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| Entry Regulations / General Information |
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Entry for German Nationals |
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Travellers are required to hold a visa; on application, a national passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay and a confirmation from a travel agency in Turkmenistan must be submitted among other documents. The visa application processing takes at a minimum five workdays (express visa service is also available; in this case a personal application is necessary).
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Geographical Location |
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Turkmenistan is bounded by Uzbekistan to the north and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, the Caspian Sea to the west, and Kazakhstan to the northwest. Since 1991 Turkmenistan is a republic.
Total area: 488,100km˛.
Administrative divisions: 5 provinces (welayatlar): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty.
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Population |
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Population: approximately 6.4 million.
Cities (approximate numbers): Ashgabat (capital) 774,000, Turkmenabat (formerly Chardzhou) 220,000, Dasoguz 180,000, Mary 140,000, Balkanabat (formerly Nebit-Dag) 120,000, Turkmenbashi 77,000. Bayramaly 66,000, Tedzhen 55,000, Serdar 52,000.
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Language |
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Turkmen is the country´s official language (since 1096 written in Latin script). Since 2000, only Turkmen is spoken in public life. 12 per cent of the population speaks Russian, and minority languages are spoken as well (e.g. Uzbek, Kazakh, Tatar and Ukrainian).
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Time Difference |
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Central European Time (CET) +4 hours.
During European summer time the time difference is +3 hours.
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Electricity |
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220V, 50Hz.
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Postal Service |
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Mail sent to Western Europe takes between two weeks and two months to arrive. Stamped envelopes are available in the post offices. The address should be written in the following order: first the country, then the postal code and the city/town, then the street and finally the addressee´s name.
Telegrams can be sent from post offices in the larger cities.
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Telephone |
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The international dialling code for calls from Western Europe to Turkmenistan is 00993; in the case of calls from Turkmenistan to Western Europe the prefix "810" must be dialled prior to the relevant international country code (for example in the case of calls to Germany: 810-49). Automatic dialling service is available for domestic calls. International calls must be made through the telephone exchange; they can also be made from the main post office in the Ulitsa Karl Libnicht. Major hotels also offer fax services.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: police 02, ambulance 03, fire department 01.
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Mobile Phones |
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Mobile network technologies: GSM 900/1800.
Mobile phones can only be used in Ashgabat and its surroundings.
Information for users of mobile phones registered with German network providers: Mobile phones connected to the E-Plus, O2, T-Mobile or Vodafone networks in Turkmenistan due to international roaming agreements. Travellers intending to use other mobile phones are advised to contact their network provider for detailed information.
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Internet |
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Country code suffix: .tm
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Public Holidays |
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1 January (New Year), 12 January (Remembrance Day), 18 February (President´s Birthday), 19 February (Flag Day), 8 March (Women Day), 21 March (Spring Festival Noruz), 8 May (Remembrance Day for the victims of the second world war), 9 May (Victory Day), 18 May (Constitution Day), 21 June (Election of the First President), 6 October (Commemoration of the 1948 Earthquake), 28 October (Independence Day), 12 December (Day of Neutrality). There are also several annual movable Islamic holidays. Sunday is the weekly day of rest.
The main holiday season ranges from June to August.
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Opening Hours |
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Government offices: Mon to Fri 9a.m.-6p.m.
Banks: Mon to Fri 9:30a.m.-5:30p.m.
Post offices: main post office in Ashkhabad 9a.m.-7p.m. (in Intourist hotels 9a.m.-6p.m.)
Shops: 9a.m.-6p.m. (the bazaar opens at break of dawn).
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Clothes |
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In summer light, airy summer clothes are appropriate, but travellers should also take warmer clothes for the evenings and when staying in the mountains or desert areas. As most of the Turkmens are Muslims, travellers should always be decently dressed (no low-cut t-shirts, close-fitting trousers or shorts).
Otherwise between-seasons clothes should be taken; warm winter clothes are needed from December to February.
Protection against the sun and good sunglasses are indispensable; except when visiting the country in summer, a raincoat or similar rainwear should also be carried.
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© 2001 All rights reserved TIP Gesellschaft für Touristik-Informations-Programme mbH, München Last updated: 14.03.2007 - Proposals, hints and contact - Copyright
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