border Turkmenistan/ Iran | Customs and Immigration

If we knew that the roads in all of Turkmenistan is worst than Afghanistan we will definitely took the way from Taybad Iran to Tajikistan through Afghanistan and didn’t pay 1000€ for this unpleasant journey of damaged streets in Turkmenistan. Only the first 100km is looking very modern and than after 200km the middle age streets Beginns and if you are lucky your car Van or Camper will get some minor damages and the cost of crossing Turkmenistan will raise. Take the way through Afghanistan and not Turkmenistan will be our advice to all of you. Or go to Pakistan and than Afghanistan.

Report Check-In

Turkmenistan > Iran. Exit Turkmenistan was fairly easy but the guide was very useful as you have to go from office to office and it's not always clear where the offices are and in what order you should go to them.

Car check was super super thorough. Had to take almost everything out and they opened every bag/pouch we had.

Iran side fairly easy but make sure you don't get your passport stamped. Get the E-visa document stamped instead. We really had to argue hard with the officer to not stamp our passport. They did know how to handle the carnet, easy.

Whole process took 3-4 hours with 4 vehicles.

Report Check-In

Turkmenistan to Iran
Iran immigration and CdP done in 45minutes, they know the process, very efficient. No helper or fixer needed.

Report Check-In

Exit Iran:
short control, no costs

Entry Turkmenistan:
Basically described as in the two comments below.
It took about 4 hours, but everything went quite smoothly.
Quick car inspections without too detailed looks.

We had to pay the following amounts including all fees:
- Antigen Test: 33$ per person
- Visa + entry: 71$ per person
- Car (including fuel tax for the route to Dashoguz: 592km = 119$) 261$

So the exact sum for two person + car was 469$

They asked a few times for tips, but we didn't pay.

Our guide received us on the 2nd checkpoint. She travelled in the car with us to safe costs.
We payed 269$ per person for 3 night (2x hotel in Asghabat, 1x Gas Crater) including everything except fuel and food.

Report Check-In

Planning to transit Turkmenistan at the beginning of July, if anybody is doing the same road we could share the expenses of the tour in the country. Just write us on insta @destinazione.sconosciuta
Have a great day

Report Check-In

Everything as described by busleven below. Except we ‘only’ payed $29 pp for Antigentest and had to pay $3 customs. No idea why. We discussed for a very long time. However it took us about 5 hours to cross the border and they didn’t really check the one. Only opened the cupboards shortly and that’s it.

Report Check-In

Went from Iran to Turkmenistan. Iran side very easy, stamp out visa, stamp out carnet at customs, some questions about our stay/experiences in Iran. All friendly and helpfull. Then with the LOI we could enter Turkmenistan. Please note that entering is very, very expensive.

Visa pp $55
PCR pp $72 (don’t worry, you will test negative) Migration tax pp $10
Dog $8 (only need dog passport)
Car $ 271 (mainly fuel tax)

We knew this beforehand and also got receipts with everything, so bring plenty of dollars. Also you’ll have to pay 4 dollar for every transaction that the bank does. So the cost for entering with 2 persons + dog + car was about 575 dollar. We also got a GPS at the border and had to draw a route on a map. You will have to follow exactly this route and it also influences your fuel tax. Fuel in Turkmenistan itself is very cheap, about $0,07 for one liter diesel.

The total crossing from Iran to Turkmenistan took 5 hours and apart from the costs it was relatively uncomplicated. Just be carefull with bringing medicine (no codeine). They check your car very well. And note that getting into Turkmenistan is only possible with LOI, and that you only get the LOI if you have a fulltime guide with you. Transit visa are no longer given at embassies.

Report Check-In

[.................... Content deleted by admin ....................]

Report Check-In

We got the information from the german embassy and also from the turkmen borderguards in nukus that all borders from turkmenistan to iran are closed since the 8th of january. But we were able to cross this border without problems on the 13th of january from turkmenistan to iran with a car.

Report Check-In

i arrived the Border from the turkmen side. they checked my Passport and my Car and i must bring back the GPS. in another office i must bring the Green and the wihte paper, this man say i must pay 5 $ i sayed i don‘t have 5$. I ask a woman in another office and she sayed no paying. I can drive.

At the Iranian Border, they checked my car and the passport, than i must wait and wait and wait than they checked the Carnet and my car and i can drive. At the border a man ask for Changing 1$ to 100000 rial

Report Check-In

We passed from Turkmenistan to Iran. Turkmenistan side was very fast and easy, no truck control after we ask them why they want to check, because we leave the country...
Be careful: the guy for the transit paper ask for 5 US-Dollar. Don't pay this, it's corruption!!! Even if he want to give you a receipt. There is definitly nothing to pay when you leave Turkmenistan!

Iran entry took bit more time, because they work very slowly at the immigration and the custom office for the carnet. But also not a really truck control. Inform them to stamp your evisa letter at the immigration, not your passport. Otherwise you could have long discussions when you leave Iran! Nothing to pay! All stuff very friendly.

Report Check-In

Remember it closes at 4pm!!!

About 5$to pay to the Turkmen agent, it was the same for me... anyway he accepted my 100manat (very strange, the official rate is much less... so, probably a bribe... ask for receipt)

Report Check-In

Getting out of Turkmenistan was quite okay. Even though I probably got fooled when I had to pay 5 Dollars to a man in a dark office who looked at the car documents and stamped them. Maybe you should ask for a receipt or something.
I got asked about GPS about 20 times because they couldn't believe I didn't get one when going into Turkmenistan.
No big car controls on both sides.
Remember to cover yourself before crossing the Iranian border (women).

Report Check-In

In Bajgiran you can get manat for a quite good rate, we could change 1$ for 17.9 Manats.

Border itself was good too, friendly and no problems. Carnet gets stamped and small check on Iranian side. On Turkmen side some paperwork, we had to pay 138$ in total for our 87' Hiace. (plus 110$ for 2 visas).

Report Check-In

We were the only car crossing the border from Iran to Turkmenistan when we were there, but the process still took over 5 hours. On the Iranian side a fixer wanted to help us and demanded 5 USD after, which we did not pay. After we had our carnet stamped at the first floor of the building in the middle and were done with immigration at the right hand side building, the car was quickly inspected by customs. After 30m then the truck was thoroughly searched again by the Iranian police before they opened the gate to Turkmenistan. Why I do not know.

On the Turkmenistan side there was a veterinarian "check" of our dogs vaccination papers (costing us 20 usd). the dog itself was not looked at. we had to pay another 24usd registration fee for us three (2 adults, one infant) at immigration and another 183 USD for insurance, fuel subsidies, GPS tracker, and some unexplained fees for our 12t truck. we got receipts for everything. they did ask for a tip, but I refused. There was another thorough check of our truck (they asked specifically about whisky, camera drones and medications) and a lot of paperwork had to be filled out. I think in the 5 different offices I had to go to they must have filled out the same form over and over again based on their questions.

after we were through. there is another post a couple of km down the mountain were we had to show the passports again, and they insisted to looked again into the back of our truck.

Report Check-In

In this border you can find some people who can exchange dollars to rial.
We had 1$ for 90000rials (which is much better than official rate) but you could probably negociate until 110000rials...we didn't know it.

Report Check-In

Getting out of Turkmenistan was pretty hassle-free. We had to split up for the car control but the check was pretty insignificant. They even forgot to ask the gps back, luckily we remembered. The guards never checked it - which surprised us after hearing stories. We drove to Kow Ata (definitely not on ‘the designated route’) and we never heard about it. We did sleep in all the spots we indicated at the border when we entered at Nukus.

Entering Iran was easy too. We got the passport checked, stamped and then the carnet. For this you need to go up a flight of stairs and walk through the building a bit, it wasn’t clearly signposted but someone walked with us and we didn’t have to pay them. The helpers did want to change money at a not so good but also not terrible rate.

The car wasn’t checked getting in to Iran. After getting the passport and carnet checked you drive down until the last police check, give them a number the carnet-guy gives you and you’re good to go.

Under 2 hours total.

Report Check-In

Iran: I had my LOI on an old passport which was invalidated (cut through) by the Romanian authorities after they gave me the new one. Iran immigrations did not stamp me out directly, but sent me with a guard to the first Turkmenistan border post, where they took my documents to ask their immigrations whether I was allowed in or not. After saying yes, I went back to the Iranian immigrations and got the exit stamp.

Turkmenistan: Paid 121USD in total for the car (1984 1.2 Skoda 120LS), including insurance and 270USD for us four Romanians in the car.

It is rather unfortunate that they make you pay in USD rather than manat, because the official rate is 1USD to 3.5, while on the black market is 1USD to 20.

The border was more quiet and less busy than I expected, with only a few women queuing for some merchandise.

No place to buy water on the Turkmenistan side, may have been because it was Sunday.

Report Check-In

going out of turkmenistan.
checkpoint before the boarder. (25km)
boarder very slowly. carcheck. gps back (we had to wait 1h because they made lunchtime or whaterver). 10 dollar for exciting. (they didnt want to gave a reciep.so we didnt pay!) we didnt understand for what.

Report Check-In

entering iran

very easy. show your passport, speak with the police. go to the doctor and then to the house on the right side for the carnet. car check was easy and the people very friendly. absolutly nothing to pay., no need for help or something, they do everything!

Report Check-In

Iran side took a while because we had a temporary carnet. Turkmenistan was kind of fun! We had a letter of invitation so they gave us the visa at the border total cost 348 dollar for 4 persons. For the car we paid 138 dollar in total be aware only pay to the bank watch while he is counting. In the end he did +10 but it was his personal fee so if you don't agree he will let you
go without the fee! They (Docters, bank ect) asked on every time for a fee. You don't need to pay this. But they try ;)

Report Check-In

Iran->TM
Iran very smooth and easy. Clean toilets, enjoy them!
TM: uniformed guys nice and behave correctly. (Don't speak much english, though). Other people very insistently ask for tips. I played dumb and refused and demanded 10$ back when one guy wouldn't give me a receipt. Got all my stamps anyway.

Paid 14 $ for immigration (10$ p.P. + 4 $ Bank fee. Go as a group)
Paid for 68 $ for motorcycle to Konye-Urgench (Insurance, fuel susbsidise, etc.)
Got receipts for both. They have limited change, don't bring 100$ notes, only.
Luggage inspection only looked at the top layer of my bags. They asked if I had a drone, I think wouldn't like it if I had...

Immigration is on lunch break from 11:30 to 12:30
Turkmenistan side took about 3 hours. Bring some food and water! Toilets are disgusting, use iranian ones before crossing.

Report Check-In

Iran easy. At Turkmenistan side we paid first $24 for two people, then your passport gets stamped (passport guy asks for a hotel name) and then paid another $130 for the car (Landcruiser to Farap border - price depends on car and on kms). You should be paying all that only to the guy who says he’s the bank! The men who calculate what you should pay initially fooled us into paying them 10 dollar, we inquired about it at the bank guy, who apologised and reimbursed it. The bank guy gives you a receipt for all expenses paid to him.

Report Check-In

Easy border, Iranian side a bit chaotic but relaxed. Turkmenistan side very friendly and helpful. First doctor check(just temperature), no cost. Then entrance fee, 24 $ for 2 pers. Immigration check, pasport stamped, fingerprints and photo taken. Driver of car continues alone to car registration/taxes and insurance: 195$ for Unimog plus 35$ for different stamps. Customs papers free but lot of papers, here you get your gps tracker. Last is customs check, also free. After that codriver can join you again. Got papers at every stage. Official exchange rate of 3.5 manat/$ is used, payed everything in dollars, make sure you have enough small notes.

Report Check-In

Go outside iran was quick. If you want mannat becarefull : in black market (1$=21mannat in main street of bazaar)
For turkmenistan border, you pay 14$pp ( or 24$for two : 10$pp +4$ fix charge file).
We paid 113$for car peugeot expert 2008. They try to ask bakchich but we don t give us and they was ok. They give us a gps.

Report Check-In

Easy border. Exit Iran really fast also with Carnet. Turkmenistan also good.
14$ p.p. and 147$ for car. You get a GPS here.

Report Check-In

Iran out was a little slow. lots of document stuff. was helped by the "helpers" for €15. Turkmenistan in was easy but a little expensive. 117 for diesel tax, document processing, disinfection (didn't get any), and transit costs (again). was told that 5 days wasn't possible but bargained (car repair) and got 5 anyway.

Report Check-In

border

Report Check-In

at Bagiran, easy Iran out , half an hour, easy to come in , takes 2 hours, we payed 110 dollar for 2 persons and 190 dollar for insurance,tax, dieseltax etc , big car Mercedes917 from 1994.

Report Check-In