Information for Stateless People in Turkmenistan

If you believe you are stateless and currently reside in Turkmenistan, you can apply for stateless status through the State Migration Service. 

Where to Apply? 

If you don’t have any documents proving your citizenship, you may apply for stateless status in Turkmenistan. Please contact State Migration Service on their nearest office to your location through the following: 

➡️ Ashgabat 

Address: Ashgabat, 18 Bitarap Turkmenistan Ave.
Phone number: 📞 +993 12 38 0011 

➡️ Mary Province 

Address: Mary city, 9 Mollanepes St.
Phone number: 📞 +993 52 26 0291 

➡️ Lebap Province 

Address: Chardzhev District, Gengeshlik Boyrabap, Hodzhamirsen village, 2 Ceyhun St.
Phone number: 📞 +993 42 22 0810 

➡️ Akhal Province 

Address: Ak Bugday District, Annau city, 16 Vellekov St.
Phone number: 📞 +993 137 33-1-84 

➡️ Balkan Province 

Address: Balkanabat city, Apt. 146, 42, Annaev St.
Phone number: 📞 +993 22 26 0527 

➡️ Dashoguz Province 

Address: Dashoguz city, 20 Al-Khwarizmi St.
Phone number: 📞 +993 32 25 5829 

If you do not have citizenship of any country and residing in Turkmenistan, you can apply to be officially recognized as a stateless person. Below are the steps you need to follow. 

Step 1: Submit your application 

Submit your application to the State Migration Service office in your region and submit a written request to be recognized as stateless. You should: 

• Bring any documents you have, like an old passport, birth certificate. 
• Explain your situation – especially if no country recognizes you as their citizen. 
• You may be asked to provide a letter from a foreign embassy confirming you are not a citizen of that country. 

Step 2: Get a temporary certificate 

Once you apply, the Migration Service will: 

• Register your application; 
• You will be given a temporary registration certificate. This confirms your application is under review, serves as your ID, and allows you to stay legally in Turkmenistan. 

Step 3: Your case is reviewed 

The Migration Service will carefully check your situation. This may include: 

• Verifying your identity and documents; 
• Contacting foreign embassies to confirm that you are not their citizen. 

This part of the process can take some time, but it is important for authorities to be sure that no country considers you their national. 

Step 4: Receive your Stateless Person Certificate 

If the authorities confirm you do not have any nationality, you will be officially recognized as a stateless person. 

You will receive a Stateless Person Certificate, which is a legal ID document issued by Turkmenistan. 

Once you are officially recognized as stateless in Turkmenistan (i.e. you have received a Stateless Person’s Certificate), you gain a legal status with certain rights and responsibilities under Turkmenistani law. Turkmenistan’s legislation is considered very protective of stateless people’s rights. Here’s what being a recognized stateless person means for you: 

• Legal residence and freedom of movement: Your stateless person certificate allows you to reside in Turkmenistan lawfully. You have the right to freely move within Turkmenistan and choose your place of residence.  

Note: Turkmenistan maintains a “propiska” residence registration system for its population. At present, stateless people cannot obtain a permanent propiska in the local population registry. This means certain benefits tied to permanent local registration – for example, some free public services – might not be fully accessible until you naturalize. Nonetheless, you are allowed to live in the country legally with your stateless ID. 

• Identification and travel documents: The Stateless Person’s Certificate serves as your primary ID document in Turkmenistan – much like an internal passport. It is recognized for official purposes. You can use it to prove your identity, open a bank account, etc.  
• Right to work: As a stateless person with legal status, you have the right to work in Turkmenistan.  
• Access to healthcare and education: You are allowed to access public services such as healthcare and education. In fact, all children in Turkmenistan – including children of stateless people – can go to public schools and get basic healthcare by law. As a stateless adult, you can use state clinics and hospitals, although note that stateless people are not covered by the state medical insurance system. In practice this means you are entitled to emergency care and basic health services, but for certain treatments you might need to pay out-of-pocket or have private insurance. For education, your children can be enrolled in school even if you as a parent lack citizenship – do not let a school refuse your child on the basis of your status. 
• Social security and assistance: Stateless people have the right to state social assistance benefits on par with citizens. This includes things like pensions for the elderly or disabled, and other social allowances that the government provides to residents. For example, if you are stateless and reach the retirement age or are disabled, you are eligible for a pension in Turkmenistan. Important: While you can receive monetary social benefits, some benefits that require the person to have a local registered residence (propiska) might not be accessible until you naturalize. 
• Equality and property rights: In Turkmenistan foreigners and stateless individuals enjoy the same fundamental rights and freedoms as Turkmenistani citizens. This means your person, home, and dignity are inviolable and protected by law just like anyone else’s. You have the right to own property (such as buying a house or car).  
• Right to family life: After being recognized as stateless person, you can register your marriage with the government. 

Along with these rights come some responsibilities: 

• Obeying the law: You are required to respect and follow the Constitution and laws of Turkmenistan, just as all residents must. 
• Maintaining valid documents: Ensure that you renew your stateless person certificate as required. These documents may have an expiration date. Keep track of the expiry and apply for renewal on time through the Migration Service so that your status and documents remain valid. If you move to a new address, report the address change to the authorities if required (ask the Migration Service about the procedure for stateless people registering their residence). Although you don’t have a “propiska”, the Migration Service still might keep a record of your current address for contact purposes. 

Turkmenistan encourages stateless people to eventually obtain Turkmen citizenship. Since 2014, more than 13,000 stateless individuals have been granted nationality as part of the country’s efforts to end statelessness. If you are recognized as stateless or have lived in Turkmenistan for a long time without any citizenship, you may be eligible to apply. 

Who is eligible? 

To apply for citizenship through naturalization, you generally need to meet the following conditions: 

• Be at least 18 years old; 
• Have lived permanently in Turkmenistan for the past five years; 
• Have a legal source of income (such as a job, pension, or family support); 
• Know the basics of the Turkmen language; 
• Have no serious criminal record. 

You do not need to renounce any previous citizenship, since you do not hold one. Dual citizenship is not allowed under Turkmen law, but this requirement is automatically satisfied for stateless people. 

How to apply 

You must submit a written application to the President of Turkmenistan through your local office of the State Migration Service. The application should be accompanied by supporting documents, such as: 

• Your Stateless Person’s Certificate; 
• Proof of residence and income; 
• Evidence of Turkmen language skills; 
• Photographs and a police clearance certificate, if required. 

The State Migration Service will check your documents and forward your case to other government agencies for review. Final decisions are made by the President of Turkmenistan. 

What happens after approval 

If your application is approved, you will receive a citizenship certificate. Your stateless person certificate will be cancelled, and you will become a full citizen with the same rights and responsibilities as other Turkmen nationals, including the right to vote, access all public services, and register your residence officially.