"The hidden gem of Eastern Europe", "Place where you get to experience the best of both, western and eastern culture", call this country whatever you want. Still, no one can deny that located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is one of the most exciting new travel destinations among international visitors. However, what is the reason behind the country's rising attraction? Azerbaijan is located in the Caucasus area and is bordered on the north by Russia, on the northwest by Georgia, on the western side by Armenia and Turkey, and the south by Iran. The country is also home to nine of the world's eleven climate zones which let the country offer its visitors diverse sightseeing and activities no matter what season it is, from skiing in the snowy mountains to birdwatching in dry semi-deserts. Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, is located on the Caspian Sea and is a strange blend of the historic walled city of Icheri Sheher and a modern construction mania that has resulted in a skyscraper boom.
In short, we can say that Azerbaijan is a colourful blend of people, cultures, architecture, and endless opportunities for tourists. Before you start packing for your trip to Azerbaijan, there is only one thing that needs to be considered, you are right! That is a visa to Azerbaijan. Let us start with good news by saying that visiting the country has never been as easy today. We can separate all the nationalities into 3 groups, Azerbaijan visa free countries, the ones that are required a visa and last but not least, the nationalities that are expected to obtain an Azerbaijan electronic visa before arrival. Meanwhile, South Korean nationals are an exception as they are given a chance to get a visa right after arriving in Azerbaijan, at the airport. Another small exception is that citizens of the Iran Islamic Republic can visit Nakhchivan without a visa and travel for up to the next 15 days.
Interestingly enough, there are only 10 countries on the list of Azerbaijan visa free countries. To be more exact, these are Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
If you hold a passport of none of these countries, then you might want to check our website to be sure whether you need an ordinary visa from the embassy or an Azerbaijan online visa to be granted entrance.
There are several types of a visas to Azerbaijan. For example, if you want to travel to Azerbaijan as a tourist, you can apply for a short-term visa. But, if you need to stay in Azerbaijan for a longer amount of time, including full-time study or even work, you can apply for long-term visas in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan work visa can be a great example of the offered long-term visas.
How to get a visa for Azerbaijan?
Previously Azerbaijan visa policy was the hardest challenge for travellers wishing to visit the country. It is used to take weeks to obtain, requiring many journeys to embassies and costing a little bit higher. The current Azerbaijan electronic visa, however, has eased the Azerbaijan visa policy, made the requirements simpler and less expensive to possess. So how much is Azerbaijan visa fee? Azerbaijan e visa fee costs $25 plus a $3 service charge and is available to tourists from 100 different countries.
Depending on the type of visa you choose, you will get your Azerbaijan e-visa by email within 3 working days after completing the online application form and paying the processing cost.
When applying for Azerbaijan online visa, keep in mind that your passport must be valid for at least 3 months right after the expiration date of the e-visa. As we have mentioned above, the charge for an e-visa is 25 dollars, while the charge for an urgent e-visa is 51 USD, also bear in mind that both fees are completely non-refundable. Azerbaijan visa fee is paid online through the system that you are applying. All visitors staying in Azerbaijan for more than two weeks are expected to register with the Republic of Azerbaijan's State Migration Service in the location where they would stay, usually hotels and private houses. Please note that you must do this even if you have a valid Azerbaijan electronic visa.
How to get a visa for Azerbaijan? One of the main Azerbaijan visa requirements is a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of departure and is signed by the holder. Also, worth mentioning that your passport has to have at least one or two free visa pages. You must also present your printed Azerbaijan e-visa, travel itinerary, and flight reservation when you arrive in Azerbaijan.
If you are not qualified for an e-Visa, do not worry at all! You can still apply for traditional visas to travel to Azerbaijan for a specific short time period. Tourism, visiting family or friends are all valid reasons to apply for this visa category. For example, to carry out your tourism activities, you can apply for an Azerbaijan tourist visa. Some of the important Azerbaijan visa requirements are a fulfilled application form in English, a valid passport, two recent pictures, and your trip itinerary.
An Azerbaijan tourist visa takes 3-20 calendar days to process on average, but it might vary slightly as the processing time period is dependent on the location from which you are applying for a visa. But how much is Azerbaijan visa fee? For international citizens, the cost of an Azerbaijan tourist visa ranges from $20 to $35, and as it was with the processing period, the price also can change solely depending on your country and nationality.
Even though your country is included on the list of visa-exempt countries, if you want to stay in Azerbaijan for an extended period, you must first apply for a long-stay visa in your home country. Foreigners who intend to stay in Azerbaijan for a longer time or establish a temporary or permanent residency are granted an Azerbaijan Long-term Visa. In most situations, the embassy will grant you, first of all, a short-term visa to allow you to enter Azerbaijan, after which you will apply for a residence permit at the Azerbaijani Migration Department; however, pay attention to the fact that your visa purpose must be the same as your reason for visiting.
One of the most important types of long-term Azerbaijan visa is an Azerbaijan work visa. This visa is designed to allow foreign people to receive a long-term visa that will allow them to stay in Azerbaijan for an extended length of time. This visa is for people who wish to work within the legal framework of employment after obtaining an employment permit and a work permit from competent regional authorities following the prescribed procedure. After obtaining a working permit through legal entities, every legally capable foreigner or stateless person over the age of 18 is permitted to engage in labour activities on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Working permit applications should be processed within 20 days. The working permit can be renewed for a maximum of one year each time.
In order to apply for the Azerbaijan work visa, the application form that must be completely filled out in English and signed by the applicant is needed. Secondly, a passport must be less than ten years old. Two photos that are no more than six months old are also required. Copy of your ID card that is valid for at least two months after the date of your travelling through Azerbaijan. You will need copies of your passport's main page and any prior visas if applicable.
Except for this standard bundle of documents when applying for a long-term work visa, make sure to have the original Employment Letter from the Applicant's Employer in Azerbaijan. The document also needs to include the company's full location and contact information and the countersigning officer's name and position. A letter from the existing employer confirming the transfer and authorizing the applicant's absence in the case of an overseas transfer of the employee. And how much is Azerbaijan visa fee if the applicant wants to stay and work in the country for a long period?
For foreign citizens, the typical processing time for an Azerbaijan work visa is from 3 to 20 calendar days, and the charge for a long-term visa is 20-35 USD. However, both factors might slightly differ according to your nationality and your application country. You will be required to apply for an Azerbaijan long-term visa at one of the Azerbaijan embassies or consulates in your country of residency, whichever accepts visa applications in person, as long-term visas cannot be processed via an online application form. If none exist in your nation, you must apply to the embassy or consulate closest to your location, which in most cases turns out to be located in one of the neighbouring countries to your homeland.
