BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 23. Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan are advancing practical work to simplify cross-border
travel, including the introduction of an electronic visa
system.
This was announced by Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Turkmenistan,
Ravshanbek Alimov, during a briefing in Ashgabat, according to a
press release issued by the press service of the Turkmen government
on July 23.
According to the ambassador, the necessary legal framework was
created following amendments to Turkmenistan's legislation adopted
in 2026, while the two countries' consular authorities are
currently coordinating the technical parameters of the electronic
visa application system.
"The relevant legal conditions have already been created, and
the competent consular authorities are now coordinating the
technical parameters of the electronic forms," Alimov said.
The ambassador also noted that Uzbekistan is placing particular
emphasis on developing cross-border tourism routes in Central Asia.
Among the key initiatives is the Khiva - Kunya Urgench - Ashgabat -
Mary - Bukhara tourism corridor, designed to connect the historical
and cultural heritage sites of the two neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have consistently
expanded bilateral cooperation in transport, trade and tourism as
part of broader efforts to improve regional connectivity in Central
Asia. A key focus has been simplifying cross-border travel and
developing joint tourism products centered on the shared cultural
and historical heritage of the Silk Road.
The planned e-visa system also builds on Turkmenistan's broader
visa reform agenda. In 2025, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed
legislation introducing electronic visas to simplify entry
procedures, support business travel and boost tourism. While
implementation is still underway, the current work with Uzbekistan
represents one of the first practical steps toward integrating the
new system into bilateral travel.
The two neighboring countries have also been strengthening
border cooperation. Since 2024, residents of several border regions
have benefited from simplified local border-crossing arrangements,
while both governments have continued working on expanding
transport links, trade and people-to-people exchanges. Officials
view easier travel procedures as an important tool for supporting
tourism, business contacts and regional economic integration.
