Turkmen passport

A Turkmen passport is issued to the citizens of Turkmenistan for the purposes of international travel. Since July 2008, biometric passports have been introduced, making Turkmenistan the first country in the ex-USSR mid-Asia region to issue an ICAO compliant biometric passport.

Turkmen passport
The front cover of a contemporary Turkmen biometric passport.
TypePassport
Issued by Turkmenistan
First issuedJuly 2008
PurposeIdentification
EligibilityTurkmen citizenship

Current passports of Turkmen citizens are valid for travel abroad until they apply for new passports. In April 2013 were approved the new samples and descriptions of the biometric passport, with more protection, increased volume of electronic chips, and high-quality manufacturing.[1] Previously issued passports are still valid until expiration.[2] It is issued by the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan.

Appearance

Turkmen passports are dark green in color, with the inscription "Turkmenistan" (Turkmen: Türkmenistan) and "Passport" (Turkmen: Pasport) in Turkmen and English on the cover. The Coat of arms of Turkmenistan is embossed in the center of the cover. The passport is produced in Turkmen and English languages.

Identity page

The identity page of the Turkmen passport contains the following information:

  • Passport holder's photo[3]
  • Type (P for passport)
  • Country code (TKM)
  • Passport number
  • Surname
  • Given name
  • Citizenship
  • Date of birth
  • Sex
  • Place of birth
  • Date of issue
  • Date of expiry
  • Personal number
  • Issuing authority
  • Holder's signature[4]

Visa requirements
Main article: Visa requirements for Turkmen citizens
Countries and territories with visa-free entries or visas on arrival for holders of regular Turkmen passports

In 2022, Turkmen citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 58 countries and territories, ranking the Turkmen passport 74th in the world according to The Passport Index.[5]

Issues

Turkmenistan is one of the few countries that does not renew expired passports at their foreign diplomatic missions. Instead, the embassies and the consulates of Turkmenistan put a stamp on the last pages of the expired passports claiming that the passport has been "extended".[6] After a total lockdown [7] after the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many Turkmen nationals abroad have been trapped in a limbo with expired passports and a stamp that claims to "extend" the validity of the passport alongside a QR code that, when scanned (with an Android device), opens a Google search query which includes passport details in text format. As of middle 2022, it remains unclear if the stamp and a QR code are regarded as legitimate abroad.

Types of passports
  • An ordinary passport is issued to all citizens. It has a green cover and is valid for 5 years.
  • A diplomatic passport is issued to diplomats and high-ranking officials. It's dark green.
  • A service passport is issued to mid and low-ranking officials. It has a blue cover.

See also

References
  1. approves new samples and descriptions of the biometric passport of Turkmenistan Archived 2014-01-07 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Chronicle
  3. "Photo for Turkmenistan passport". visafoto.com. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  4. "Integrated biodata card - recto (identity)". European Council. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  5. "Global Passport Power Rank 2022 | Passport Index 2022". Passport Index - Global Mobility Intelligence. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  6. Turkmenportal (July 28, 2021). "Turkmenistan approved a new procedure for extending the validity of a foreign passport | Society". Turkmenistan, an Internet portal on cultural, business and entertainment life in Turkmenistan. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
  7. "When will we be free to travel?". Progres.Online. 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
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