How to Enter Azerbaijan

Do I need a passport or visa to enter?

You need a passport and a visa to enter Azerbaijan. Get your visa before you travel, and make sure the visa validity dates correspond with your travel. With limited exceptions (persons with invitations from high-ranking officials of the Government of Azerbaijan), you cannot get a visa at the airport, nor can you get a visa at the land borders with Georgia, Russia, Turkey, or Iran.

Currently, U.S. citizens may apply for a single- or double-entry tourist or visitor visa valid for 90 days (cost: $160), or a one-year multiple-entry business visa (cost: $160). U.S. citizen tourists booking accommodations through a licensed Azerbaijani travel agency may receive a voucher that entitles them to receive a tourist visa for $20. The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Washington, D.C. uses a visa courier service that charges $21 for processing and service fees in addition to the basic cost of the visa. Visa applicants are required to use this service. Please see the website of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington, D.C. for more details. The Embassy of Azerbaijan states that visas take 10 business days to process, but travelers are encouraged to apply for their visas early to avoid possible delays in the summer months.

Azerbaijan enacted a new law on April 1, 2013, that requires all foreign visitors, regardless of their length of stay, to register with the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan within three days of arrival. You must submit a completed registration form, a copy of the biographic page of your passport, and a copy of your visa to the State Migration Service either in person, via mail, or by e-mail. Licensed hotels may assist their guests to register, but travelers staying in personal homes, private apartments, or un-licensed hotels must register themselves. Every individual traveler is responsible for ensuring that the registration has been done.

Registration is free, but failure to register or registering late may result in a fine of between 300-400 AZN ($380-$500). Travelers may be denied permission to depart Azerbaijan until the fine is paid and they have secured an exit permit from the main branch of the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan, 202 Binagadi Highway, 3123 Block, Binagadi District, Baku; tel (994-12)562-56-23 or at the regional branch of the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan at 53 Ataturk Avenue, Baku; Tel: (994 12) 561 87 54.

More information about the new registration process may be found on the website of the State Migration Service (SMS). The required form (available only in Azerbaijani for now) should be e-mailed to qeydiyyat@migration.gov.az and can be found on the SMS website

If you are planning to stay in Azerbaijan longer than the duration of stay indicated on your visa, you must apply to the State Migration Service for an extension of your stay or for a Temporary Residency Permit. To find more information about the requirements, you can visit the SMS website.

A valid visa is required in order to depart Azerbaijan. If your visa is expired, or you have exceeded the duration of stay authorized by your visa, you must pay a fine between 300 – 400 AZN ($380 – $500) and get an exit permit. This is only done at the main branch of the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan listed above and at the regional branch of the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan at 53 Ataturk Avenue, Baku; Tel: (994 12) 561 87 54; or at the State Migration Service’s office at Baku International Airport. You will be denied permission to depart Azerbaijan until the fine is paid and you have secured an exit permit.

We recommend you carry at least a photocopy of your current passport and valid visa with you at all times if you do not normally carry your passport.

If you plan on staying in Azerbaijan for more than the duration of stay indicated on your visa or wish to work in Azerbaijan you must apply for a residency permit and a work authorization card requires an application with the State Migration Service. Part of the application process is the submission of translated copies and originals of many civil documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and university diplomas. In order to translate such documents, local notaries require an apostilled copy of any state-issued civil documents like marriage certificates and birth certificates. Each state has its own procedures for providing an apostille, and the U.S. Embassy is unable to provide such an apostille.

U.S. citizens of Armenian ancestry - or even those with Armenian last names – have had their visa applications denied by the Government of Azerbaijan on the grounds that their safety cannot be guaranteed. Recently, a traveler with an Armenian visa in his passport had his Azerbaijani visa application refused to be accepted for processing.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any restriction on entry to Azerbaijan for travelers with HIV/AIDS. However, medical tests, which must be performed at designated clinics in Azerbaijan, are required for those applying for temporary or permanent residence permits. The applications by people with health issues, including HIV/AIDS, are reviewed by the State Migration Service and approved on a case-by-case basis.

Information about dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. Azerbaijan does not recognize dual citizenship, and dual U.S.-Azerbaijani citizens could encounter problems living and traveling in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has compulsory military service for males ages 18 to 35. Men who currently have U.S. citizenship and who previously held Azerbaijani citizenship and have not completed their military requirement could face fines or arrest unless they have officially renounced their Azerbaijani citizenship. Dual citizens may renounce their Azerbaijani citizenship at any Azerbaijan Embassy or Consulate.

The Republic of Azerbaijan has a mostly cash economy. Traveler’s checks are accepted only in some hotels and banks. Credit cards are becoming more widely used, but you should be aware of using freestanding ATMs. Always pay close attention to the ATM and your surroundings. Do your automated banking in a public, well-lighted location that is free of shrubbery and decorative partitions or dividers. Maintain an awareness of your surroundings throughout the entire transaction. Be wary of people trying to help you with ATM transactions. Be aware of anyone sitting in a parked car nearby. When leaving an ATM, make sure you are not being followed. Do not use an ATM that appears unusual looking or offers options with which you are not familiar or comfortable.

Azerbaijani customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Azerbaijan of items such as firearms, religious materials, antiquities (including carpets), medications, caviar, and any amount of currency over $1,000 USD. Visitors who purchase carpets will generally require an export permit issued by the State Museum of Azerbaijan Carpet and Applied Art; many carpet-selling shops will obtain that permit for the buyer for a fee. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Washington for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Accessibility: While in Azerbaijan, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Accessibility for those with disabilities, including at stores, footpaths, road crossings, most tourist spots, and public transportation is lacking throughout the country. There are no laws mandating access to public or other buildings, information, and communications for persons with disabilities.

You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, and health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Information provided is subject to change without notice. One should confirm content prior to traveling from other reliable sources. Information published on this website may contain errors. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us.