How to Get Turkmenistan CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Citizens abroad only
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for citizens who naturalise abroad onlyNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Asia
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Turkmenistan, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been habitually resident for 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required (unless person is a Russian citizen (bilateral treaty)).
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Knowledge of the official language (communication level) required.
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
Assumes the responsibility to abide by and respect the Constitution and laws of the country.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person must meet security and public policy checks (list of reasons for refusal).
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Legal sources of subsistence required.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Turkmenistan to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen. If one parent has foreign citizenship and neither of the parents have resided habitually in the country before the child's birth, a joint application of both parents is required (not needed if the child does not acquire another citizenship).
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Turkmenistan, the rules below set out what applies. Turkmenistan grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Person is the child of parents (or single parent) who are acquiring citizenship. If one parent remains a foreign citizen, a joint application of both parents is required. Child's consent is required if between 14 and 18 years.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Turkmenistan is the basis of this route. Turkmenistan grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Person is adopted by two citizens or by a parent who is a citizen and another who is stateless, and the person is resident in Turkmenistan. If one adoptive parent is a foreigner, the written consent of both spouses is required. Child's consent is required if between 14 and 18 years.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Turkmenistan, the rules below set out what applies. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is a citizen of the former USSR, and either has a close relative in Turkmenistan or has arrived for the purpose of habitual residence. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but residence requirement may be shortened).
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Turkmenistan, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is a former citizen and is habitually resident or has an intention to settle in the country. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except requirements relating to residence and means of subsistence).
Ethnic or cultural affinity
For people with ethnic or cultural ties to Turkmenistan, the rules below set out what applies. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person belongs to the Turkmen people or is a descendant of such a person (children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and others). Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but residence requirement may be shortened).
Refugees
For recognised refugees in Turkmenistan, the rules below set out what applies. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is recognised as a refugee in accordance with the law or international treaty to which Turkmenistan is a party. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but residence requirement may be shortened).
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below. Turkmenistan grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Foundlings
Person is a child who is resident in Turkmenistan and of unknown parentage. Child shall be regarded as born in Turkmenistan.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is a child born in Turkmenistan to stateless parents (or single parent) who habitually reside in the country, or is the child of foreign citizens and cannot acquire the parents' (or single parent) citizenship.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Turkmenistan. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Persons have rendered outstanding services to Turkmenistan, have high achievements in science, technology, culture or sport, or have a profession or qualification of state interest. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but residence requirement may be shortened).
Not available in Turkmenistan: Marriage or civil partnership, Birth in the country, Citizens of specific countries, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Public or military service, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
The two directions differ in Turkmenistan: citizens who naturalise abroad are treated differently from new citizens.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Across Central Asia, the most common requirement is 5 years, and Turkmenistan sets the same period.
Check where Turkmenistan sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Kazakhstan | 5 years | None | Not accepted |
 Kyrgyzstan | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Tajikistan | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Uzbekistan | 5 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 12, 14.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Turkmenistan Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/turkmenistan/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/turkmenistan/">How to Get Turkmenistan Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Turkmen citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Turkmenistan requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Turkmenistan allow dual citizenship?
Partly. Turkmenistan accepts it for citizens who naturalise abroad, but not generally for new citizens.
Do I need a language test for Turkmen citizenship?
Knowledge of the language is required, yet no formal test is defined.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Turkmen citizenship?
There is no civic knowledge requirement for Turkmen citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Turkmen citizenship?
Turkmenistan generally requires giving up your current citizenship, with certain exceptions.
Can I get Turkmenistan citizenship by marriage?
No separate marriage route is coded for Turkmenistan. Other routes on this page may still apply to a spouse.
Can I get Turkmenistan citizenship by descent?
Yes, Turkmenistan has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Turkmenistan citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Turkmenistan.
Related pages
Also see: Turkmenistan passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.