Entrepreneurs, professionals and families are choosing to move to Azerbaijan: entry rules are clear, there are several legal routes to residency, and Baku makes a convenient base for work and business. Relocating goes much more smoothly when you know the order of steps in advance.<\/p>\n
Short answer:<\/strong> Moving to Azerbaijan follows this order: enter on an ASAN Visa e-visa or visa-free, register at your place of stay if staying over 15 days, choose a residence permit ground \u2014 employment, business, family, property, deposit or investment \u2014 and apply to the State Migration Service. The permit runs up to 1 year with extensions; permanent residence follows after 2+ years.<\/p>\n Citizens of the countries on the ASAN Visa list apply for an e-visa at evisa.gov.az: it is single-entry, valid for 90 days and allows a stay of up to 30 days. Citizens of countries with a visa-free regime can stay in Azerbaijan for up to 90 days, unless an international agreement provides otherwise. The e-visa gives no right to paid work, and taking a job in Azerbaijan requires a work permit in any case, unless you’re exempt. Your first trip is a good time to look around \u2014 but your residence permit ground is best worked out before you travel.<\/p>\n If you stay in the country for more than 15 days, you need registration at your place of stay. Within 15 days of arrival, the hotel management or the property owner registers you through the State Migration Service. If you move to another address, the registration must be renewed within 5 working days of arriving there. Keep an eye on your permitted stay as well: if it hasn’t been extended and no residence permit application has been filed, you must leave the country.<\/p>\n Immigration to Azerbaijan for the long term runs through a temporary residence permit, issued on a specific ground. The main options:<\/p>\n As a general rule, a temporary residence permit is issued for up to 1 year and each extension can be for up to 2 years. The application must be filed at least 30 days before your permitted stay ends, and processing takes 15 or 20 working days, depending on the state fee paid. The State Migration Service makes the decision.<\/p>\n Family members of a foreigner with temporary or permanent residence can obtain a temporary residence permit as family members. This covers a spouse, children under 18 and, under certain conditions, adult children and parents who are dependants. Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad are submitted with a translation and notarised copies; for documents from CIS countries and T\u00fcrkiye, treaties provide simplifications.<\/p>\n The long-term goal is permanent residence: it becomes available after at least 2 years of temporary residence and is issued for 5 years. Permanent residence requires knowledge of the Azerbaijani language and the basics of the country’s legislation, with certain exemptions.<\/p>\n \u2014 SME:<\/strong> A mistake that’s easy to avoid is starting a move by buying an apartment or opening a company before you’ve thought through your residence permit ground. Decide first on what basis you’ll live in Azerbaijan \u2014 then plan your housing, business and timeline around it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nStep 1. How do you enter Azerbaijan?<\/h2>\n
Step 2. What should you do in your first weeks after arrival?<\/h2>\n
Step 3. Which residence permit ground should you choose?<\/h2>\n
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\n \nGround<\/th>\n Who it suits<\/th>\n What to know<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Employment<\/td>\n Professionals hired by a local company<\/td>\n The employer applies for the work permit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Highly skilled specialist<\/td>\n Highly qualified professionals<\/td>\n Permit for up to 3 years, each extension up to 3 years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Entrepreneurship<\/td>\n People running a business in Azerbaijan<\/td>\n Documents confirming the activity are required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Family<\/td>\n Close relatives of Azerbaijani citizens and family members of foreigners with temporary or permanent residence<\/td>\n Family ties are proven with documents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Real estate<\/td>\n Owners of property worth at least 100,000 manats<\/td>\n A ground to apply, not an automatic permit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Fixed-term deposit<\/td>\n Depositors of at least 100,000 manats under a fixed-term deposit agreement<\/td>\n A ground to apply<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Investment<\/td>\n Investors of at least 500,000 manats in the country’s economy<\/td>\n A ground to apply<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Study<\/td>\n Full-time students<\/td>\n See our separate article on the student residence permit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Step 4. How do you sort out housing, banking, work and business?<\/h2>\n
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Step 5. How do you bring your family, and what comes next?<\/h2>\n
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Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n