Definition, category, purpose and types of visa

Definition

 Visa – is an official document providing legal basis for foreigner, who visits a country in visa requirement regime, to entry to, temporary stay in a period indicated in a visa and leave the country by passing through border crossing points during that period.  

Categories

A visa has three categories – diplomatic, service and ordinary.

Types

2 types of visas - entry or transit visas for foreigners and stateless persons visiting the Republic of Azerbaijan are issued in a following way:

1. Entry visa – validity period of such type of visa is up to 90 days for single entry.

• Single (ordinary) entry visa – allows only one entry-exit in this period.
• Multi-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.

2. Single-entry or two-entry transit visa – is issued to foreigners and stateless persons to allow transit passage through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan to a third country. Validity period of transit visa is 30 days; period of stay in a country is 5 days. Transit visas are issued by taking account traffic route via air, water, railway and other transport means and time spend on it.

Purposes

Foreigners and stateless persons can be issued ordinary entry visas if they visit a country for the following purposes:

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

Persons visiting a country for only official purposes are issued diplomatic or service entry visas.
 

Attention! Foreigners or stateless persons temporarily residing in the Republic of Azerbaijan more than 15 days must be registered at the place of residence.

At present in accordance with bilateral intergovernmental agreements, visa free regime is being applied on the basis of reciprocity between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the following countries:

I group

• Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan and relevant foreign country holding diplomatic or service (or official/special) passport

The list

Note: As part of the measures taken to combat the spread of coronavirus by some countries, there are cases of temporary suspension or restriction of the visa-free regime for holders of relevant passports. In this regard, citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who hold the relevant passport are advised to clarify the existing entry-exit and visa regimes before visiting a corresponding foreign country.

II group

Countries with visa free regime for:

• Citizens holding any type of valid passport giving a right to cross a border in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan and relevant foreign country – as well as diplomatic, service (or official/special) or regular passport;
• As well as, citizens traveling with these persons, but not holding a valid passport, and whose photo, name, surname, patronymic officially indicated in their passports;
• Stateless persons having relevant identification document that is given to specially stateless persons by the government bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan or by the relevant foreign country for border crossing purposes;
• Citizens and stateless persons holding temporary border crossing document – repatriation certificate given to persons when the passport is lost, stolen, became worthless or validity period is expired for only to return for a short period to the country which is the citizen of or where he/she lives permanently.

III group

Furthermore, at present a visa free regime is being applied for the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan holding ordinary passports, on a unilateral basis within relevant period by the following countries:

• The electronic visa application procedure issued through the “ASAN Visa” system is realized by the State Agency for Public Service and Sosial Innovation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The electronic visa issued within 3 working days through “ASAN Visa” system determines the duration of stay in the country up to 30 days and the state fee is 20 USD.
• Despite of non-working days and holidays, urgent visa issuing opportunity within 3 hours through “ASAN Visa” system had been created. İn this regard, getting detailed information by visiting www.evisa.gov.az foreigners and stateless persons may apply for the electronic visa.
• In the cases stipulated in the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Presidential acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan and intergovernmental and interstate Agreements of the Republic of Azerbaijan visa issuance to foreigners and stateless persons is carried out in the international airports of the Republic of Azerbaijan through the “ASAN Visa” System electronically since may 15, 2018.
• Implementation of the visa issuance in the international airports of the Republic of Azerbaijan through the “ASAN Visa” System, as well as payment of visa related payments via the “ASAN Payment” System is provided by the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.       

Electronic visas are issued only to nationals of countries listed below.

List of countries eligible for e-visa

List of states whose citizens can be issued visas at international airports of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Note: Only citizens of USA traveling with New York – Baku flight can be issued 30 (thirty) days visa at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.  
Note: Holders of resident visa of the United Arab Emirates can be issued visa at the international airports of the Republic of Azerbaijan.