Turkmenistan Border Crossing Involves Hours of Delays, Checks and Scans

Travellers entering Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan should be prepared for lengthy border formalities and multiple checks, according to a first-hand account of a four-day overland journey through the country. The traveller spent six hours at the Farap border crossing in southern Uzbekistan before being allowed to cross into Turkmenistan.

Key facts

• Farap border crossing (Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan): six hours spent attempting to cross
• Four border checkpoints were passed during the journey
• Medical testing and facial scans formed part of the entry process
• The overland route ran from the border to Ashgabat over four days
• Stops included Turkmenabat and the ruins of Merv

What does the border process involve?

The account describes spending six hours at the Farap crossing attempting to enter Turkmenistan. Once across, the traveller passed four border checkpoints, underwent medical testing and had facial scans taken as the journey got under way.

Where does the route go?

The journey crossed the Karakum Desert from the Uzbek–Turkmen border to the capital, Ashgabat, over four days. It began in Turkmenabat, the country's second largest city, followed by a four-hour drive to the ruins of Merv, a former Silk Road trading hub that was razed by Genghis Khan's armies in 1221.

What conditions did the traveller observe?

The account describes Ashgabat as a city where all buildings are clad in white marble and motorists are permitted only white cars, with monuments including the world's largest indoor Ferris wheel. It also notes that many citizens outside the capital live without reliable water, roads or electricity, and cites a 2016 Amnesty International report on unpaid cotton harvest work involving public-sector workers and children near Merv.

The traveller also describes the Turkmen people met along the way as warm and welcoming, and notes the country's tradition of intricately woven carpets.

What this means for travellers

Anyone planning to cross from Uzbekistan into Turkmenistan should allow for extended time at the border and expect several checkpoints, medical testing and facial scans during an overland trip. The account does not set out visa requirements, fees or how to arrange entry, so those details are not covered here.

No further changes to Turkmenistan's entry procedures are mentioned in the account.