Turkmenistan has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

Turkmenistan has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Turkmenistan lacks a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that applies to online transactions.

Turkmenistan has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Turkmenistan does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties.

Online payment options are reported to be limited in Turkmenistan as well as the access to internationally accepted credit or debit cards. The lack of currency convertibility is reported to be a major obstacle to e-commerce or any type of foreign transaction in Turkmenistan. Indeed, it is reported that strict currency controls have resulted in the black market exchange rate for dollars averaging more than five times the official rate in 2020-2021. As a result, companies are unable to repatriate profits or convert local currency into dollars to import supplies and equipment. This is despite the Art. 32 of the Law About Trade Activities, which states that restrictions on the use of electronic means of payment (cards) are not allowed unless otherwise provided by Turkmen legislation.

According to Arts. 30 and 31 of Law of Turkmenistan No. 159-V about legal regulation of development of the Internet and rendering Internet services in Turkmenistan, operators of Internet network services and Internet users are liable for using non-certified means of cryptographic protection of information. However, the encryption certification requirements or a list of certified encryption programs have not been found.

Art. 30 of Law No. 93-IV provides that all technical means of communication used in the telecommunications or communication systems of Turkmenistan, including end devices, are subject to certification for compliance with state standards, technical conditions and other norms in accordance with the legislation of Turkmenistan. Art. 16 of Law No. 459-IV states that a certificate of conformity is issued when the product's compliance with the established requirements is confirmed by an authorized agency or other government agency, and based on it, the product manufacturer, developer, executor, seller, shipper has the right to use the state conformity mark. In addition, Art. 18 of the same law establishes that documents confirming the quality and safety of the product received outside the territory of Turkmenistan are recognized in accordance with the international agreements of Turkmenistan. In the absence of an international agreement, recognition of documents confirming the quality and safety of the product is carried out in accordance with the procedure established by the competent authority.

It is reported that the export of audiovisual materials, other media, containing information that may harm the political and economic interests of Turkmenistan, its state security, public health and morality is prohibited.

It is reported that the export of scientific research, technology and inventions must be approved by the President and the Cabinet of Ministers.

It is reported that slow and bureaucratic customs procedures inhibit efficient movement of goods and trade. Turkmenistan often requires that export and import contracts be registered at the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange (SCRME), the only exchange in the country. Contract registration at the commodities exchange is a cumbersome process, involving approval from various agencies and ministries.The contract registration procedure at SCRME includes a justification of prices and the contract’s feasibility is also scrutinized by the Supreme Chamber of Control. The procedure applies not only to contracts signed at SCRME, but also to contracts signed between third parties. All import contracts must be registered before goods are delivered to Turkmenistan.

It is reported that the import of audiovisual materials, other media, containing information that may harm the political and economic interests of Turkmenistan, its state security, public health and morality is prohibited.

Art. 22 of Law on Licensing of Certain Types of Activities in Turkmenistan outlines that licenses are required for certain activities and operations specified by law including the following:
- activities in the field of communications;
- activities in the field of cybersecurity; and
- publishing activities.

Turkmenistan has a long history of Internet outages, and online restrictions have increased in recent years. Full or partial Internet outages were recorded for five non-consecutive months in 2022. In February 2022, Turkmenistan's security services began blocking almost the entire Internet, rather than individual IP addresses. In addition, in March 2022, a one-hour Internet outage was recorded in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, which coincided with preparations for the inauguration of Serdar Berdimuhamedow. In 2022, Turkmenistan reportedly ranked tenth among the countries that suffered the most damage to their economies from government-mandated Internet outages, with the Internet blackouts costing around USD 29 million to the country.