Amendments to Turkmenistan’s Code of Administrative Offenses introducing stricter rules on the handling of citizen passports will take effect May 1, 2026.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the law on April 11, 2026. The changes are aimed at strengthening responsibility for safeguarding passports and ensuring proper use of the document, state media reported Friday.
Under the revised Article 370 of the Code, the law distinguishes between negligent and intentional damage to a passport. Loss or damage caused by careless storage is punishable by a fine ranging from one to three base units.
Intentional damage carries higher penalties, with fines set at three to five base units. Previously, both types of violations were subject only to a warning or a minimal fine not exceeding one base unit.
The amendments also raise fines under Article 371 for providing accommodation to individuals without passports or without proper registration. For individuals and legal entities owning or managing residential premises, fines will range from three to six base units. Under the second part of the article, penalties increase to between six and 10 base units. The measures are intended to strengthen compliance with passport regulations.
Clarifications were also introduced to Article 372, which governs liability for unlawful actions involving another person’s documents. The law explicitly prohibits accepting a passport as collateral. Illegal seizure of a passport or its use as security is punishable by fines ranging from one to two base units for citizens, five base units for officials, and six base units for legal entities.
Previously, such violations carried only a warning or a fine of up to 0.5 base units. The updated provisions aim to protect citizens’ rights and prevent the unlawful handling of personal documents.
