Azerbaijan Tourist Visa - Definitive Guide

Since there are several enthusiastic travellers all over the world willing to explore Azerbaijan and its magnificence, a tourist visa to Azerbaijan is issued allowing them to visit the country. There are several activities one can do on this permit. The holder is allowed to tour the country and carry out other leisure activities like sightseeing and visiting museums, enjoying the beaches and others. The validity of the permit is 90 days, permitting a stay of 30 days per visit.

Before applying for an Azerbaijan tourist visa, you first need to know if you are eligible for the application or not. The procedure for obtaining this permit is online and it can be issued through the E-visa portal of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The step by step process is as follows:

• Online procedure

1. Visit the E-visa portal of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
2. You can immediately start your application.
3. Fill out the required information in the application form.
4. Attach your photograph and required documents.
5. Submit the application form.
6. Pay the required visa fee online.

• Offline procedure

1. You can start by downloading the application form.
2. Fill out the form thoroughly and sign it.
3. Attach a recent photograph as per the specifications.
4. Collect the required supporting documents.
5. Submit the application form and the copies of the documents.
6. Pay the required visa fee.

There are a few things that you need to note at the time of issuing a tourist visa to Azerbaijan. The information that you are providing must be correct and should same as the details in your travel documents. If any information is found to be incorrect or unverifiable, your visa may get rejected. A visa rejection can affect your future applications for any kind of permit to Azerbaijan or any other country. Therefore, it is better to consult the specialists during the process.

For the issuance of a tourist visa to Azerbaijan, it is essential that you match the eligibility criteria. The parameters that decide whether you can apply for the permit are listed as follows: 

• You must have proof of confirmed visit

• Pre-bookings of the round trip must be done.
• You must visit for tourism only and not searching for or taking up any kind of employment.
• You must meet the health requirements

• You must be healthy enough to travel to Azerbaijan.
• You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide relevant documentary proof.
• You must meet the character requirements

• You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in Azerbaijan.
• You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well (if asked) in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must have sufficient funds

• You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Azerbaijan.
• Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

The list of document requirements to get an Azerbaijan tourist visa for Indian passport holders is not as long compared to other countries. The basic requirements for this permit are listed as follows:

• E-visa requirements

• Passport valid for at least 3 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Recent Photograph.
• Confirmed flight tickets.
• Additional documents if asked - hotel/hostel reservation, etc.
• Stamp visa requirements
• Passport valid for at least 3 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Duly signed visa application form.
• Recent Photograph.
• Cover Letter.
• Confirmed flight tickets.
• Proof of purpose of visit - exhibition pass, invitation letter, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement, etc.

• One copy must be provided
• Photo size: 30 mm x 40 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame.
• Head should well-centred.
• A gap of 2mm to 6mm must be kept between the top of the head and the frame.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The processing time required for the issuance of the tourist visa to Azerbaijan is 3 working days for online visa and about 10 to 15 days for offline permit, extending upto 90 days at times. The time may still vary depending on certain factors like the workload at the embassy office, the staff availability, whether the documents are complete or the rest of the documents are yet to be submitted and others. The time increases and decreases affected by these parameters.

The fee to get a tourist visa to Azerbaijan is to be paid online at the time of submission of the application form. It can be paid by using Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay. The Azerbaijan tourist visa fee for Indian travellers is estimated based on certain factors. These include - the type of permit, service charges to cover the international operations, number of entries required and others.

There are a few things that you, as an applicant, need to keep in mind at the time of submission and after the submission -

• After you have paid the fee, your application will process and you will be granted your tourist visa for Azerbaijan within three working days. 
• The required documents must be attached as their scanned copies. 
• The content of the documents must be clearly visible and readable by the authorities. 
• If there are any kind of changes to be made in the form or if there is a change of status or birth of a child, the officials must be informed immediately. 
• If there is a change of plans and you need to withdraw the application, you must do the same within the processing time.
• The visa fee is non-refundable.

Since a tourist visa to Azerbaijan follows an online procedure, it can be tracked online. If you have applied through a visa application center or a professional agency, you can visit their website for visa tracking. Else, you can even do a visa status check online on the Republic of Azerbaijan Official E-visa portal.

After the completion of the process, you will receive you tourist visa to Azerbaijan on your registered email. There are a few things that you need to note when you finally have the visa with you -

• Before you travel

• Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
• You should travel to Azerbaijan within the validity of your visa.
• Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
• Issue health insurance and travel Insurance from a certified company.
• At the Border
• Get your documents checked and your passport verified by the Border Officers.
• Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
• Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter Azerbaijan

• If you are planning to stay in the country for more than 10 days, you need to get yourself registered.
• You can register through the hotel/hostel you are staying in, or do it yourself at the Migration Service Centre.
• Save the Registration Slip until the date of your departure. 
• You need to note that if you do not have your Registration Slip at the time of departure, you are eligible for a fine of up to $220 and a possible ban for 2 years.
• Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do volunteer work.
• The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
• Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time if required.