Visa policy of Azerbaijan
 |
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 Azerbaijan portal |
 Azerbaijan | |
| Policy of |  Azerbaijan |
|---|---|
| Area | 86,600 km2 (33,400 sq mi) |
| Population | 10,353,296 |
Visitors to Azerbaijan must obtain a visa from one of the Azerbaijani diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries, or citizens eligible for an electronic visa on arrival, or citizens eligible for an electronic visa.
All visitors must have a passport valid for at least 3 months.
Azerbaijan's visa and other migration policies are also implemented in accordance with the mobility rights arrangements within the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Overview
[edit]The applicant's passport must be valid for at least 3 months longer than the expected validity period of the visa requested.[1]
If the applicant's passport has less than 3 months remaining before the expiry date, the visa will not be issued.[2]
All entrants who plan to stay for more than 15 days are required to register their location with the State Migration Service on arrival (except citizens of Kazakhstan, who are only required to register if they intend to stay more than 30 days).[3]
Visa policy map
[edit]
Visa exemption
[edit]
Ordinary passports
[edit]Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries may enter Azerbaijan without a visa for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):[4][5]
ID - May enter with an ID card in lieu of a passport.[6]
U - unilateral exemption.
1 - 30 days.
2 - 90 days within any 180 day period.
3 - Temporary Visa-Free Scheme from July 20 2024 to July 20 2025 for 3 entries in total and 30 days per entry.
| Date of visa changes |
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Cancelled:
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Non-ordinary passports
[edit]
Holders of diplomatic, official, service or special passports of the following countries and territories may enter Azerbaijan without a visa for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):[4][11][12]
|
|
D - Diplomatic passports
O - Official passports
S - Service passports
Sp - Special passports
PA - Passports endorsed for "public affairs"
1 - 30 days
2 - 14 days
3 - Temporarily suspended.
Azerbaijan signed visa exemption agreements for holders of diplomatic and service passports with Rwanda in September 2023 and Saudi Arabia in September 2024 and they are yet to be ratified.[13][14]
Visa on arrival
[edit]Citizens of the following countries may obtain an electronic visa, valid for a maximum stay of 30 days, on arrival at any international airport:[15][16]
The cost of an electronic visa on arrival is US$30, except for nationals of Japan, who are exempt from visa fees.[17]
Citizens of the United States could formerly obtain a visa on arrival in Azerbaijan if arriving on a direct flight from New York City, valid for a maximum stay of 30 days.[15] As of 2024, no airline operates direct flights between New York and Baku,[18] so U.S citizens are not eligible to obtain a visa on arrival unless they meet another condition.
Conditional visa on arrival
[edit]- Citizens with a residence visa issued by the United Arab Emirates may obtain a 30-day tourist visa on arrival in Azerbaijan. They must present their valid visa or residence permit along with their passport.[19]
- Citizens with a valid permanent residence card issued by any country of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) may obtain a 30-day tourist visa on arrival. They must present their valid residence permit along with their passport.
- Travellers holding a letter of consent from the State Migration Service may obtain a visa on arrival in Azerbaijan.[11]
Electronic Visa (e-Visa)
[edit] | |
 Azerbaijan electronic visa issued to a British citizen | |
| URL | evisa |
|---|---|
Azerbaijan introduced an e-visa in January 2017. The system is known as the ASAN viza and visas are issued for a single-entry visit of up to 30 days.[20] The e-visa should be printed and presented together with the visitor's passport (which must be valid for at least three months beyond the expiry date of the visa) at the border checkpoint.[21]
There are two types of e-Visa application: a standard application, which costs US$25 and takes up to 3 working days, and an urgent application, which costs US$60 and is processed within 3 hours, [22] in both cases including an unavoidable US$5 "service fee".[23]
Citizens of the following countries and territories may obtain an e-Visa:[9]
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In 2017, British travel magazine Wanderlust rated Azerbaijan's electronic visa as the easiest visa to obtain in the world.[24]
There are plans to expand the ASAN system to issue electronic visas for Azerbaijani citizens traveling abroad. Negotiations are underway with Lithuania.[25]
Visa required in advance
[edit]
Standard process
[edit]If a traveler does not meet the citizenship requirements for a visa exemption, visa on arrival, or electronic visa or wishes to work or study, they must apply for a physical visa with their nearest Azerbaijani diplomatic mission.[26] Visitors may apply by mail or appointment, and the application form may be filled out online.[1] Single-entry and transit visas cost 20 USD and multiple-entry visas cost 250 USD.[27]
When applying for a visa, the applicant must present the following:[1][28]
- A completed application form
- A valid travel document and a photocopy of its information page
- Two color, passport-regulation photographs
- Proof of legal status in the country of application, if applying from a country other than one's own
- Payment for visa application fees (by certified check)
Invitation
[edit]In addition, for all visas except transit visas, the applicant must present a valid invitation.[28][29] The required invitational documents differ depending on the type of visa applied for. For tourist visas, the applicant must provide proof of a hotel booking within Azerbaijan and confirmed flights in and out of the country.[1] For private visit visas, the applicant's host in Azerbaijan must provide a notarized copy of both their identity card and an invitation letter.[30] For all other visa types, they must receive permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before applying for a visa.[1]
To obtain permission, the inviting party in Azerbaijan must file the following documents in person at the MFA office in Baku:[31]
- A completed application form (available online)
- A letter from the inviting person or organization stating the purpose of the visa sought after, the length of the invitation, the number of required entries, and the diplomatic mission that the invitee will apply for a visa from
- A copy of the passport of the invitee
- Proof of payment of the ₼4 application fee, paid through a bank or online
If a legal representative submits the documents, they must also provide proof of the power of attorney and a copy of their identity card. If the inviting party is an individual, they must also present a copy of their tax number registration letter and proof of address.[31]
Visa facilitation
[edit]In 2013, Azerbaijan concluded a visa facilitation agreement with the European Union (excluding Ireland) which reduces the number of documents required to justify the purpose of the trip, provides for the issuance of multiple-entry visas, limits the processing time and reduces or eliminates fees for many categories of European Union citizens.[32]
Admission restrictions
[edit]Due to the state of war with Armenia, Azerbaijan prohibits entry and transit to citizens of Armenia and other countries of Armenian descent. Exceptions have been made during certain high-profile international events, such as the Europa League.[33][34][35]
The Government of Azerbaijan strictly prohibits the entry and transit of foreign citizens to the exclaves of Karki, Yuxarı Əskipara, Barxudarlı and Sofulu, which are de jure part of Azerbaijan but under the control of Armenia, without the prior consent of the Government of Azerbaijan.
Foreign citizens who entered these territories without permission may be denied entry and transit to Azerbaijan and may be included in the "list of persona non grata".
Entry and transit is refused to citizens of Kosovo, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight. Azerbaijan also does not recognize the passports of Abkhazia, the Sahrawi Republic, Somaliland, South Ossetia and Transnistria.
Visitor statistics
[edit]| Year | Visitors[36][37] |
|---|---|
1992—2001 |
No data
|
2002 |
 576,000
|
2003 |
768,000
|
2004 |
989,000
|
2005 |
 693,000
|
2006 |
682,000
|
2007 |
732,000
|
2008 |
1,043,000
|
2009 |
1,005,000
|
2010 |
1,280,000
|
2011 |
1,562,000
|
2012 |
1,986,000
|
2013 |
2,130,000
|
2014 |
2,160,000
|
2015 |
1,922,000
|
2016 |
2,044,000
|
2017 |
2,454,000
|
2018 |
2,635,000
|
2019 |
3,170,000
|
2020 |
796,000
|
2021 |
792,000
|
| Total (2002—2021) | 29,418,000 |
Most visitors arriving in Azerbaijan were from the following countries of nationality:
| Country[37] | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
 Russia |
258,315 |
225,201 |
 Turkey |
197,907 |
160,504 |
 Iran |
125,358 |
72,783 |
 Georgia |
62,666 |
184,228 |
 Ukraine |
17,428 |
16,953 |
 UAE |
17,320 |
7,951 |
 United Kingdom |
9,428 |
7,051 |
 Saudi Arabia |
8,834 |
11,945 |
 Kazakhstan |
6,928 |
8,498 |
 Israel |
6,655 |
4,238 |
 Germany |
5,922 |
3,531 |
 Belarus |
5,730 |
6,036 |
 India |
5,117 |
12,731 |
 United States |
4,409 |
2,604 |
 Uzbekistan |
4,213 |
5,283 |
 Italy |
3,498 |
2,820 |
 Poland |
3,331 |
1,198 |
 Pakistan |
3,224 |
8,752 |
 Iraq |
3,212 |
6,119 |
 Japan |
3,081 |
2,201 |
 Turkmenistan |
2,738 |
8,257 |
 France |
2,278 |
1,506 |
 China |
1,781 |
1,532 |
 South Korea |
413 |
681 |
 Other countriesand Statelessness |
27,121 |
167,284 |
| Total | 791,751 |
795,722 |
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in London - Visa Information". Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Republic of Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visa Requirements - Documents required for granting visa". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^ "Registration upon place of stay". The Republic of Azerbaijan State Migration Service. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Visa free countries". Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ State Migration Service
- ^ "Agreement between the government of the Republic of Turkey and the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on mutual visa exemption signed in Baku on 25 February 2020" (PDF). Resmî Gazete. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Visa requirement for Azerbaijan ends on 1 September". Haberturk (in Turkish). 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023.
- ^ Maryana Ahmadova (8 July 2023). "Azerbaijan, UAE initiate visa-free travel". Trend.Az. Trend News Agency. Archived from the original on 10 July 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Countries eligible for e-visa". visa.gov.az. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ Visa-free agreement between Morocco and Azerbaijan comes into force on August 28
- ^ a b "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "List of visa-free countries for the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan and relevant foreign countries holding diplomatic or service (or official/special) passports" (PDF).
- ^ Azerbaijan, Rwanda sign agreement on exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports
- ^ Saudi Arabia: Signs Visa Exemption Agreement With Azerbaijan
- ^ a b "ASAN Visa".
- ^ "International arrival procedures". Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "Exemption from state fees". Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- ^ "Flights from JFK to GYD". flightconnections.com. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Important information for UAE residents". Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Dubai. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Azerbaijan announces rules of e-visa issuance through ASAN Visa system". apa.az. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ "Azerbaijan to launch ASAN Visa portal on Jan. 10". apa.az. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "Conditions for issuing electronic visas". evisa.gov.az. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "The electronic visa system of Azerbaijan Republic". evisa.gov.az. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ Moore, Peter (12 August 2017). "You're welcome! The 5 easiest visas to get in the world". Wanderlust. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Head of section: ASAN service will also issue visas to Azerbaijani citizens". report.az. 15 January 2018. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ "Republic of Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visa Requirements". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- ^ "State fees". Republic of Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Business visa information". Embassy of Azerbaijan to the United States. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Transit visa information". Embassy of Azerbaijan to the United States. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Private visit visa information". Embassy of Azerbaijan to the United States. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Documents required for the invitation of foreigner or stateless person to the Republic of Azerbaijan". Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "AGREEMENT between the European Union and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the facilitation of the issuance of visas". Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ Kucera, Joshua (21 January 2019). "Azerbaijan and Russia in escalating dispute over ban on Armenians". Eurasianet. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ "Russia criticizes Azerbaijan's travel ban on Armenians from Russia". Armenian National Committee of America. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ McMahon, Bobby (31 August 2018). "Why Henrikh Mkhitaryan's Europa League 'Ban' From Azerbaijan Is A Red-Herring". Forbes. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ "International tourism, number of arrivals: Azerbaijan". data.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Number of foreigners and stateless persons arrived to Azerbaijan by countries [sic]". stat.gov.az. Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
