How to Apply for an Azerbaijian Visa in Atlanta

Azerbaijan – the South Caucasus country at the crossroads of ancient empires that once ruled Eurasia – is coming into its own as a travel destination for visitors from the Atlanta area. “Having long been overlooked by visitors, Azerbaijan's new easy visas, bargain-value hotels and close-packed range of beautiful landscapes are starting to attract significant flows of tourists, though as yet few of them from Western countries,” Lonely Planet reported. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/azerbaijan )

Stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Great Caucasus Mountains, the culture of Azerbaijan reflects strong Turkish, Iranian, and Russian influences that span centuries.  The ancient Silk Road trading route that connected Europe and Asia runs through Azerbaijan.  During its long history, parts of the country had been ruled by Iran, Turkey and Russia.  After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the country gained independence as the Republic of Azerbaijan.  However, since then, an extended border war with neighboring Armenia and conflicts with separatist forces in the Nagorno-Karabakh region have plagued the republic.

Azerbaijan’s population exceeds 10 million people, with most citizens speaking the Turkic language Azerbaijani.  While more than 97% of the population is Muslim, the country is considered one of the world’s most secular Islamic nations.  Azerbaijan borders Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Russia.

The economy is largely driven by the country’s vast energy and natural resources, as two-thirds of Azerbaijan is rich in oil and natural gas. “Azerbaijan’s hydrocarbon sector presents opportunities for U.S. companies, particularly service providers,” the U.S. International Trade Association stated, noting current plans to expand offshore production in the Caspian Sea.  ITA added, “Azerbaijan is also seeking to diversify its economy by targeting the agriculture, ICT, transportation, and tourism sectors.” (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/azerbaijan-market-opportunities) The government of Azerbaijan also noted that the country is the United States’ largest trading partner in the South Caucasus region.  Crude oil, chemicals, and textiles are among the top exports from Azerbaijan, while U.S. imports include aircraft and precious metals. (https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en/content/165/economic-relations)

Azerbaijan Tourism Highlights

Since the government introduced an electronic visa program in 2017 with a three-day turnaround time, Azerbaijan tourism has grown steadily. “From the ‘burning mountain’ of Yanar Dag, to the mud volcanoes and petroglyphs of Gobustan, to the beaches of the Absheron Peninsula, the Land of Fire offers a dramatic mix of landscapes,” CNN reported. “Poised as it is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, its people, culture and food are a captivating blend of East meets West.” (https://www.cnn.com/travel/destinations/azerbaijan) From the Caspian Sea to the flatlands and deserts of the interior to the Caucasus Mountains, the republic offers a unique blend of cultural and natural treasures to visitors from Atlanta.  

Baku, the largest city, is home to 25% of the country’s inhabitants.  CNN noted, “In the capital, Baku, the cobbled streets and 12th-century fortresses and minarets of the Old City sit side by side with the fiercely modern architecture of the Flame Towers and Zaha Hadid's Heydar Aliyev Center, reflecting the city's enormous growth since oil-drilling began in the 19th century.” Located on the Caspian Sea, Baku is one of Azerbaijan’s top tourist destinations with prominent beach resorts, global hotel chains, entertainment venues, nightclubs, museums, and several shopping malls.  Nearby attractions include Yanar Dag, an eternal natural gas fire; the Ateshgas of Baku temple; and the Mardakan castles.

One of Azerbaijan’s three UNESCO World Heritage sites is the Walled City of Baku, a site that blends Arabic, Ottoman, Persian, Russian, Zoroastrian, and other influences.  The walled city includes the 15th Century Shirvanshahs’ Palace and the Maiden Tower from the 12th Century.  The Gobustan rock art cultural landscape at Gobustan National Park southwest of Baku contains more than 6,000 rock engravings that reflect more than 40,000 years of art.  The third UNESCO site is the historic center of Sheki in central Azerbaijan.  A former trading post on the Silk Road, the picturesque town of Sheki includes cobblestone streets, medieval structures, and the Khan’s Palace, an 18th Century summer residence for leaders of the powerful Shaki Khanate feudal state.

Azerbaijan has a total of nine national parks in climates ranging from semi-arid deserts and lush wetlands to deep forests and towering mountains.  The nation’s parks and preserves offer sanctuaries for golden eagles, mountain sheep, Anatolian leopards, flamingoes, spoonbills, and many other unique plants and animals.  Mountain tourism is another major draw for Miami area visitors.  The Tufandag and Shahdag resorts offer skiing and snowboarding.  The Shahdag Mountain Resort also provides snowmobiling, horseback riding, sledding and tubing.  Mount Shahdagh is a popular climbing destination.  For those who prefer warmer pursuits, a variety of watersports are available on the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan’s inland waterways.

Requirements for Obtaining an Azerbaijan Visa

Citizens of the United States and most other countries are required to obtain a visa to visit the Republic of Azerbaijan.  The government stopped issuing conventional paper visas and visa-on-arrival for most applicants when the COVID-19 pandemic began.  While there is currently no schedule to reinstate those traditional visa options, you can check the country’s Washington embassy website at https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en/content/32/visa for updates. Conventional paper visas issued by the embassy include official visit visa, business visa, science or education visa, medical visa, private visit visa, labor visa, humanitarian visa, and cultural and sport visa.  More information can be found on the embassy website: https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en/category/multiple-entry-visas

Azerbaijan also relies on its electronic visa program for tourist visas.  Introduced in 2017 and streamlined in recent years, the program offers quick, easy, and inexpensive visa processing.  The ASAN portal for e-visas is located at https://www.evisa.gov.az/en/.  The full list of countries eligible for e-visas can be found at https://www.evisa.gov.az/en/countries.

The main requirement to obtain an Azerbaijan visa is having a passport valid for six months beyond your date of arrival and containing at least one blank page.  During the spring of 2023, the government eliminated requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations and negative PCR tests.  However, the U.S. State Department cautions, “Exercise increased caution in Azerbaijan due to terrorism concerns and areas of armed conflict.” Current travel advisories can be found at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/azerbajian-travel-advisory.html.

Obtaining a Azerbaijan Tourist Electronic Visa (eVisa) from Atlanta

The e-visa program provides options for all types of travelers from Atlanta.  Tourists typically apply for the “ordinary visa” option.  An e-visa application can be created for one person; a family (two to 10 members); or a group (10 to 300 people).  The e-visa is valid for a single entry to Azerbaijan for up to 90 days after issuance, and allows you to spend up to 30 days in the country.  However, if you plan to stay more than 15 days, you must register with the State Migration Service.

The online application form and details about the e-visa are available through the government website, https://www.evisa.gov.az/en/.  Required documents for the e-visa include:

  • Completed application form.
  • Passport valid for up to three months in the future.
  • Image of the passport biographical page for each member of your party.
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Azerbaijan.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.

Once you gather your supporting documents, the online application process is easy to follow.

  1. Complete an application at https://www.evisa.gov.az/en/apply-step1.
  2. Pay the visa and service fees using a credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard only).
  3. Upon approval, download your e-visa documentation.

The government recommends applying for your visa a minimum of three days before your departure date.  Approval for the standard e-visa takes three working days.  The total cost is $25: $20 for the application fee and a $5 processing fee.  You can also apply for an urgent e-visa, which will be issued within three hours of application submission.  The urgent visa costs $65 (which includes the $5 service fee).

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Atlanta or anywhere in the state of Georgia and have difficulty applying for an Azerbaijan visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Azerbaijan visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Azerbaijan government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Azerbaijan visa services for our customers in Atlanta:

  • Azerbaijan Tourist Visa
  • Azerbaijan Business Visa
  • Azerbaijan Official Visa
  • Azerbaijan Work Visa
  • Azerbaijan Hotel Accommodations