Azerbaijan attracts with an incredible mix of attractions from different eras. In Baku there is both the five-hundred-year-old palace of the Shirvanshahs and modern “flame towers”. There are a lot of interesting things in other cities. The attractiveness of Azerbaijan lies not only in the sights and natural beauties, but also in the minimum requirements for entry.
For many Russians, acquaintance with Azerbaijan begins at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, which is 25 kilometers from Baku. Those who do not like to depend on local transport come to the Transcaucasian Republic by their own car. Their path lies through the checkpoint on the Russian-Azerbaijani border in Yarag-Kazmalyar or Tagirkent-Kazmalyar (Republic of Dagestan). There is also a railway connection between the cities of the Russian Federation and Baku.
Do I need a visa?
Azerbaijan is not a popular tourist country, but those travelers who still want to get to this state are wondering whether Russians need a visa to Azerbaijan and how to get it. If the visit does not take place for more than 90 days, then a visa is not needed and you will not have to obtain one. This rule applies to any purpose of visit: tourism, visiting Azerbaijani citizens at the invitation of relatives/friends, business trips, and so on. Usually this time is enough to travel or resolve your personal affairs.
If you have to spend a longer time in the country, you will need a visa to Azerbaijan. What kind of visa to Azerbaijan you need to obtain will depend on the purpose of visiting this country.
Foreigners who are in Russia, but are not Russian citizens, must apply for a visa at the official representative offices of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Russia.
Do Russian citizens need permission to travel to Baku and other cities?
In 2021, Russians do not need to apply for a visa to visit Azerbaijan if their visit lasts no more than 90 days. This is enough for most tourist trips. The main thing is to put the necessary marks in the Migration Service.
For those who wish to stay in Azerbaijan for a period of more than 3 months, a visa is required. According to the experience of travelers, problems may arise for citizens of the Russian Federation with Armenian surnames, or those who were born in Armenia.
There is no official ban in Azerbaijan, but some border guards in this case begin to intensively search for a reason for refusal.
Traveling by car
In 2014, new rules were introduced for tourists who prefer to travel by car. If the vehicle does not have a Euro-4 certificate for fuel compliance with environmental standards, then when crossing the border the tourist is required to pay a deposit, which is 30-40% of the cost of the car, but not the cost, but the market price. As soon as the tourist leaves for his homeland, the entire amount of money will be immediately returned to him without any deductions. The restrictions apply to European and American cars whose production date is earlier than 2005 and Japanese vehicles before 2011.
Entry into the country is possible without a deposit. To do this, the tourist must obtain written consent from a citizen of Azerbaijan, in which he agrees to the entry of a foreign guest and assumes responsibility for the entire period of his stay in the country.
If the vehicle has the appropriate certificate, then no collateral is required when crossing the border. The document must be presented when crossing the border.
To enter with your own car you also need
- certificate of state registration of the car;
- rights;
- a power of attorney, certified by a notary, authorizing the right to export the car outside the Russian Federation if the car belongs to another owner;
- MTPL insurance of Azerbaijan, which is purchased at the checkpoint for a period of 1 or 12 months.
Entry - only from abroad
An important point: entry into the country is possible only with a foreign passport, which will be marked with the appropriate border crossing mark. You can move around Azerbaijan freely; there are no restricted areas. The only point: the passport must be valid for another three months at the time of entry into the country.
Citizens of other countries must present an invitation or a tourist voucher to the consular department of the Azerbaijani Embassy to obtain a visa.
Documents for crossing the border
Per adult
The list of documents depends on the duration of the trip:
- When a Russian stays in Azerbaijan for more than three days, it is important for him to register at his place of residence. This process will require contacting the migration authorities, filling out an application and a questionnaire in the prescribed form, and do not forget a copy of your passport. If a citizen of the Russian Federation stays at a hotel, this burden will fall on the shoulders of the manager of this establishment. Registration lasts 90 days.
- If you stay in Azerbaijan for more than 90 days, you must first obtain a visa document. This must be done at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia before the trip. When filling out the application, be sure to indicate the period of stay in the country. After entering the republic, you will need to register within three days, its duration should be the same as that of the visa.
The registration process for citizens of the Russian Federation is free. After a Russian citizen leaves the country, the party that received him is obliged to remove him from the register.
Per child
If a citizen of the Russian Federation enters Azerbaijan with children, then the requirements will be different: a child’s birth certificate will be required. Children under 6 years old must be included in the parent's passport; a photo stamp is required for a child over 6 years old.
When a child visits Azerbaijan unaccompanied by either parent, consent from the parents, certified by a notary, is required. Teenagers over 14 years old need their own passport.
Additional package
You can visit Azerbaijan by private car.
When planning such a trip, it is important to have the following documents:
- Driver's license.
- Technical documents for the car.
- International car insurance.
Features of entry by car
Let's move on to familiarize ourselves with the features of traveling by car. When entering the territory of Azerbaijan, a tax is collected, the rate of which is affected by the length of stay and the type of car engine. The minimum tax is $15.
Every car must take out MTPL insurance. This can be done immediately at the checkpoint. Such a document is valid for one month or year.
In Azerbaijan, Russians are allowed to use domestic driver's licenses, but not more than one year. If a Russian decides to stay in the republic for permanent residence, he needs to replace his license with a local one, which requires passing a driving test and traffic rules.
In case of entry by car, the following documents must additionally be provided:
- driver's license;
- certificate of registration of the car in the Russian Federation;
- notarized power of attorney with the right to export when the car has a different owner.
It is better not to come to Azerbaijan in a car with tinted windows, otherwise you will be fined.
How to get a visa to Azerbaijan – documents
If a foreign citizen decides to apply for a visa to Azerbaijan on the territory of the Russian Federation, regardless of the reason, he will need to collect the following documents:
- a completed application form for an entry document;
- an international passport with a current validity period, the validity period of which is longer than the period of travel.
- general passport;
- invitation from a legal or individual person in Azerbaijan;
- 2 photographs measuring 3x4 cm;
- receipt of payment of the state fee.
Return tickets, vouchers, travel plans, hotel reservations, and confirmation of the citizen’s financial capacity will not be required. This means that return tickets can be purchased upon arrival in the country.
Salam Azerbaijan [Hello, Azerbaijan]!
Border crossing
Azerbaijan has five land borders: with Russia, Armenia, Turkey, Georgia, Iran and Armenia. The border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is closed - there is a conflict.
Of the three borders that we crossed during our trip, Azerbaijani customs officers are the fiercest. At first they asked us for a long time whether we were really Russians - each of the nine, as if they couldn’t tell by their faces! Then they clarified whether we maintained relations with Armenia, why we were going to Baku, etc.
At the end of customs control, they asked to empty the entire trunk! And we were driving from the Izberbash Brandy Factory and were already quite loaded. It was very difficult for us to empty the trunk. Only the compliment made by the customs officer somehow brightened up the impression of the border.
Long, difficult, hard! We didn't like the border!
Watching the sunrise in the car
Search for a hostel, or sightseeing auto tour of Baku
As soon as we entered Azerbaijan, the adventure began. The Internet there is generally expensive, and in roaming mode it’s a direct path to ruin. Our money in our mobile account was immediately eaten up by online Google maps. In a foreign country we were left without maps and without the Internet. We got to Baku blindly.
Please note: Internet in Azerbaijan is expensive, but almost every establishment has free Wi-Fi.
On the website where we booked a hostel from home, it was said that Babek Avenue is located a few kilometers from the city center. We drove into the center and started looking for Babek on the signs. Signs indicated to go straight. We went straight - we arrived in the wrong place. We went back - again we arrived in the wrong place. As a result, we drove around half of Baku - there is no Babek Avenue!
Azerbaijani streets. Center
We stopped at the store. Those who smoke smoked, calmed down and began asking passers-by: “Excuse me, how can we get to Babek?” It turned out that passersby did not understand Russian. Someone was smoking nervously, someone was reading indifferently (this is the author), and someone was looking out for passers-by who could help us. He came to the rescue.
- Excuse me, you are looking at me like that, do you want to know something?
- Yes. But we will speak Russian.
- No problem.
We explained the situation. Nice young man... Remember that there were eight of us women? And the six older ones began vying with each other to talk about this to the two younger ones, so that the latter would come out and show themselves. But we didn’t want to get out of the car. Fortunately, the young man did not refuse to help us. But the fact that he found a wife in this way is a completely different story.
The streets, the houses - everything is beautiful.
There is a very aggressive movement in Azerbaijan. Cars fly like lightning flashes. That is why, just starting to follow our new acquaintance, the third car quickly fell behind the first two. At one of the turns, other cars simply didn’t let us through, and when they did, our trail disappeared.
We returned to the store parking lot to find a new guide. This time we found him quickly - he was a middle-aged Azerbaijani who, in fact, was in a hurry to get to work, but could not refuse us. He rode ahead, cutting across the road, and we tried our best to keep up with him. But Babek is still gone.
It turned out that it was quite difficult for Azerbaijanis to find our address. The driver-guide stopped every few kilometers to clarify the route. We drove for another half hour through traffic jams and thorns and were already somewhere very close when an SMS arrived on the phone from an unfamiliar number:
"Go to the Botanical Garden"
We signaled to our guide to stop. He got out of the car, listened to us, sighed heavily, but didn’t give up halfway. He just said the legendary phrase:
Oleg, I noticed that you are driving a little slowly.
From the Botanical Garden
When we got to the Botanical Garden, part of our group was in place, making an order for lunch at a cafe on the territory of the Botanical Garden. We thanked the man who drove us around the city for free, and said goodbye to him, giving him a box of chocolates WITH LIQUOR!
It was later that we learned that most of the Azerbaijanis obediently follow the Koran and do not drink wine. That is, sweets with liqueur are generally not a suitable option for thanking someone.
Please note: most Azerbaijanis do not drink, do not eat pork and pray five times a day.
While half of the group was looking for Babek, the other was investigating. It turns out that the address we need on the avenue is not 10 minutes from the center, but in the middle of nowhere. That is, it really begins near the center, and ends unknown where. But this is not the worst thing: for a month and a half now they have not provided housing for tourists! But there was either a glitch on the site, or some other misunderstanding...
National character
Our new young acquaintance, whose name is Samir, left us for lunch and returned to work. He promised to arrive in a couple of hours and during this time to find us a suitable inexpensive option for housing for three days.
The cafe was a long narrow street with separate guest rooms hidden on the right and left. Azerbaijanis generally like to be alone.
Cafe near the Botanical Garden
We ordered some local dishes. Over lunch we discussed the Baku driving style, the locals who are so willing to help if they understand Russian, plans for the remaining two days, because half past twelve was already coming to an end, and we still hadn’t unloaded our suitcases.
There are many European-style establishments in Baku, but it is much more interesting to visit those filled with oriental flavor: with carpets, armouds and oriental sweets.
Then we spent two hours in the Botanical Garden, walking along the paths, looking at the exhibition of roses and other plants, taking photographs, reading... In other words, we passed the time as best we could. We even started to worry, maybe we shouldn’t wait for Samir, but go looking for housing ourselves?
Blooming water lilies
Rose exhibition
However, exactly two hours later the phone rang. Samir said that he had found an apartment for us, now they are preparing it, and he is already on his way to pick us up.
This is where the story with Babeko ends, and the story of love, oh, vacation, of course, begins.
We wait a couple of hours and have already climbed every tree in the Botanical Garden.
On the way to the rented apartment, we stopped in Icheri Sheher - the old city. But we decided to explore its sights another time. We just went into the store, bought it using a magnet, and went to look at the apartment.
Carpets are the property of the republic, each one is like a work of art.
We wanted to quickly take a shower, change clothes and feel like a human being. It was the second day since we were on the road.
They found an excellent apartment for us. Three rooms almost in the central part of the city on the 19th floor. The view from the window is stunning: the famous Baku flame towers are at arm's length from us. There was one thing: there weren’t enough beds in our new apartment for everyone. Some had to sleep on the floor.
The Flame Towers are on the list of attractions for which thousands of tourists from all over the world travel to Baku.
Our new acquaintance, already almost a friend, left us to settle down and went back to work. Yes, it’s not for nothing that Azerbaijanis are considered one of the most hardworking peoples. This applies only to men; women, as a rule, do not work there at all.
This is interesting: if you want to start a conversation with an Azerbaijani woman, do not ask where she works. Better ask her about her family.
We were left alone: we washed ourselves, shared rooms, went to the store. From local products, we bought a bottle of pomegranate wine, cheese (be sure to try Azerbaijani cheeses!), and fruit.
Oriental sweets for tea
We started preparing dinner. An hour later Samir came to us with rice and chicken for Kurdish pilaf.
Azerbaijan has a rich ethnic composition. Our new friend is a Kurd.
This is interesting: in different regions of Azerbaijan, cheese is prepared according to different recipes. Here you can try the whole variety of Caucasian cheeses. Hard and like you're eating butter. My favorite was Motal - the most delicious and most expensive cheese in the country.
We persuaded Samir to cook pilaf next time. In the meantime, they sat him down at the table, put naval pasta in front of him, and poured him some Russian cognac. Samir squirmed, but drank. We asked him about the sights of Baku, about Azerbaijani traditions, about whether they still have patriarchy. The first evening in Baku was coming to an end. In the morning we had a big tour of the city, and it turns out that our new friend has a birthday tomorrow.
Icheri Sheher and other reasons to come to Baku
The morning was leisurely. From 9 o'clock everyone began to wake up, prepare breakfast, and prepare themselves to go out. Baku is a modern city with developed infrastructure. And since we took a sightseeing car tour yesterday, today we decided to go for a walk. Our house was 10 minutes from the metro.
Our friendly company is going to Icheri Sheher
Please note: traffic in the Baku metro is circular. Before the train arrives, a board lights up indicating which direction the train is traveling.
Icheri Sheher metro station. Very soon we will see the old city
We left the subway and almost immediately the wall began. Once upon a time, behind this wall there was the city itself, and even earlier - the entire state.
Historical background: Icheri-Sheher, or “fortress”, or “old city” of Baku. Here is the palace of the Shirvanshahs, here is the Maiden Tower, here Nikulin said “damn it.” A large fortress wall, behind which is located a whole city, or, as it is also called, the inner city. The first mention of Icheri-Sheher dates back to the 5th century. Today, the Old Town is a unique historical ensemble, where tourists from all over the world come and where real residents live. The locals also call them serfs. Their total number is about 1300. And they have their own measures.
At first it seems that Icheri Sheher is very small, but in reality it turns out that even a whole day is not enough to explore it.
Icheri-Sheher Scheme
5 must-see attractions in Icheri Sheher
1. Maiden Tower. 28 meters of a huge stone cylinder on a ledge of a coastal cliff. In the old days, the city ended here and the sea began. The purpose of the tower is unknown.
There are many legends about its construction. According to one of them, the Shah decided to marry his own daughter. Then the girl, in the hope of dissuading her father, asked to build his tower and wait for the completion of construction. The Shah complied with the request. Then the girl went upstairs and threw herself from there into the sea.
There are always crowds of tourists near the Maiden Tower, and entrance to it is paid - about 4 manats.
We didn’t go to the Maiden Tower: it’s a waste of money and the queue is too long.
2. "Damn it." Many famous Soviet films were filmed in Icheri Sheher, among them “The Diamond Arm”. In the Old Town there is a cafe “Damn it,” and at the place where Yuri Nikulin said the legendary phrase, hundreds of tourists wipe their pants every day.
There is a sign attached to the place where the movie was filmed, so you won’t confuse it with anything else.
Local residents show photographs of film stills and offer to navigate through them.
3. Palace of the Shirvanshahs. The complex, which includes the Divan Khan, the tomb of the Shirvanshahs and the palace mosque, built from the 13th to the 16th centuries. The construction is associated with the transfer of the capital of the Shirvanshahs from Shemakha to Baku. Shirvan is a historical region in Transcaucasia from Derbent to the Kura River delta. Currently, it is part of the territory of Azerbaijan.
You can enter the territory of the palace, but we chose a different course - we went to the market.
Street trading - you don’t even need tables, all the goods are on carpets.
I remember the stories of Sinbad the Sailor, here they are - the colors of the east.
4. Shops and street trading in Icheri-Sheher. We got the impression that all 1,300 inhabitants of the fortress city were exclusively merchants. There are so many of them on the streets! They offer everything from oriental sweets to carpets. We liked one lamp, but it was very expensive, having decided that the Genie, who would grant three wishes, would probably not fly out of it, we put the lamp in place and began to try on national hats.
Papakha. What do you think of the new hairstyle?
5. Baths of Icheri-Sheher. Oriental baths resemble oriental mosques - just as round and beautiful. No match for our black baths. Recessed into the ground, only the entrance halls are visible from the outside.
Can you really say that this is a bathhouse?
We liked Icheri Sheher, every street and every house there is a World Heritage Site: the streets are narrow, the people are friendly, the locals not only want to sell something on, but are also ready to talk for hours about their city for free. So you can save on a guide and without a twinge of conscience ask passers-by and merchants about their national heritage. Be sure to try oriental sweets at the market.
The red carpet is actually the entrance to the carpet museum.
Beautiful panorama, on the left is the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum.
There are 6 embassies in Icheri Sheher.
Having walked several kilometers and worn out our legs, we sat down on a bench and watched. Opposite, men were playing street chess. This is generally accepted among Azerbaijanis; here on every side street you can meet men playing cards or backgammon at a table. And women stay at home.
On the streets of Baku you can meet groups of men playing chess, backgammon or cards.
Representatives of the fair sex walking along the streets were divided into three categories:
- Completely naked are mostly young people. In tops with exposed navels and shorts that cut to the fifth point.
- Moderately naked - this is the majority. Girls in knee-length dresses look like they are going to the theater.
- Completely closed. Yes, you can still meet women in burqas on the streets of Baku.
Baku Sydney
Street sculptures Baku
Having rested a little and waited for our Azerbaijani friend Samir, we hit the road again. This time we walked past the Baku Boulevard, the flame towers, the Philharmonic (did you know that Muslim Magomayev was an Azerbaijani?), past the area where the Rally took place, past Torgovaya Street.
Baku is considered one of the most beautiful cities not only because here the East meets the West, but also because the historical center was built up around the same time. The city is an architectural ensemble; every building is worthy of praise!
We took the funicular up to Nagorno-Karabakh - the best observation deck with a view of the whole of Baku.
We walked along the Alley of Martyrs, or Alley of Glory in Russian. Completely tired. The day rolled smoothly towards evening. Samir offered us a ride, and - attention! — nine people and one driver got into a white Toyota and drove home.
Samir is a traffic cop, so we could afford it. He was the only traffic police officer with whom we managed to “make friends.” It is clear that after meeting with him we had no unpleasant situations on the road to Baku.
We started preparing dinner, some were getting ready, because Samir, with the permission of the adults, invited two young girls to the restaurant for his birthday. When he arrived again, we congratulated him by giving him a Russian souvenir - a bottle of vodka hidden in a matryoshka doll and left for Hollywood - one of the coolest clubs and restaurants in Baku.
In “Hollywood” everything is expensive and rich: golden toilets and sinks, a lot of red, luxuriously dressed and carefully made-up women. We rented a separate room with karaoke, and that’s where our knowledge of “Hollywood” ended.
In the restroom of one of the restaurants in Baku
Remember, I already said that Azerbaijanis like to sit in little rooms? This is the same as sitting in the kitchen in Russia. It’s just that in Baku guests are taken not to a house, but to a restaurant.
Interestingly, their prices for “sit in a restaurant” are not high. For 30 manats, which is about 1,200 rubles in our money, we are ready to close the room. And, what we didn’t know before, but this will come in handy, in Baku there is not much difference in the menu between luxury establishments and shacks. Unless the cost of tea will be different. In elite establishments, just drinking tea costs 30 manats.
Miami Beach on the Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is turquoise green
In Azerbaijan there is the Caspian Sea. It differs from Black in its characteristic turquoise-green color. The coolest beach in Baku is Miami Beach. That's where we went on the third day of our journey. By bus, because there are racers all around and because we drove around Baku a year in advance on the first day. In addition, public transport in Baku runs well in all directions.
We liked the beach. They say it is very expensive there during the season. But we were there at the end of May, when it was not the season: entry, sunbeds, and houses were still free.
The coolest beach in Baku Miami Beach
If you imagine a little, you can imagine that we are in Bali.
We spent the whole day on the beach, relaxing, sunbathing and running for beer.
This is the most delicious beer in Baku - be sure to try it.
In the evening, someone was packing their bags - in the morning we were leaving for Georgia, and someone else went on a night walk again. This time at karaoke: sing Emin, dance “jeirani” - a folk dance of Azerbaijan, drink pomegranate wine.
Time stop - I don’t want to leave Baku
Criteria for children's papers
To travel with a child under 14 years of age, you must present the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- children's international passport or document of one of the parents where the child is registered.
Please note that information about the child can only be entered in the parent’s old-style international passport. If the parents have new biometric passports, it will not be possible to enter the child there and, according to PP No. 13 of 2010, a separate document will be required to travel abroad. For children over 6 years old, it is mandatory to have a photograph in the parents’ passport. If the child is over 14 years old, he must have his own document to travel abroad.
If a child is traveling with one of the parents, then you need permission from the second to take him abroad, endorsed by a notary. A document is required from both parents if the child is traveling with an accompanying person.
Rules for visa-free entry
The absence of the need for a visa for a tourist trip to Azerbaijan makes visiting this country attractive for Russians, but it is worth remembering that there are certain visiting rules established by law:
- A foreign passport is required for the visit. It is necessary to put a mark on the date of entry, according to which the period of stay in the country will be counted. It is not yet possible to enter Azerbaijan using an internal Russian passport. Both old and new documents are accepted for visiting.
- There is no need to confirm the purpose of the visit or the availability of funds.
- To cross the border there is no need to confirm your hotel reservation or invitation.
- Visa-free visits are available both for visiting relatives and for transit to another country in the world.
- The laws of the country require foreigners to register at their place of residence. It is necessary even in the case of a tourist visit without a visa, and the registration is handled by the migration services.
- The visa-free regime can be extended, and there is no need to travel outside the republic; it is enough to submit documents for a 2-month extension or obtain a residence permit.
In addition, when crossing the border you must follow standard customs rules, for example it is prohibited to transport:
- personal items or cash equivalent to more than $10,000;
- strong alcohol more than 1 liter;
- more than 200 cigarettes.
The import of fruits, vegetables and things hazardous to health, drugs is also prohibited.
Features of the visa regime for children under 18 years of age
There is no need to apply for a separate visa for children ; however, the following documents are required to cross the border:
- Child's international passport . It is allowed to visit the country if a child under 18 years of age does not have his own passport, but it is included in the parent’s document.
- Birth certificate . You must take the original document with you; it is not necessary to have a translation to visit the republic.
- Notarial consent . This will only be required if the child is crossing the border with only one of the parents. When traveling unaccompanied by both parents or guardians, notarized consent from both will be required.
Features of traveling by car and necessary documents
When entering Azerbaijan with your own car, you must pay a transport fee. Its size depends on the engine size of the vehicle and the length of stay in the country. The minimum bet is $15.
When crossing the border with Azerbaijan, you must have the following set of documents:
- international passport for each traveler;
- driving license;
- power of attorney for a vehicle if the car belongs to another person;
- auto insurance policy for a car within the international insurance system - “green card”.
It is worth considering that cars of a class below Euro 4 will be allowed across the border only after paying an additional deposit, which is equal to 33% of the market value. The deposit is returned upon departure from the republic.
In addition, it is recommended to remove the tint from the car windows, otherwise you will have to pay a fine of 150 manats , which is approximately equal to 5,000 rubles, and eventually have the tint removed at the nearest transport inspection post.
Registration of foreign citizens in Azerbaijan
In accordance with the laws, all foreigners arriving in Azerbaijan for a period of 10 days or more are required to register with the migration service. During this time, the inviting party or the tourist himself must register at his place of residence - fill out a form and attach to it a copy of the relevant pages of the international passport. The procedure is free, but when moving from one city to another, the procedure will have to be repeated, and there is no need to cancel the previous registration - it will be canceled automatically after 90 days or after the expiration date of the visa.
It is important to ensure that your total stay in the country does not exceed the specified period, otherwise serious problems may arise in the future. If the circumstances are such that a citizen of the Russian Federation needs to stay in Azerbaijan for more than 3 months, you can contact government agencies with a request to extend the period of stay in the country. First, it will be extended for another two months, after which it will be necessary to issue an annual temporary residence permit.
Rules for entry into Azerbaijan for Russians
For travelers from the Russian Federation, visa-free entry rules apply, so Azerbaijan is becoming interesting for Russian travelers. But traveling to Azerbaijan with a Russian passport is not practiced, as in some other post-Soviet republics.
To move across the border, you only need to take with you a current foreign passport, where an entry stamp with the current dates is affixed. No more documents are needed to enter Azerbaijan under the “visa-free” regime.
It is important to know! Citizens of the Russian Federation traveling to Azerbaijan do not need to provide purchased plane/train tickets or hotel reservations or financial documentation of their well-being.
Registration at the place of residence of foreigners
The same rules apply to all citizens who come to see the country. Each traveler must register with the state migration service within 3 days of arrival. The hotel where the tourist is staying can take care of this, but it is better to think about this point in advance.
To complete the procedure, a photocopy of the foreign passport and a special questionnaire personally filled out by the tourist are prepared. Such registration is issued for the entire period of stay in the state or for the period of validity of the visa.
You can register at your place of stay through the Internet information resource of the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan (www.migration.gov.az)
Entry to Azerbaijan with children
Tourists arriving with children must have their birth certificate, foreign passport (if available) or a power of attorney confirmed by a notary (when traveling young tourists with accompanying persons).
Note! If the child is under 6 years old, his photograph is pasted into the parent’s foreign passport.
Entry to Azerbaijan after Armenia
Since Azerbaijan and Armenia do not have very favorable relations, the pressing question becomes how to enter Azerbaijan after Armenia.
If a Russian tourist has a stamp about visiting Armenia, there is a possibility of being banned from entering Azerbaijan.
It is very important when crossing the border not to focus on the politics of Azerbaijan, as well as on its relations with Armenia, otherwise the tourist may be banned from entry forever.
About customs regulations
Azerbaijan, like other states, has a certain list of things that are taboo for import and export. Particular attention to this rule should be paid to those who enter Azerbaijan by car.
It is strictly prohibited to import materials that pose a danger to the life and health of the country's residents. You cannot transport vegetables, fruits, and antiques without a fixed permit from the Ministry of Culture.
Documents for obtaining a visa
To obtain a visa, a tourist must visit the Azerbaijani embassy.
In this case, you need to have the following documents with you:
- questionnaire;
- photocopy of international passport;
- invitation letter;
- a receipt confirming payment of the state duty.
The form must be filled out in the state or English language. Importance is given to the literacy and legality of documents. To avoid any difficulties with registration and registration, it is best to contact a law firm. Here you can take advantage of legal support for the preparation of documents, which is a guarantee of a positive decision. If the visa is refused, then the fee does not need to be paid.
It must be remembered that if the passport expires after 3 months, then visiting the country will not be allowed.
It is expected that an electronic visa issuance system will be actively operating in Azerbaijan. This significantly simplifies the entire registration procedure for tourists, since they will not need to visit the embassy and spend a lot of time in queues.
Cost and processing time
Visa-free entry for Russians into the country is free of charge. Citizens of other countries should check the cost and amount of consular fees directly with the consulate or embassy before traveling. Up-to-date information can also be found on the official website.
The processing time for a visa is 7-10 days.
Validity
As mentioned earlier, a Russian can enter the territory of Azerbaijan and stay there for up to 90 days. If necessary, this period can be extended by another 60 days. Next, you will need to obtain a temporary residence permit from the embassy. You can obtain Azerbaijani citizenship after staying in the country for 5 years.
Types of visas for visiting Azerbaijan
When preparing documents for a trip to the country, you must clearly indicate the purpose of your visit.
Depending on this, the type of visa is determined:
- official;
- diplomatic;
- working;
- student;
- business;
- for temporary residence.
In case of deviation from the visa regime and the legislation of the country, administrative and criminal liability is provided for Russians and citizens of other states.
How to obtain citizenship of a state
To acquire permanent residence in a country, you need to obtain its citizenship. Dual citizenship is not accepted here.
For this purpose the following conditions have been established
- reside on the territory of the state for 5 years;
- speak the state language;
- comply with all laws;
- receive registered income.
You will need these papers
- birth certificate and passport of the applicant;
- certificate of the applicant’s family composition;
- medical certificate;
- confirmation of financial stability;
- diploma of education;
- 4 passport size photos;
- special permit for the provision of living space and its photocopy;
- a notarized photocopy of the ID card that provides it.
An identical package of papers is required to obtain a residence permit.
If a foreigner discovers that he has two citizenships, he must report this to the migration service. Otherwise, he faces administrative liability.
For advice on citizenship issues, you can contact the consulate. The list of documents must be clarified before leaving, because competently compiled documentation is the key to success.
Denial of entry into the territory of Azerbaijan
Despite the availability of the required documents, travel to Baku may not take place.
This is possible in the following cases:
- when entering Azerbaijan from Armenia;
- in case the passport is expired;
- persons who have allowed themselves to speak unfavorably about this country or are participants in political debates;
- Russians who have previously visited Nagorno-Karabakh or Armenia may be denied entry into this state;
- if the Russian is Armenian by nationality.
