One of the first questions a foreign entrepreneur asks is whether their business needs a licence. In Azerbaijan, the answer comes from a single law with a closed list \u2014 and many activities, such as trade, consulting, tourism and cleaning services, need no separate licence at all.<\/p>\n
Short answer:<\/strong> In Azerbaijan, licensed activities and permits are defined only by the Law on Licences and Permits No. 176-VQ (financial markets are regulated separately). Licences are needed, for example, for private healthcare, pharmacies, private education, construction and installation work, and dangerous goods transport. As a rule, licences have no expiry date, and applications are filed online at lisenziya.gov.az.<\/p>\n The core legislation is the Law on Licences and Permits No. 176-VQ of 15 March 2016. It sets a closed list: activities requiring a licence, and permits (except in financial markets), may be established only by this law (Article 4.1). Licensing applies to activities that affect state security, involve the use of limited natural resources, may harm the environment or may endanger an indefinite number of people (Article 4.2). Licences and permits in the financial markets are issued separately by the Central Bank.<\/p>\n Through its “Licences and Permits” portal (lisenziya.gov.az), the Ministry of Economy accepts applications for 23 types of activity.<\/p>\n A licence grants the right to carry out a certain type of business activity, while a permit covers a specific action or facility (Articles 1.0.8 and 1.0.11 of the law). Examples of permits: construction and commissioning permits, “\u0130caz\u0259” forms for international road haulage, and phytosanitary certificates for exporting plant products.<\/p>\n A decision on a licence must be made within 10 working days of the application being registered, and on a permit, as a rule, within 7 working days (Articles 19.8 and 19.9). If the authority does not decide within the deadline, the licence or permit is deemed granted and the applicant may start operating (Article 14.1). As a general rule, licences are issued with no expiry date (Article 22.1). Applications are filed electronically with an enhanced electronic signature.<\/p>\n If your activity is not on the list, you don’t need a licence. But some basic requirements apply to everyone:<\/p>\nWhich law governs licences and permits?<\/h2>\n
Which activities require a licence?<\/h2>\n
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\n \nSector<\/th>\n Examples of licensed activities<\/th>\n Issued by<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Healthcare and pharmacy<\/td>\n Private medical practice; manufacture, wholesale and retail sale of medicines<\/td>\n Ministry of Economy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Education<\/td>\n Private pre-school, general, vocational, higher and supplementary education institutions<\/td>\n Ministry of Economy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Construction<\/td>\n Engineering surveys, construction and installation work and design for projects requiring a construction permit; lift installation; fire protection<\/td>\n Ministry of Economy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Transport and communications<\/td>\n Dangerous goods transport; telecommunication services; express post<\/td>\n Ministry of Economy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Agriculture and veterinary<\/td>\n Private veterinary services; veterinary drugs; plant protection products and agrochemicals<\/td>\n Ministry of Economy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Other<\/td>\n Handling toxic waste; making seals and stamps<\/td>\n Ministry of Economy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Digital technologies<\/td>\n Biometric technologies; personal data information systems; mobile communications<\/td>\n Ministry of Digital Development and Transport<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Financial markets<\/td>\n Activities of financial market participants<\/td>\n Central Bank<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n How does a licence differ from a permit, and how long is the wait?<\/h2>\n
What do you need to open a business if no licence is required?<\/h2>\n
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