Those wishing to travel to the country must check the Azerbaijan visa policy, before taking a trip there. Following in this article, find all the necessary information that will help you to get prepared to enter Azerbaijan, including whether you need a visa, and how to apply for one.

Who Needs a Visa for Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan has a complex system when it comes to who needs and who does not need a visa to enter its borders. This system defines the activities one can perform under the status that enables them to enter the country with a visa, or visa-free, as well as the maximum period of stay.

Countries eligible for visa-free travel to Azerbaijan

When traveling to Azerbaijan for tourism or business, citizens of the following countries can enter its territory visa-free and remain up to 90 days per entry:

• Belarus
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Russia
• Tajikistan
• Turkey (valid for 30 days)
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

Countries eligible for Azerbaijan visa-on-arrival

Whereas, citizens of the following countries, when traveling to Azerbaijan for the same purposes can obtain a visa-on-arrival valid for 30 days, as soon as they show up at any of the Azerbaijan international airports:

• Bahrain
• China
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Israel
• Japan
• Kuwait
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• South Korea
• United Arab Emirates

As for the citizens of the United States, they can also obtain a 30-days-valid visa-on-arrival in case they are arriving on a direct flight of Azerbaijan Airlines from New York City.

In addition, visa-on-arrival is available for those meeting one of the conditions below:

• Holders of an official invitation letter issued by the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan or other Azerbaijan government authority.
• Staff of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and their dependents, provided holding an official invitation letter issued by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• Passengers with a residence permit issued by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, or Oman, can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days.

Countries eligible for Azerbaijan e-visa – ASAN Visa

The nationals of countries listed below, can on the other hand, apply for and get an e-visa valid for 90 days, also known as the ASAN visa.

• Albania
• Algeria
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Djibouti
• Ecuador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Holy See (Vatican)
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran (Islamic Republic of)
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macedonia
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Republic of Korea
• Romania
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• United States of America
• Vietnam

Nationals of the countries that are not in any of the lists above will need to apply for and get a standard sticker visa before traveling to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

The Azeri electronic visa also known as e-visa or the ASAN Visa, is the most recent program of the Republic of Azerbaijan to make it easier for tourists traveling to the country, while still keeping a record of their basic data and purpose of the trip.

The e-visa can be obtained online, from the official Azeri e-visa website. Applicants should apply at least three days in advance, and must be outside of the territory of Azerbaijan at the time of application.

To apply for this visa, you will need to complete all the required information and then upload the following:

• A passport scan.
• A photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm.
• Hotel reservation.
• Ticket to Azerbaijan.

There is a fee of 20 USD that every applicant needs to pay for application, and an additional service fee of 3 USD. Both fees are nonrefundable in case of e-visa rejection. Payments can be completed only by using Visa, MasterCard’s and Union Pay, and the card does not have to be under applicant’s name.

You will receive the e-visa in their email within three days of application. The visa should be printed and presented at the Azeri port of entry, together with a valid passport.

Azerbaijan Standard Visa

The Azerbaijan standard visa is a document granted to visa travelers that submit an application at an Azeri embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

There are three categories of Azeri sticker visas that are granted depending on applicant’s status. These are diplomatic, service and ordinary.

At the same time, depending on the purpose of entry there are two types of visas: entry and transit visas.

An entry visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days and can be granted as:

• Single entry visa – allows only one entry-exit in this period.
• Multiple-entry visa – validity period of this visa is up to 2 years. This visa allows a person to enter a country several times during a relevant period.

Period of stay in a country indicated in a visa is used during a validity period of that visa. Visa that is not used during this period loses its force.

A single-entry or two-entry transit visa is granted to foreigners and stateless persons to allow transit the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan in a bid to reach another country. This visa is valid for thirty days, enabling its holder to remain in Azerbaijan up to 5 days at most.

Whereas, the purposes under which foreigners can apply for a visa to Azerbaijan are as follows:

• Business
• Science and education
• Labor
• Tourism
• Culture and sport
• Humanitarian
• Personal travel
• Treatment

Azerbaijan Visa Requirements

When applying for an Azerbaijan sticker visa, the most important part of the whole application procedures is collecting the documents you will then need to hand out to the embassy. These documents prove your identity, the right to travel, the purpose of your trip, and your trip arrangements.

These documents are as follows:

• Azerbaijan visa application form fully completed. It can be filled electronically eapplication.mfa.gov.az.
• Your passport or other travel documents, valid for at least another three months beyond your intended stay in Azerbaijan. Note that you should also make copies of the main page of your passport or travel document.
• Two recent photographs in color, which match your biometric identification requirements.
• You medical insurance certificate, in a copy.
• Proof you paid the visa fee (receipt).
• Application submitted by the inviting party which is approved by an appropriate authority of the executive power, a registered copy of a certificate (for non-governmental organizations), and a document proving the purpose of an invitation. These documents are not required for transit, tourism, official and personal travel visas).

The following additional documents are required for those under the age of 18 traveling without a parent or a legitimate representative:

• Notarized copy of a birth certificate.
• A permission of parents or a legitimate representative.
• Copies of identification documents of parents or a legitimate representative.

Visa requirements for the purpose of tourism:

• Evidence that the purpose of the trip is for tourism, i.e. tourism voucher.
• Proof of reservation of a place in a hotel, camping, tourist base or other similar premises.

Visa requirements for the purpose of science or education:

• Proof that you have sufficient funds to pay your expenses related with your education and residence in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Visa requirements for medical treatment:

• Proof that you have a disease to be examined or treated.

Visa requirements for the purpose of private visits:

• Copy of inviting person’s identification document
• Proof that you can cover the financial expenses related to the trip.
• Document certifying that the inviter is a family member.

Visa requirements for transit:

• Copies of the visa granted by your destination country, if needed.
• The ticket to your destination country.

Azerbaijan Visa Application Process

To apply for an Azerbaijan visa, you will need to follow and complete several procedures, as set by the authorities of this country.

The latest you can submit your application is 15 days before your intended trip to Azerbaijan.

You should submit all the documents collected to the diplomatic missions, embassy or consulate of the Republic of Azerbaijan in your country of residence, alongside with proof that you have paid the required fees.

Note that if you will be staying more than 15 days in Azerbaijan, you will need to be registered at your city of residence.

Azerbaijan Visa Fee

When applying for an Azerbaijan visa, the applicants must pay a fee for the processing of the application. The visa fee depends on applicant’s nationality, intended period of stay and time of entry. The fees are as follows:

Azerbaijan Visa Processing

The processing of a standard Azerbaijan visa may take up to a whole month. However, you can have your application processed within 48 hours in case you can prove that you need urgent medical treatment in Azerbaijan or a close relative of yours has died here.

Is it safe to travel to Azerbaijan?

Despite how it is portrayed in the media sometimes, Azerbaijan is relatively a safe country to travel to. Tourists should be very careful from pickpocketing, in particular in Baku. There are also many scams and frauds performed on tourists, as street vendors and taxi cabs.  Fake tickets can also be issued by fake police officers.

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