The Turkmenistan passport is ranked 90th globally, allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 48 destinations, while 178 countries have visa requirements according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. The passport is grouped with countries such as Burundi, Cameroon, and Angola, highlighting a massive global mobility disparity compared to countries at the top of the index, such as Singapore (192 destinations), South Korea (190 destinations), and Japan (189 destinations).
In the regional ranking, the Turkmen passport remains the weakest, while Kazakhstan is placed 73rd, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 78 countries.
Despite geographic proximity, a visa is required for Turkmen nationals to travel to all Central Asian and as well as CIS countries with the exception of Georgia and Tajikistan.The map below illustrates the global travel access of Turkmen passport holders, who can mainly travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival, primarily in select and remote countries across parts of Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
The following countries are included in the list where Turkmen passport holders can travels visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia,Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Island, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Georgia, Grenada,Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Macao (SAR China), Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Nicaragua, Niue, Palau, Philippines,Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, Syria, Tajikistan, The Gambia Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Zimbabwe.
Source: Turkmenistan passport, Henley Index, 2025
A lower score on the Henley Passport Index corresponds to a weaker passport, with very limited visa-free travel access worldwide. It is helpful to understand that holding a weak passport not only limits the freedom of travel of citizens but also constrains their educational and career pursuits, and the growth of businesses and their ability to integrate into global markets.
The strength ranking of the Turkmen passport over the last two decades (2006-2025) has consistently declined, as shown in the Henley Passport Index chart.
Source: Henley Index,2025
The decline in passport power coincides with severe hardships for Turkmen citizens in obtaining and renewing passports both domestically and abroad due to the arbitrary practices and actions of Turkmen authorities. Turkmen authorities refuse to renew passports of Turkmen nationals abroad through consular or diplomatic missions, pressuring them to return to the country (Human Rights Watch).
In 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan formally requested the Republic of Türkiye to introduce visas for Turkmen citizens, thereby restricting human and economic cross-border opportunities. In the past, Turkmens could stay up to 90 days without a visa to travel, study and work freely.
