Property
Land ownership for citizens only, in limited forms
The Land Code allows citizens to own land for housing and specified agricultural purposes. Foreign nationals and foreign entities may not own land, and may use it only by lease.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Registration through state land-management bodies; there is no publicly searchable register.
Governing law
- Land Code of Turkmenistan2004
- Civil Code of Turkmenistan
- Law on Property
In practice
Private ownership exists in a narrow form for citizens, mainly household plots and housing, while most agricultural land remains state-owned and allocated for use under lease with production obligations. Foreign entities working on projects hold land by lease from the state. Housing demolition and relocation programmes in Ashgabat have been documented by human rights bodies as proceeding with limited compensation or remedy, which is the main practical property risk recorded for individuals.