Azerbaijan visa and entry requirements

The past trip that can stop you at the door

• Anyone who has previously visited certain areas of south-western Azerbaijan - including Khankendi - without the permission of the Azerbaijani authorities can be refused entry.
• In practice this means anyone who has been to Nagorno-Karabakh from the Armenian side. Azerbaijan treats that as an illegal entry into its own territory.
• An Armenian stamp on its own is not the problem. Travelling from Armenia to Azerbaijan is routine, via Georgia. It is the Karabakh visit specifically.
• If that describes you, contact an Azerbaijani embassy before booking, which is the FCDO's own advice. Do not find out at Baku airport.

The eVisa

• Apply through ASAN Visa, Azerbaijan's own portal. It is quick and it is the only official channel.
• The eVisa is normally single entry, and allows a 30-day visit within a 90-day validity window. Those are two different numbers: 90 days is how long the visa is usable for, 30 days is how long you may stay.
• Apply at least 3 days before travelling. There is a paid 3-hour urgent option if you have left it late.
• Single entry matters if you plan a side trip. Going to Georgia and coming back needs a second visa.

After you arrive: register

• Stay longer than 15 days and you must register with the State Migration Service, online or in person.
• Failure to register is fined before you are allowed to leave.
• Hotels usually handle this for guests. If you are in an apartment or staying with friends, it is on you - and that is exactly who gets caught.

At the border

• Passport valid at least 6 months after arrival, with 2 blank pages.
• The land border with Armenia is closed and there is no crossing. Arrive by air, from Georgia, from Russia or from Iran.
• Nakhchivan is an Azerbaijani exclave separated from the rest of the country by Armenian territory, and is reached by air from Baku or through Iran or Turkey.