passenger traffic compared to the previous year’s same period.

Drukair’s CEO, Tandi Wangchuk, said that this year they witnessed a significant growth in tourist numbers, leading to profitable international operations for the airline.

In the first quarter of 2024, Bhutan welcomed 41,394 tourists, a notable increase from the 26,465 visitors in the same period last year. This surge generated revenue of USD 13 million, as reported by the Department of Tourism.

During peak seasons such as March, April, September, and October, the majority of international tourists visiting Bhutan choose to travel to Bumthang.

  Tandi Wangchuk said that Drukair was able to cover the basic operating costs through domestic airports.

There are two peak seasons when flights experience high occupancy rates—during the winter months of December, January, and February, local residents opt for flights to avoid hazardous road conditions, and during the monsoon, travellers prefer flights to circumvent roadblocks caused by landslides.

Tandi Wangchuk said that during the school holidays in December and January, there was an increase in Bhutanese travellers. Conversely, in other seasons such as March, April, September, and October, there is a higher influx of tourist travellers.

Drukair recorded a pre-tax profit (PBT) of Nu 291 million in fiscal year 2023. However, after taxes, the company experienced a net loss of Nu 62.8 million.

Tandi Wangchuk said that, post Covid-19, international travel patterns were highly erratic. Initially, the majority of passenger traffic was outbound from Bhutan, which Tandi Wangchuk attributed to a significant number of Bhutanese traveling to Australia.

Inbound flights had minimal passengers, resulting in limited profitability.

Tandi Wangchuk said that the company was striving to meet operational expenses and anticipates a full recovery from covid-time losses within five years.

As of April 2024, the majority of Drukair passengers, 48 percent, belonged to the “others” category —travellers not from SAARC region or Bhutan, followed by Bhutanese travellers at 44 percent, and SAARC nationals comprising eight percent of Drukair travellers.

Drukair is exploring the possibility of expanding routes to Dubai, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad in India, in the near future.

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Long Covid: the cause, the consequence, the future of clinical trials

Imperial College London hopes its recently published Long Covid study will lead to further clinical trials into the activation pathways it has identified.

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While Covid-19 may seem like a distant memory, for sufferers of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), otherwise known as Long Covid, the virus has cast a long shadow.

The ongoing effects of Long Covid, which can leave sufferers with anxiety and depression, respiratory issues, and brain fog, have taken many out of the workforce.

The 2023 estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) put Long Covid sufferers at almost two million in the UK and the Patient-Led Research Collaborative estimates that 65 million are affected by the condition worldwide.

The figures are alarming, and Long Covid remains difficult to diagnose and treat. Imperial College London recently published findings from the largest study of UK patients hospitalised with the condition.

Lead researcher professor Peter Openshaw believes his team’s research could form the basis for further, more targeted clinical trials, to ultimately identify a diagnostic method for Long Covid treatment, which Imperial’s research indicates may not be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.

The largest UK study of hospitalised Long Covid patients

Imperial’s study aimed to see if a biological basis could be found for different types of Long Covid, with Openshaw and his team starting under the assumption that not all Long Covid is the same and that there may be different types.

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In a subset of around 2,000 Long Covid patients from the national ISARIC-4C study, Openshaw’s team tested serial samples of blood and nasal fluid so they could monitor how things changed over time.

“We published quite extensively on the initial analysis, which showed the inflammatory basis of acute Covid, and then we were able to follow up some of the cases through into the recovery or development of prolonged symptoms of Long Covid,” says Openshaw.

The sub-study comprised 657 people who were mainly infected during the first year of the pandemic.

At the six-month time point, 35% said they had recovered completely, and 65% said they still had symptoms of Long Covid. Patient symptoms were assessed using questionnaires and well-validated scales, including the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) scale for fatigue, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for cognitive impairment.

This approach helped the team group people into those who had recovered first and then split down those with continued symptoms.

“It’s important to point out that people could have more than one symptom complex. Very commonly people had cardio-respiratory symptoms and fatigue, while it was also quite common to have cardiorespiratory symptoms, fatigue, and anxiety and depression,” explains Openshaw.

From there, the team looked at the inflammatory markers they had measured in patients’ blood using the protein biomarker platform Olink, followed by a statistical analysis technique called penalised logistic regression.

According to Openshaw, this statistical technique was key in finding the patterns of inflammation.

“The reason that particular statistical technique worked is that it’s designed for high dimensional data where you have many different parameters, and it restricts variables that are highly correlated, so it looks for combined effects and multiple variables without introducing redundancy into the analysis,” says Openshaw.

In most cases, regardless of clinical type, the team found evidence of myeloid cell activation – a cell that activates in response to pathogens and tissue damage – and complement system activation – a system that triggers a cascade of inflammatory proteins, typically due to an infection, which, in Long Covid patients, appeared to remain activated despite having recovered from acute Covid.

The future of clinical trials

Openshaw believes Imperial’s study has reinforced the idea that there are subtypes of Long Covid, and that some types may better respond to different treatment types than others.

While Imperial’s study has identified pathways that seem to be involved in the different subgroups of Long Covid by symptom, Openshaw hastens to add that it hasn’t identified biomarkers.

“None of the things that we’ve measured individually is distinct enough to be used clinically to say, yes, you have Long Covid, or no, you don’t have Long Covid. It’s not a useful marker,” he says.

Openshaw’s asserts that future clinical trials need to study the pathways Imperial has identified better, using other techniques, in the hope that biomarkers, which could be used to diagnose and monitor the effects of treatment, be determined.

He also advises that future trials look at what else can be measured within the pathways identified, which may involve developing a more specific way of monitoring the activity of those pathways.

“That might then be a diagnostic, or to point us in the direction of specific therapies directed at those pathways that might help people with their symptoms,” he says.

 “If we’re going to be putting people on trials, then having something that can be measured in terms of a response in the blood, that indicates improvement or deterioration, would be very useful. And we’re not at that stage yet. I think more research is needed.”

On the structure of future clinical trials, Openshaw’s perspective is that it is inadvisable to have a lot of underpowered small studies going on at individual hospitals.

His belief is that we must learn from what was observed during acute Covid, which saw thousands of people recruited into simple trial designs that started with many possible therapeutics before transferring patients into particular therapeutic limbs when an advantage was shown, or dropping them out from other limbs where there appeared to be no initial advantage.

He says: “That sort of adaptive design was so powerful during the acute disease, and we need the same. We mustn’t have underpowered individual studies that fail to show any difference.”

Persistent virus

Persistent virus – a virus that is not cleared but remains in specific cells of infected individuals – is widely held up as the cause of Long Covid.

On the idea of persistent virus based on Imperial’s research, Openshaw says: “In fatigue, we found a signal of mucosal or tissue-specific inflammation, which I think would fit with the idea that the virus could be persisting in mucosal sites like the gut.”

“I think a lot of this inflammation could actually be driven from persistent virus, which could be present in sites we didn’t sample.”

While Imperial’s study looked at the consequences of Long Covid, UK-based Attomarker has developed a Multi-Variant Antibody Immunity Spectrum test enabling the analysis of the quality and quality, or stickiness, of antibodies across all Covid variants.

Working with clinical partners, the company has applied its test as a means of understanding why some patients end up with Long Covid.

Attomarker CEO and founder Professor Andrew Shaw says: “We have now looked at more than 160 Long Covid patients, and about half of them have very poor-quality antibodies, leading to a persistent virus that will trigger downstream inflammatory processes.”

Treating Long Covid with immunotherapy

Attomarker’s test findings suggest low quality and quantity of antibodies is a chief cause of Long Covid. The company believes that therapies tailored to each patient’s unique immunity spectrum, including immunotherapies to plug gaps in each patient’s antibody spectrum by administering high-quality antibodies into their blood to attack the persistent virus, could help.

“Once this is achieved, the patient’s immune system may be encouraged to make a more permanent fix after being given a different type of vaccine, a heterologous vaccine. The idea is that the patient’s immune endotype is better primed to clear and resist the virus,” says Shaw.

“As a result, based on the inflammation that the Long Covid study at Imperial is observing, its study will in time reveal new markers of recovery if the persistent virus is cleared.”

Openshaw agrees that trial combination antivirals continued for a sufficient period may work in clearing a persistent virus.

On the future of immunology profiling data, Shaw believes that it should form the basis of interventional clinical trials. According to Shaw, there is no reason why this couldn’t happen, based on the likelihood of Long Covid leading to a wider field of post-pathogen sequalae research.

He explains: “Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) chronic fatigue syndrome, for instance, has been associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), so I would be fascinated to run an antibody profile for EBV analysis if grant funding were available.”

Shaw goes on to say that EBV is one interesting proposition given it is thought to be an oncovirus in around 30% of cancers; and in which persistent virus in the body could prove to be the vector by which cancer starts.

He says: “Therefore, I think we need to have a better look at EBV and vaccines for it, along with possible other areas like long lime virus and the reason why people are just not shaking it. My postulate would be they’re making bad antibodies and so do not have a sterilising serum.”

Whether the most effective treatment for Long Covid comes through immunotherapies and the administration of tailored antivirals, which Attomarker and other companies have experimented with, remains to be seen.

What seems clear is that Imperial’s study brings researchers closer to understanding what areas could benefit from further study in clinical trials, to help treat Long Covid more quickly, and accurately, than before.

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Tourism sector rolls out road map to boost visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels

T he tourism industry has rolled out a road map it hopes will bring more visitors to Canada after the bruising it took during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the country’s largest annual tourism convention being held in Edmonton, Destination Canada and the federal government unveiled a plan Thursday that aims to extend the travel season, increase the length of stays and attract more locals, foreigners and business people to a broader range of sites.

A warming planet means wildfires are warding off visitors and milder winters are wreaking havoc on ski resorts. But the hotter weather has also opened a way to draw travellers in the spring and fall that could fill hotels and tour buses into the shoulder seasons, Destination Canada CEO Marsha Walden said.

“We would love to retain our workforce longer into the season. And normally the product doesn't need to be hugely adapted to take in a new season like fall and approaching into winter,” Walden said in an interview.

“We really need to lean heavily on expanding further into the shoulders.”

Building out attractions into year-round vacation spots is also an option, with resorts from Quebec's Mont Tremblant to Ontario's Blue Mountain showcasing how summer activities can lure visitors beyond the traditional ski crowd.

"When you think Whistler, what do you think — you think skiing, right? But Whistler in the summer, it's also pretty amazing," said Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada in an interview.

Meanwhile, more drawn-out getaways would amount to millions more in the coffers of hospitality companies.

“Having people stay longer — having people spend more money — is just good for tourism for us in Canada,” she said. Marketing campaigns that focus on “getting travellers to say, ‘If you’re going to come, you’d better stay a couple days more, because Canada is big,’” comprise part of the plan.

The federal strategy also looks to promote a broader range of destinations, from Indigenous-owned projects to ecotourism spots off the beaten path.

Business trips continue to lag behind the return of leisure travel, a post-pandemic hangover the plan aims to address as well.

By 2030, the goal is to boost Canada’s spot in a World Economic Forum ranking on tourism development after the country slipped out of the top 10 for the first time in 2022.

Tourism has come roaring back from pandemic lows, but operators say the sector has yet to reach pre-COVID levels and debt remains a hefty burden for thousands of small businesses across the country.

International visitor numbers last year sat below figures from four years earlier, with tourists from the U.S. at 85 per cent of 2019 levels and those from further afield at 78 per cent, according to Destination Canada. However, nearly four out of every five dollars generated from tourism comes from a Canadian, Walden said.

The industry brought in more than $109 billion in revenue in 2023, about four per cent more than in 2019 but significantly less in real terms after accounting for inflation, according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

Beth Potter, who heads the association, has called on the federal government to create a new low-interest loan program and temporary foreign worker stream, both specific to the tourism industry.

She said she has seen no signs of movement on those fronts in Ottawa.

Beating back Canada's growing reputation as a country ablaze marks yet another challenge.

"People thought the whole country was on fire," Martinez Ferrada said of last summer's wildfire evacuations. "We made the New York Times front page."

The minister highlighted a marketing campaign by British Columbia in the fall that made an "urgent appeal" to residents there and in Alberta and Washington to explore areas recently affected by wildfires.

Even a month of lost revenue can be "devastating," added Walden.

The sector's recovery continues to trail that of the broader business world.

The number of active tourism-linked businesses sat slightly below pre-pandemic levels as of December, while the number of businesses overall surpassed 2019 figures, data from Destination Canada showed.

Across all sectors, two in three small- and medium-sized enterprises still held pandemic debt at the end of last year, with an average of $107,700, according to a Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey of 3,148 members. Out of 14 sectors surveyed, operators in hospitality and transportation were among the most pessimistic about the coming year. Only retail scored worse.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2024.

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press

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Tourism in Scotland returns to pre-Covid levels with record number of visitors

There were 3.9 million international visits to Scotland in 2023, an increase of 15% on 2019 levels.

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Scotland welcomed its highest number of international visitors ever last year as growth returned to pre-pandemic levels, figures show.

A passenger survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics showed almost four million overseas tourists travelled to Scotland last year, an increase of 15% on 2019 levels.

There were 3.9 million visits to Scotland in 2023, up 23% from the year before.

The previous record for international visits was in 2018 when Scotland welcomed 3.7 million overseas tourists.

Inbound visitors spent £3.5 billion in 2023, up 13% from the previous year and 41% from 2019.

Visits from Europe accounted for 58% of all inbound visits in 2023, followed by North America at 24%.

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead said: “These figures mark a turning point for tourism in Scotland, showing not only recovery, but crucially growth, in international visitors with number of visits and spend now above 2019 levels.

“Scotland is the only UK region to have reached this milestone. They (the tourists) are further evidence of the strength of Scotland’s offering and the clear desire for people across the world to experience this, with record demand from North America.

“Our international visitors are hugely important to Scotland’s tourism industry, as well as the wider economy. They often stay longer and spend more, generating several billions of pounds annually, supporting a wide range of businesses, jobs and communities across the country.

“With many businesses still recovering from the challenges of the pandemic and current economic climate, this will be welcome news.

“Early feedback from tourism businesses, travel trade and airline partners are this international demand is continuing into 2024 with increasing interest for visiting at different times of the year and exploring lesser-known locations.

“At VisitScotland we are not complacent and remain focused on delivering our core purpose to drive the visitor economy and sustainably grow its value in Scotland.

“This includes influencing both international and domestic visitors before they leave home through our digital channels, as well as working with travel trade and transport partners to support tourism businesses here in Scotland.

“By encouraging regional and seasonal spread we can ensure Scotland remains a competitive year-round, must-see, must-return destination.”

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Air Vanuatu grounding prompts fears Pacific country’s tourism will take big hit

Holiday operators say Vanuatu was in post-Covid boom but tourists are ditching plans and resort staff being cut as airline’s future hangs in the air

“E verybody is complaining, it’s not good. Don’t book Air Vanuatu .” Those were the words of a taxi driver in March as he pulled away from Vanuatu’s Bauerfield international airport and headed into the heart of Port Vila, the oceanside capital of the Pacific island country.

Two months later and the frequent cancellations and delays that had become synonymous with the national carrier over the past year have given way to a government announcement that Air Vanuatu is in voluntary liquidation. In a country where 48% of gross domestic product is derived from tourism , business owners fear tourism will bear the brunt of the airline’s grounding.

“The livelihoods of thousands of ni-Vanuatu and their dependents employed in Vanuatu hotels and resorts are now at risk,” the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association (VHRA) said in a statement. “Massive damage has been done to Vanuatu’s reputation in overseas tourism markets. Potential tourists are going elsewhere, and wholesalers are selling to other, less troubled destinations.”

Before the pandemic, the 83-island country welcomed about 90,000 tourists each year, drawn in by volcanic landscapes, brochure-worthy beaches and rich marine life. The majority came from Australia and New Zealand , and while Virgin Australia also flies to and from the archipelago, Air Vanuatu carried the majority of the country’s air travellers .

Joel Slattery, owner of hotel the Moso, located on an island of the same name, said Vanuatu was in the midst of a post-pandemic tourism boom but Air Vanuatu’s ongoing turbulent operations had led to people “crossing it off their list as a destination”. Speaking from the veranda of the resort’s main house with a view out to the ocean, Slattery said that over the past few months several guests had been forced to abandon their remote-island experience.

In April 2023 the airline’s only jet, a Boeing 737, was grounded in Brisbane . In September 2023 more than 25 flights were cancelled over a weekend due to another “ongoing engineering requirement”; and in January this year it was again forced to stay on the tarmac for scheduled maintenance . The required parts still have not arrived.

Boeing warned last year of supply-chain issues with parts, which across the aviation industry have been harder to procure since the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

The news of liquidation had already impacted hotel reservations as well as employees, said Stella Nomalo, the office manager of Hideaway Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary, located on the island of Efate. “We have [had] to cut down from giving a lot of work to staff.” Tourism accounts for 35% of employment in the tropical archipelago.

Other factors, such as the cost of living and low tourism season, could also have been at play, said Rob Macalister, president of the Vanuatu Tourism Operators Association and managing director of Vanuatu Ecotours.

“Despite pressures on the broader industry”, the appointed liquidators – accounting firm Ernst & Young Australia – said they believed “the outlook for Air Vanuatu is positive” and stated that services would resume following safety and maintenance checks. In the meantime, flight have been cancelled , scuppering holiday plans.

“There’ll be some short-term pain – the industry is going to have a few quiet weeks,” Macalister said. “But in the long term we’re going to come out a stronger destination as we need to address these issues around our national airline. This is the start of that process.”

Should Air Vanuatu re-emerge, it would suffer “a reputation for being unreliable”, said British newlywed Rebecca Allen. In May 2023, five months pregnant and with a one-year-old in tow, she and her husband, Richard, spent five hours in the one-terminal airport waiting to return to Sydney for a secondary wedding celebration. Their initial nuptials took place to the backdrop of a Vanuatu beach. The jet would not take them home that day, nor the day after.

They missed the celebration and a year on still have not been compensated for the three extra days – equating to around A$1,000 – that they had to spend in Port Vila.

“[I’m] very upset as I will not get my money back now,” Allen said, adding that it would be a while before she would want to visit Vanuatu again. “Hopefully another airline can step in.”

Calling the airline “critical to Vanuatu’s economic wellbeing”, the VHRA has called on the government to urgently address “the immediate crisis and find a lasting solution”.

“They could sell part of the airline … they could merge, they could split the airline,” Macalister suggested. In the meantime, it was important to remember “it’s Air Vanuatu that’s in crisis, not the tourism industry”.

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